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North Cottonwood

Q: Is North Cottonwood a good school?

North Cottonwood ranks 3140 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

3140^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of California elementary schools

Summary

North Cottonwood is a public elementary school serving 498 students in grades K-4 within the Cottonwood Union Elementary district in Cottonwood, CA, which is ranked in the middle of all California districts.

Recent data shows a concerning trend of declining academic performance at North Cottonwood, with its statewide ranking dropping significantly over the past few years. Student proficiency in English and Math is below both the district and state averages, and this decline is more pronounced when compared to several nearby schools. For example, Cottonwood Creek Charter and Evergreen Elementary maintain much higher proficiency rates. The school also has a chronic absenteeism rate that is higher than its district average and higher than many local schools, which may be connected to academic outcomes.

Performance varies widely among different groups of students at North Cottonwood, with some groups performing notably better than others. The school spends a moderate amount per student compared to neighbors like Happy Valley Primary or Anderson Heights Elementary, but less than some. The most striking finding is the dramatic recent drop in performance for students from low-income families, which is a critical area for the school to address. The school's leadership faces the challenge of reversing these downward trends and learning from the successes of higher-performing schools in the area.

498

Students ?

21.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,987

Per pupil spending ?

44%

Free/discounted lunch ?

19920 Gas Point Rd.
Cottonwood, CA 96022-9115

(530) 347-1698

District: Cottonwood Union Elementary

Students who attend North Cottonwood usually attend:

Middle:	West Cottonwood Junior High
High:	West Valley Early College High

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.3%

Hispanic:

18.7%

American Indian:

5.8%

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Compare North Cottonwood to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 46th percentile in 2015 → 46th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (38% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg42%

California avg43%

3,140^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

644^th of 1,543Cottonwood Union Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.2	3140 of 5857	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.5	2531 of 5869	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.8	2016 of 5859	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.2	1882 of 5883	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.2	644 of 1417	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.0	3534 of 5789	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.9	2345 of 5662	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	45.9	2762 of 5692	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	38.3	3187 of 5614	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.1	3007 of 5611	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.2	3511 of 5530	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.8	3603 of 5390	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	48.1	2720 of 5377	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.8	2283 of 5314	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.3	1706 of 5193	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.0	1498 of 5113	70.7%	★★★★☆
2007	65.0	1597 of 5113	68.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.4	2610 of 5597	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.2	2455 of 5612	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.1	2164 of 5609	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.3	1626 of 5635	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	67.1	371 of 1267	70.7%	★★★★☆
2019	37.5	3265 of 5492	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.0	2233 of 5413	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	2455 of 5107	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.0	2204 of 5107	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.8	1363 of 5087	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	51.1	2121 of 5084	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.1	2884 of 4963	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.1	1568 of 4830	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	30.0	3986 of 5460	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.7	2936 of 5517	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	70.4	1208 of 5363	77.5%	★★★★☆
2022	60.8	1635 of 5264	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.3	193 of 1110	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	35.6	3460 of 5173	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.6	3723 of 5084	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.5	3360 of 5628	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.8	2420 of 5643	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.3	1717 of 5638	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.7	2063 of 5663	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.0	774 of 1272	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.6	3501 of 5510	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.0	2336 of 5431	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.0	1883 of 2847	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.3	1452 of 2635	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.7	1131 of 2420	53.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	22.7	2111 of 2598	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	2080 of 2651	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.6	1811 of 2661	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.0	1827 of 2726	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	14.3	2530 of 2834	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.7	2131 of 2737	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2025)53rd percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)52nd percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)40th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2025)34th percentile-13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)27th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)19th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy40%-8 vs state

Mathematics36%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near North Cottonwood

