- Enrollment
- 1,421
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Liberal, KS
Cottonwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 200873001587
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Kansas schools.
- #4 of 4
- elementary schools in Liberal · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.2:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 72.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary School has class sizes larger than 75% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Liberal, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+16 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary School held near 514 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 33.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+16 students YoY 200873001587 · Liberal, KS Elementary · MID · TRAD
500 enr · 15.2:1 · 72.3% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Liberal Sr High (1,421 students)
Cottonwood Elementary School held near 514 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 33.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Liberal Sr Hig
Liberal Sr High
1,421 students
- Sunflower Elem
Sunflower Elementary School
570 students
- Eisenhower Mid 516
Eisenhower Middle School
516 students
- This school 500
Cottonwood Elementary School
500 students
- Seymour Rogers 472
Seymour Rogers Middle School
472 students
- Prairie View E 426
Prairie View Elementary School
426 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary School reports 500 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 Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▲ 10% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.3% | ▲ 69% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 500 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
500
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 75% in Kansas - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
48.2%
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
$12,351
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
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 500 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 87.8%
White 8.2%
Asian 1.4%
Two or More 1.4%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 87.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.2, Cottonwood Elementary School is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Liberal reports $12,351 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Sr High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunflower Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eisenhower Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Seymour Rogers Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Prairie View Elementary School | Similar size | Similar 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
- 570
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 472
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 426
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Liberal
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~500 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary School
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has 500 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Liberal, KS. CCD year-over-year: 498 (2022-23) → 514 (2023-24), nearly flat (+16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 15.2:1, which is 10% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elementary School?
72.3% of students at Cottonwood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 87.8% of enrollment, in Liberal, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (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 School rank among elementary schools in Liberal?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Liberal, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Liberal on the city page.
What other schools are in Liberal?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary School, Liberal also operates Liberal Sr High (1,421 students), Sunflower Elementary School (570 students), and Eisenhower Middle School (516 students). See the Liberal district page for the complete list.