- Enrollment
- 1,046
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-55 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary School shrank from 372 students in 2022-23 to 317 in 2023-24 (-14.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.8 → 29.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-55 students YoY 201137000518 · Salina, KS Other · SMALL · TRAD
326 enr · 10.2:1 · 73.1% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Salina High South (1,046 students)
Cottonwood Elementary School shrank from 372 students in 2022-23 to 317 in 2023-24 (-14.8%). Teacher FTE lost 32.8 → 29.6 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
- Salina High So
Salina High South
1,046 students
- Salina High Ce
Salina High Central
934 students
- Salina South M
Salina South Middle
782 students
- Lakewood Middl
Lakewood Middle School
647 students
- Meadowlark Rid
Meadowlark Ridge Elem
431 students
- This school 326
Cottonwood Elementary School
326 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary School reports 326 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares
Cottonwood Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$18,954
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,788
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.
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
District finance for Salina reports $18,954 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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
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 (~326 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 372 (2022-23) → 317 (2023-24), down 55.
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, 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 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.
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.