- Enrollment
- 1,494
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Yakima, WA
Cottonwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530972001238
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #5 of 17
- elementary schools in Yakima · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 25.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #5 of 17 elementary schools in Yakima, WA.
School address
District: West Valley School District (Yakima) · Washington
NCES ID 530972001238 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
Cottonwood Elementary School shrank from 397 students in 2022-23 to 368 in 2023-24 (-7.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.1 → 22.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-29 students YoY 530972001238 · Yakima, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
362 enr · 15.1:1 · 25.4% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: West Valley High School (1,494 students)
Cottonwood Elementary School shrank from 397 students in 2022-23 to 368 in 2023-24 (-7.3%). Teacher FTE lost 24.1 → 22.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Valley Hi
West Valley High School
1,494 students
- West Valley Mi
West Valley Mid-Level Campus
1,167 students
- Summitview Ele 475
Summitview Elementary
475 students
- Apple Valley E 447
Apple Valley Elementary
447 students
- Wide Hollow El 433
Wide Hollow Elementary
433 students
- This school 362
Cottonwood Elementary School
362 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elementary School reports 362 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 Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.4% | ▼ 44% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 362 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
362
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 35% in Washington - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,141
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 362 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 54.4%
Hispanic or Latino 39.0%
Asian 3.0%
Two or More 2.8%
African American 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 54.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.0, Cottonwood Elementary School is about as mixed as the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for West Valley School District (Yakima) reports $15,141 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Valley Mid-Level Campus | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Summitview Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Apple Valley Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wide Hollow Elementary | 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
- 1,167
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 475
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Yakima
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ridgeview Elementary
Standard public school
533 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Garfield Elementary School
Standard public school
507 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Martin Luther King Jr Elementary
Standard public school
485 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Summitview Elementary
Standard public school
475 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Robertson Elementary
Standard public school
473 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Elementary School
Standard public school
455 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~362 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elementary School
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has 362 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Yakima, WA. CCD year-over-year: 397 (2022-23) → 368 (2023-24), down 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 15.1:1, which is 14% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 4% 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?
25.4% of students at Cottonwood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elementary School is White at 54.4% of enrollment, in Yakima, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Yakima?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #5 of 17 elementary schools in Yakima, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Yakima on the city page.
What other schools are in West Valley School District (Yakima)?
Besides Cottonwood Elementary School, West Valley School District (Yakima) also operates West Valley High School (1,494 students), West Valley Mid-Level Campus (1,167 students), and Summitview Elementary (475 students). See the West Valley School District (Yakima) district page for the complete list.