- Enrollment
- 1,100
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palmdale, CA
Cottonwood Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064212010141
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of California schools.
- #22 of 31
- elementary schools in Palmdale · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 31:1
- large classes for California
- 46.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary has class sizes larger than 97% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary ranks #22 of 31 elementary schools in Palmdale, CA.
School address
District: Westside Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 064212010141 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+40 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary grew from 575 students in 2022-23 to 615 in 2023-24 (+7.0%).
Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+40 students YoY 064212010141 · Palmdale, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
652 enr · 31:1 · 46.8% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Hillview Middle (1,100 students)
Cottonwood Elementary grew from 575 students in 2022-23 to 615 in 2023-24 (+7.0%). Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hillview Middl
Hillview Middle
1,100 students
- Esperanza Elem
Esperanza Elementary
962 students
- Sundown Elemen
Sundown Elementary
941 students
- Gregg Anderson
Gregg Anderson Academy
893 students
- Rancho Vista E
Rancho Vista Elementary
886 students
- This school
Cottonwood Elementary
652 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary reports 652 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottonwood Elementary compares
Cottonwood Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 31:1 | ▲ 44% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.8% | ▼ 16% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 652 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
31:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
652
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
31:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 97% in California - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
25.9%
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
$13,324
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 58.4%
White 16.1%
African American 11.0%
Two or More 8.9%
Asian 5.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 58.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.0, Cottonwood Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Westside Union Elementary reports $13,324 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillview Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Esperanza Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sundown Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gregg Anderson Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rancho Vista Elementary | Larger | 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
- Enrollment
- 962
- Students per teacher
- 26.7:1
- Resource Index
- 7/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 29.4:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 886
- Students per teacher
- 26.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Palmdale
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
Alternative education program
1,027 students 28.5:1 students per teacher
Esperanza Elementary
Standard public school
962 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
Alternative education program
945 students 27:1 students per teacher
Gregg Anderson Academy
Standard public school
893 students 27.9:1 students per teacher
Rancho Vista Elementary
Standard public school
886 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
Palmdale Learning Plaza
Standard public school
800 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~652 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has 652 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palmdale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 575 (2022-23) → 615 (2023-24), up 40.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 31:1, which is 44% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 97% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elementary?
46.8% of students at Cottonwood Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 58.4% of enrollment, in Palmdale, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cottonwood Elementary rank among elementary schools in Palmdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary ranks #22 of 31 elementary schools in Palmdale, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Palmdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Westside Union Elementary?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary, Westside Union Elementary also operates Hillview Middle (1,100 students), Esperanza Elementary (962 students), and Sundown Elementary (941 students). See the Westside Union Elementary district page for the complete list.