Enrollment
572
Nevada · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fernley, NV
Cottonwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 14/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 320030000387
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 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 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Fernley · Resource Index
- 14
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.5:1
- students per teacher
- 37.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary School has class sizes near the Nevada median. Computed live against every Nevada school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #2 of 3 schools in Fernley, NV.
School address
District: Lyon County School District · Nevada
NCES ID 320030000387 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.5:1
vs 20.5:1 Nevada avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
37.0%
vs 76.8% Nevada avg
-52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares with Nevada and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cottonwood Elementary School
Cottonwood Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Fernley, Nevada, enrolling 572 students.
At 18.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Nevada median, within a few percentage points of the 20.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 37.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 572 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nevada median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 94% of the 733 Nevada schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 47 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Nevada schools statewide, it ranks #41, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (37%) (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 572 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 47.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Lyon County School District spends $11,928 per pupil, 28% below the Nevada average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Fernley's public schools, it stands alongside East Valley Elementary School (518 students): Cottonwood Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.5:1 vs 18.5:1).
Lyon County School District also operates Fernley High School (1,327 students) and Dayton High School (748 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 Nevada and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nevada | Nevada avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.5:1 | ▼ 10% | 20.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.0% | ▼ 52% | 76.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 572 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
572
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
37.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Nevada average of 76.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 52% in Nevada - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.9%
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
$11,928
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nevada avg of $16,454
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 572 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 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 53.5%
Hispanic or Latino 36.5%
Two or More 5.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Asian 1.2%
African American 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 53.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.7, Cottonwood Elementary School is about as mixed as the Nevada school average of 56.4.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lyon County School District, which includes Cottonwood Elementary School.
$11,928
Per student
-28%
vs Nevada
Avg $16,454
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 9.5%
State 74.1%
Federal 16.4%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fernley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dayton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Silverland Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fernley Intermediate School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Valley 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
- 1,327
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 748
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 677
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 518
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
Similar other schools in Fernley
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nevada, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~572 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cottonwood Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Cottonwood Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Lyon County School District'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 572 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fernley, NV.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 18.5:1, which is 10% lower than the Nevada average of 20.5:1 and 18% 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?
37.0% of students at Cottonwood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nevada average of 76.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary School is White at 53.5% of enrollment, in Fernley, NV. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 14/100 (lower 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 Fernley?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #2 of 3 schools in Fernley, NV. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fernley on the city page.
Is Cottonwood Elementary School a good school?
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median. 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 Lyon County School District?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary School, Lyon County School District also operates Fernley High School (1,327 students), Dayton High School (748 students), and Silverland Middle School (677 students). See the Lyon County School District 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.