Summary:
The city of Cottonwood, Alabama is home to two schools: Cottonwood Elementary School and Cottonwood High School, both part of the Houston County school district. While Cottonwood Elementary consistently ranks in the top half of Alabama elementary schools, Cottonwood High School has struggled, with test scores below state and district averages, particularly in mathematics.
Cottonwood Elementary School stands out as the stronger performer, with a 4-star rating and above-average test scores, especially in English language arts. The school has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate compared to the high school. In contrast, Cottonwood High School has a 2- or 3-star rating and test scores below state and district averages, particularly in mathematics. The high school's graduation rate is decent at 90%, but the dropout rate of 6.4% is concerning.
Both schools serve a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, with high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients. This may be a factor in the academic performance of the schools. Additionally, the student-teacher ratios are relatively high for both schools, which could impact the level of individual attention and support students receive. Addressing these challenges could lead to improved outcomes for the students in the Cottonwood school district.
Thank you for your feedback!