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GreatSchools Rating

Cottonwood Elementary School

Public | K-4 | 425 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 1 rating
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
No new ratings

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7 reviews of this school


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Posted January 17, 2013

We have had a wonderful experience with this school! Teachers seem to truly care about each student. They seem to try to individualize each student's lessons and push the children to work up to their potential. Reading, writing and math programs are great. There are lots of incentives to be a responsible student, to try one's best, and to be healthy with the PAWS program and mileage club. Unfortunately there is no art class. The principal is very friendly and gets to know each student. As far as the district goes- It is important to note that all special education students attend this elementary school which might have an effect on the 6/10 rating, as well as the fact that the advanced students are placed at Wide Hollow.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted October 4, 2012

Cottonwood has been wonderful for my son and myself. He has special learning issues and they have been very supportive and accommodating. We transferred to Cottonwood at the beginning of my son's 3rd grade year and we have been made to feel very welcome and a part of the school. The staff are wonderful and there for the children. There is a community feeling regarding the staff, children and parents here.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 5, 2011

my child went here for only one year and it was horrible!!! the teacher he had was absolutely against anybody that was lower middle class and below. she made fun of my son and made first grade a nightmare. the staff said they would fix the problem yet never did. i pulled my son outta school two weeks early and placed him at apple valley which he loves. i would never recommend cottonwood to anybody unless you are upper class and have money!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 18, 2011

This school is terrible I have been treated unfairly and my children to I would not recommend this school to any one if your child is not a top reader or struggles in any other subject if so good luck .
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 10, 2006

I have had a very positive opinion about W.V. schools. I do have concerns about my daughter this year. She is in 4th grade and will be taking the wasl's this year. Her homwork load is very light and the work she is bring home is work she did in 3rd grade. I don't see where she is being prepared for the test. I am greatly concerned in regards to this. Thank you for asking for the parents opinions.
—Submitted by Tami Walters, a parent


Posted June 30, 2004

Wonderful school! I can't say enough about it! We have three children that have or do attend the school and every teacher has been wonderful, dedicated, and all around wonderful. There is a ton of parent involvement and a nice community of caring families. The children are expected to respect others which I appreciate. It's a safe environment as well. I have been surprised on more than one occasion when the teachers had a very detailed knowledge of my child(ren) through teaching them, proving to me how much individual attention each student is given and that the teachers care about them all. Parents are kept well informed of what is going on in the classroom as well.
—Submitted by Jeanene Sutton, a parent


Posted September 9, 2003

My kids have gone to cottonwood for the last 3 years and we love it! We think the school is wonderful and that the staff is especially wonderful to deal with!
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 65% in 2012.

87 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
82%

2011

 
 
54%

2010

 
 
71%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 69% in 2012.

88 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
75%

2011

 
 
81%

2010

 
 
81%
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

The state average for Math was 59% in 2012.

76 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
71%

2011

 
 
63%

2010

 
 
46%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 71% in 2012.

75 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
81%

2011

 
 
70%

2010

 
 
66%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 61% in 2012.

75 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
91%

2011

 
 
75%

2010

 
 
63%
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

All Students82%
Female88%
Male76%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic68%
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White85%
Low income64%
Not low income90%
Special education50%
Not special education88%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Reading

All Students75%
Female86%
Male65%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic63%
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White79%
Low income64%
Not low income80%
Special education36%
Not special education82%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

All Students71%
Female61%
Male82%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic50%
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White77%
Low income58%
Not low income77%
Special educationn/a
Not special education75%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Reading

All Students81%
Female82%
Male81%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic70%
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White83%
Low income65%
Not low income88%
Special educationn/a
Not special education88%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Writing

All Students91%
Female90%
Male92%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic100%
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White92%
Low income92%
Not low income90%
Special educationn/a
Not special education95%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 72% 64%
Hispanic 22% 16%
Asian/Pacific Islander 3% 9%
Black 1% 6%
Native American 1% 3%
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 39%N/A42%
Special education 22%N/A13%
Transitional bilingual 3%N/A8%
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per classroom teacher 18N/A17
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Average years educational experience 14N/A12
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Teacher education levels

  This school District averageState average
Master's degree or higher 63%N/A66%
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

1041 South 96th Ave
Yakima, WA 98908
Phone: (509) 965-2052

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