Cottonwood

Cottonwood is a large, K-12 alternative school serving 3,563 students in the Cottonwood District of El Dorado Hills, CA, that achieves remarkable success in student graduation and attendance despite a higher student-to-teacher ratio and serving a significant population of economically disadvantaged students.

The school truly excels in getting students to the finish line, with a 95.3% graduation rate and an exceptionally low 0.6% dropout rate, far surpassing state averages and outperforming nearby alternative schools like Mountainside Middle College High. Furthermore, Cottonwood has virtually eliminated chronic absenteeism, a critical factor for student success, and its students perform particularly well in science, outperforming both the state and schools such as Lake View Charter and Innovations Academy.

What makes Cottonwood stand out is its efficient model; it delivers these strong outcomes while spending significantly less per student than many comparable schools, such as Walnutwood High (Independent Study). While test scores in subjects like elementary math are an area for growth, the school shows a powerful positive trajectory, with English scores improving dramatically by high school. Compared to other high-performing local schools like Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter and John Adams Academy - El Dorado Hills, Cottonwood demonstrates that a school can achieve excellent results in key areas with diverse student needs and prudent resource management.