- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cottonwood, AL
Cottonwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010177002508
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- students per teacher
- 68.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 502
- students enrolled
Cottonwood Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Houston County · Alabama
NCES ID 010177002508 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+27 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary School grew from 481 students in 2022-23 to 508 in 2023-24 (+5.6%).
Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+27 students YoY 010177002508 · Cottonwood, AL Other · MID · TRAD
502 enr · 17.3:1 · 68.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Rehobeth High School (786 students)
Cottonwood Elementary School grew from 481 students in 2022-23 to 508 in 2023-24 (+5.6%). Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rehobeth High
Rehobeth High School
786 students
- Ashford Elemen
Ashford Elementary School
668 students
- Wicksburg Elem
Wicksburg Elementary School
636 students
- Rehobeth Eleme
Rehobeth Elementary School
590 students
- This school
Cottonwood Elementary School
502 students
- Wicksburg High
Wicksburg High School
461 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary School reports 502 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares
Cottonwood Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.4% | ▲ 16% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Alabama - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.1%
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
$10,971
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
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 502 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
54
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 16 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 77.3%
African American 12.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.0%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 77.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.2, Cottonwood Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Houston County reports $10,971 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cottonwood Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehobeth High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashford Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wicksburg Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rehobeth Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wicksburg High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cottonwood Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 636
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 590
- Students per teacher
- 9.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 461
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Cottonwood
1 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 (~502 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary School
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has 502 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cottonwood, AL. CCD year-over-year: 481 (2022-23) → 508 (2023-24), up 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 17.3:1, which is 2% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elementary School?
68.4% of students at Cottonwood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary School is White at 77.3% of enrollment, in Cottonwood, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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).
What other schools are in Houston County?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary School, Houston County also operates Rehobeth High School (786 students), Ashford Elementary School (668 students), and Wicksburg Elementary School (636 students). See the Houston County district page for the complete list.