- Enrollment
- 1,685
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carlsbad, NM
Cottonwood Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 350030001156
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of New Mexico schools.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Carlsbad · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for New Mexico
- 42.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary has class sizes larger than 71% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Carlsbad, NM.
School address
District: Carlsbad Municipal Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350030001156 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-89 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary shrank from 760 students in 2022-23 to 671 in 2023-24 (-11.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 44.6 → 42.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-89 students YoY 350030001156 · Carlsbad, NM Elementary · MID · TRAD
684 enr · 15.5:1 · 42.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Carlsbad High (1,685 students)
Cottonwood Elementary shrank from 760 students in 2022-23 to 671 in 2023-24 (-11.7%). Teacher FTE lost 44.6 → 42.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carlsbad High
Carlsbad High
1,685 students
- Carlsbad Inter
Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus
908 students
- Carlsbad Sixth
Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus
740 students
- This school
Cottonwood Elementary
684 students
- Desert Willow 667
Desert Willow Elementary
667 students
- Ocotillo Eleme 621
Ocotillo Elementary
621 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary reports 684 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottonwood Elementary compares
Cottonwood Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▲ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.4% | ▼ 48% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 684 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
684
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 71% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,304
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 684 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 81.6%
White 14.5%
Two or More 1.2%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 81.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.3, Cottonwood Elementary is less mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carlsbad Municipal Schools reports $13,304 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ocotillo Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar 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
- 908
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 740
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 667
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 621
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
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 (~684 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has 684 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carlsbad, NM. CCD year-over-year: 760 (2022-23) → 671 (2023-24), down 89.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 11% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elementary?
42.4% of students at Cottonwood Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 81.6% of enrollment, in Carlsbad, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical 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 Carlsbad?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Carlsbad, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Carlsbad on the city page.
What other schools are in Carlsbad Municipal Schools?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary, Carlsbad Municipal Schools also operates Carlsbad High (1,685 students), Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus (908 students), and Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus (740 students). See the Carlsbad Municipal Schools district page for the complete list.