Enrollment
326
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Salina, KS
Cottonwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 201137000518
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Kansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas schools.
- #7 of 10
- schools in Salina · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for Kansas
- 73.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 schools in Salina, KS.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.2:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
-26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.1%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
+71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cottonwood Elementary School
Cottonwood Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Salina, Kansas, enrolling 326 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 10.2:1, Cottonwood Elementary School is leaner than roughly 86% of Kansas schools and 26% under the state's 13.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 73.1% of students qualify for free meals, 71% above the Kansas average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 326 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kansas median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Against 139 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #68.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 326 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Salina spends $18,628 per pupil, 20% above the Kansas average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Salina's public schools, it stands alongside Meadowlark Ridge Elem (431 students): Cottonwood Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (10.2:1 vs 14.4:1).
Salina also operates Salina High South (1,046 students) and Salina High Central (934 students) alongside Cottonwood Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares
Cottonwood Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.2:1 | ▼ 26% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.1% | ▲ 71% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 326 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
326
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% 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
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 14% in Kansas - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.9%
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
$18,628
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 47.2%
Hispanic or Latino 30.1%
Two or More 19.0%
African American 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 47.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, Cottonwood Elementary School is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Salina, which includes Cottonwood Elementary School.
$18,628
Per student
+20%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
+12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.2%
State 52.9%
Federal 13.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Cottonwood Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salina High South | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salina High Central | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salina South Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lakewood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark Ridge Elem | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher 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
- 1,046
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 934
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 782
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 431
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Salina
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Meadowlark Ridge Elem
Standard public school
431 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Stewart Elem
Standard public school
406 students 14:1 students per teacher
Heusner Elem
Standard public school
392 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Coronado Elem
Standard public school
389 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Sunset Elem
Standard public school
380 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Schilling Elem
Standard public school
376 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~326 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cottonwood Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Cottonwood Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Salina's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary School
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has 326 students enrolled. It is a public school in Salina, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 10.2:1, which is 26% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 35% lower 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?
73.1% 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 White at 47.2% of enrollment, in Salina, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cottonwood Elementary School rank among schools in Salina?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 schools in Salina, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Salina on the city page.
Is Cottonwood Elementary School a good school?
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Kansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Salina?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary School, Salina also operates Salina High South (1,046 students), Salina High Central (934 students), and Salina South Middle (782 students). See the Salina district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.