- Enrollment
- 1,279
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Montrose, CO
Cottonwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080579001554
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #4 of 4
- elementary schools in Montrose · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- students per teacher
- 29.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Montrose, CO.
School address
District: Montrose County School District Re-1j · Colorado
NCES ID 080579001554 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary School held near 412 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 22.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 080579001554 · Montrose, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
394 enr · 17.1:1 · 29.5% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Montrose High School (1,279 students)
Cottonwood Elementary School held near 412 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 22.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montrose High
Montrose High School
1,279 students
- Centennial Mid
Centennial Middle School
540 students
- Johnson Elemen
Johnson Elementary School
531 students
- Olathe Middle/ 499
Olathe Middle/High School
499 students
- Columbine Midd 491
Columbine Middle School
491 students
- This school 394
Cottonwood Elementary School
394 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary School reports 394 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares
Cottonwood Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▲ 3% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.5% | ▼ 23% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 394 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
394
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 64% in Colorado - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
49.5%
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
$11,857
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.1 FTE
Per 372 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.3%
Hispanic or Latino 24.4%
Two or More 3.6%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 71.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.1, Cottonwood Elementary School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montrose County School District Re-1j reports $11,857 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centennial Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Johnson Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Olathe Middle/High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbine Middle School | Similar size | Higher 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
- 540
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 499
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 491
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~394 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary School
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has 394 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Montrose, CO. CCD year-over-year: 403 (2022-23) → 412 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 17.1:1, which is 3% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 9% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elementary School?
29.5% of students at Cottonwood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary School is White at 71.3% of enrollment, in Montrose, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 School rank among elementary schools in Montrose?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Montrose, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Montrose on the city page.
What other schools are in Montrose County School District Re-1j?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary School, Montrose County School District Re-1j also operates Montrose High School (1,279 students), Centennial Middle School (540 students), and Johnson Elementary School (531 students). See the Montrose County School District Re-1j district page for the complete list.