- Enrollment
- 206
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Colorado City, AZ
Cottonwood Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040002103446
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #3 of 3
- schools in Colorado City · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.5:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 53.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary ranks #3 of 3 schools in Colorado City, AZ.
School address
District: Colorado City Unified District (4370) · Arizona
NCES ID 040002103446 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary shrank from 380 students in 2022-23 to 357 in 2023-24 (-6.1%).
Teacher FTE added 15.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-23 students YoY 040002103446 · Colorado City, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
338 enr · 22.5:1 · 53.9% lunch · RII 20
Nearest enrollment peer: El Capitan Public School (206 students)
Cottonwood Elementary shrank from 380 students in 2022-23 to 357 in 2023-24 (-6.1%). Teacher FTE added 15.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
How Cottonwood Elementary compares
Cottonwood Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.5:1 | ▲ 32% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.9% | ▲ 12% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 338 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.5:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
338
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.5:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 88% in Arizona - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,240
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arizona avg of $13,502
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 96.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino 0.9%
African American 0.3%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: White at 96.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 7.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 7.0, Cottonwood Elementary is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Colorado City Unified District (4370) reports $15,240 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cottonwood Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Capitan Public School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cottonwood Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar other schools in Colorado City
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~338 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has 338 students enrolled. It is a public school in Colorado City, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 380 (2022-23) → 357 (2023-24), down 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 22.5:1, which is 32% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elementary?
53.9% of students at Cottonwood Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary is White at 96.4% of enrollment, in Colorado City, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cottonwood Elementary rank among schools in Colorado City?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary ranks #3 of 3 schools in Colorado City, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Colorado City Unified District (4370)?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary, Colorado City Unified District (4370) also operates El Capitan Public School (206 students). See the Colorado City Unified District (4370) district page for the complete list.