- Enrollment
- 498
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cottonwood, CA
West Cottonwood Junior High
Federal NCES profile for West Cottonwood Junior High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060999001086
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Cottonwood Junior High earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 78% of California schools.
- #3 of 7
- elementary schools in Cottonwood · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.2:1
- small classes for California
- 44.8%
- free-lunch eligible
West Cottonwood Junior High has class sizes smaller than 78% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Cottonwood Junior High ranks #3 of 7 elementary schools in Cottonwood, CA.
School address
District: Cottonwood Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 060999001086 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+11 students YoY
West Cottonwood Junior High held near 395 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+11 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.1 → 22.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+11 students YoY 060999001086 · Cottonwood, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
419 enr · 18.2:1 · 44.8% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: North Cottonwood (498 students)
West Cottonwood Junior High held near 395 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+11 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.1 → 22.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How West Cottonwood Junior High compares
West Cottonwood Junior High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.2:1 | ▼ 15% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.8% | ▼ 19% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 419 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
419
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 22% in California - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.5%
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
$16,516
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 419 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.2%
Hispanic or Latino 20.5%
Two or More 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.7%
Asian 1.2%
African American 0.5%
Largest group: White at 65.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, West Cottonwood Junior High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Cottonwood Union Elementary reports $16,516 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Cottonwood Junior High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Cottonwood | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Cottonwood Junior High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar elementary schools in Cottonwood
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Evergreen Elementary
Standard public school
541 students 22.5:1 students per teacher
North Cottonwood
Standard public school
498 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Evergreen Middle
Standard public school
399 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Cottonwood Creek Charter
Standard public school
294 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Evergreen Community Day School (5-8)
Alternative education program
3 students
Evergreen Community Day School (K-5)
Alternative education program
2 students
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 (~419 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Cottonwood Junior High
How many students attend West Cottonwood Junior High?
West Cottonwood Junior High has 419 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cottonwood, CA. CCD year-over-year: 384 (2022-23) → 395 (2023-24), nearly flat (+11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Cottonwood Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at West Cottonwood Junior High is 18.2:1, which is 15% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 16% 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 West Cottonwood Junior High?
44.8% of students at West Cottonwood Junior High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Cottonwood Junior High?
The largest demographic group at West Cottonwood Junior High is White at 65.2% of enrollment, in Cottonwood, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Cottonwood Junior High?
West Cottonwood Junior High has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 West Cottonwood Junior High rank among elementary schools in Cottonwood?
By Resource Investment Index, West Cottonwood Junior High ranks #3 of 7 elementary schools in Cottonwood, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Cottonwood on the city page.
What other schools are in Cottonwood Union Elementary?
Besides West Cottonwood Junior High, Cottonwood Union Elementary also operates North Cottonwood (498 students). See the Cottonwood Union Elementary district page for the complete list.