Enrollment
362
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.4%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cottonwood Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cottonwood Elementary School
Cottonwood Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Yakima, Washington, enrolling 362 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 362 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 377 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #170.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (39%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 362 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
15.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding West Valley School District (Yakima) spends $14,671 per pupil, 25% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Yakima's elementary schools, it stands alongside Ridgeview Elementary (533 students): Cottonwood Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.1:1 vs 15.2:1).
West Valley School District (Yakima) also operates West Valley High School (1,494 students) and West Valley Mid-Level Campus (1,167 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 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 (what these measure)
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
$14,671
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Valley School District (Yakima), which includes Cottonwood Elementary School.
$14,671
Per student
-25%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.3%
State 72.5%
Federal 11.2%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 1,494
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~362 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cottonwood Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Cottonwood Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- West Valley School District (Yakima)'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 362 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Yakima, WA.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Cottonwood Elementary School a good school?
Cottonwood Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington 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 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.
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.