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North Cottonwood	Public	K-4	19920 Gas Point Rd.	Cottonwood	96022	Shasta County	Cottonwood Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 347-1698	498	24	21.1	44.0%	360 (72.3%)	3 (0.6%)	93 (18.7%)	6 (1.2%)	29 (5.8%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	41.2	3140^th of 5857 public elementary schools	46.4%		50.5	2531^st of 5869 public elementary schools	56.9%	609				27.9	51.0					40.4	25.6	44.1					35.6	96.5	96.5	96.5		96.5	96.5	$18,987	$18,492	$495
Cottonwood Creek Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	3425 Brush St.	Cottonwood	96022	Shasta County	Cottonwood Creek Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 347-7200	294	11	26.1	26.5%	252 (85.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (7.1%)	85.7	892^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	84.8%		91.8	588^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.0%	304	37.0	35.7	36.4	77.4	78.6	63.0	59.4	71.4	60.7	68.4	87.1	75.0	55.6	62.5	82.1	50.0	69.0	70.4	88.9	88.9		92.6	92.6
Evergreen Elementary	Public	K-4	19415 Hooker Creek Rd.	Cottonwood	96022	Tehama County	Evergreen Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 347-3411	541	24	22.5	60.1%	405 (74.9%)	0 (0.0%)	97 (17.9%)	5 (0.9%)	12 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.9%)	69.5	1622^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	72.3%		59.5	2092^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	64.4%	470				75.6	51.8					62.3	57.8	43.0					49.5	97.1				97.1		$19,733	$17,138	$2,595
Evergreen Community Day School (K-5)	Public	K-5	19500 Learning Way	Cottonwood	96022	Tehama County	Evergreen Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 347-3411	2	1	4.0		1 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																								$82,144	$82,144	$00
Anderson Heights Elementary	Public	K-5	1530 Spruce St.	Anderson	96007	Shasta County	Cascade Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 378-7050	261	15	17.4	76.2%	130 (49.8%)	2 (0.8%)	72 (27.6%)	11 (4.2%)	10 (3.8%)	4 (1.5%)	32 (12.3%)	25.9	4316^th of 5857 public elementary schools	26.3%		20.4	4820^th of 5869 public elementary schools	17.9%	504	19.5		19.5	30.6	23.9	50.0				34.7	30.6	21.7	14.6				22.0	83.7	89.8	93.9	91.8	89.8	93.9	$28,815	$25,966	$2,849
North State Aspire Academy	Public	K-5	1500 Spruce St.	Anderson	96007	Shasta County	Cascade Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 378-7050	13	2	6.5	84.6%	5 (38.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (23.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (30.8%)								(n/a)
Meadow Lane Elementary	Public	K-5	2770 Balls Ferry Rd.	Anderson	96007	Shasta County	Cascade Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 378-7030	398	21	18.9	65.1%	220 (55.3%)	3 (0.8%)	85 (21.4%)	21 (5.3%)	18 (4.5%)	3 (0.8%)	48 (12.1%)	35.6	3529^th of 5857 public elementary schools	39.7%		40.4	3156^th of 5869 public elementary schools	46.2%	373	20.0		20.0	28.6	48.2	45.0				40.1	31.8	38.9	23.3				31.1	94.6	98.2		97.3	94.6	97.3	$22,381	$19,666	$2,715
Tree of Life International Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	19415 Jacqueline St.	Anderson	96007	Shasta County	Tree of Life International Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 378-7040	402	20	19.6	51.2%	137 (34.1%)	3 (0.7%)	242 (60.2%)	6 (1.5%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.0%)	56.6	2228^th of 5857 public elementary schools	62.0%		47.9	2677^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.4%	449	35.7	52.4	41.3	40.8	39.6	53.7	51.5	71.4	47.6	48.4	58.5	56.0	31.0	33.3	57.1	33.3	46.4	91.7	91.7	91.7	91.7	91.7	91.7
Prairie Elementary	Public	K-3	20981 Dersch Rd.	Anderson	96007	Shasta County	Pacheco Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 365-1801	332	16	20.7	57.8%	216 (65.1%)	2 (0.6%)	59 (17.8%)	7 (2.1%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (12.7%)								(n/a)				50.0						50.0	48.7						48.7	97.3				98.2	98.2	$2,995	$2,358	$637
Happy Valley Primary	Public	K-3	16300 Cloverdale Rd.	Anderson	96007	Shasta County	Happy Valley Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 357-2131	217	12	18.0	71.9%	105 (48.4%)	1 (0.5%)	43 (19.8%)	14 (6.5%)	17 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (17.1%)								(n/a)				46.9						46.9	44.0						44.0							$21,033	$19,948	$1,085

Frequently Asked Questions about North Cottonwood

What is the racial makeup of North Cottonwood?

Students at North Cottonwood are 72% White, 19% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 1% Asian.

How many students attend North Cottonwood?

In the 2024-25 school year, 498 students attended North Cottonwood.

Is North Cottonwood a good school?

North Cottonwood ranks 3140^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of North Cottonwood attend?

Students who attend North Cottonwood usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Cottonwood Junior High
High : West Valley Early College High

What district is North Cottonwood in?

Cottonwood Union Elementary

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.