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Cottonwood Plains Elementary School

Q: Is Cottonwood Plains Elementary School a good school?

Cottonwood Plains Elementary School ranks 568 th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

568^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 946 Colorado Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Colorado elementary schools

Summary

Cottonwood Plains Elementary School serves 330 students in grades PK-5 in Fort Collins, CO, as part of the Thompson School District R-2J. The school has shown clear recent improvement, climbing from the 17th percentile of Colorado elementary schools in 2021-22 to the 40th percentile today (568th of 943, earning 2 stars). ELA proficiency rose from 31.4% in 2023-24 to 42.3%, and math rose from 22.1% to 31.9% over the same period.

The school has a 52.7% free/reduced-price lunch rate, much higher than nearby high-performing schools like Coyote Ridge Elementary School (27.3%) and Werner Elementary School (22.7%). This context is important when comparing test scores. ELA proficiency (42.3%) is close to the state average (44.7%), but math (31.9%) and especially science (17%) lag behind state averages (37.3% and 36.1%, respectively). One notable bright spot: 4th-grade math proficiency (40.8%) exceeds the district (36.1%), the state (39%), and nearby Ponderosa Elementary (39.6%). However, 5th-grade math (18.9%) and the school's science results remain clear weak spots in need of attention.

The school has several promising strengths. Chronic absenteeism dropped from 21.1% to 15.3% — well below the district (25.0%) and state (28.4%) averages, and better than nearby Laurene Edmondson Elementary School (26.9%) and Academy of Arts and Knowledge Elementary (41.9%). The student-teacher ratio of 13.6 is also favorable compared to most area schools. Perhaps most importantly, the school's low-income students jumped from the 4th percentile statewide in 2023-24 to the 40th percentile in 2025-26, showing that recent gains are reaching all students. Overall, Cottonwood Plains is a school on the upswing with a stable attendance environment and improving academics, though math and science — particularly in 5th grade — remain priorities for continued growth.

330

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,990

Per pupil spending ?

52.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Colorado receive free school meals.

100%

Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

525 Turman Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525-9399

(970) 613-5900

District: Thompson School District R-2j

Students who attend Cottonwood Plains Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lucile Erwin Middle School
High:	Loveland High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

48.2%

White:

44.2%

Two or more races:

6.4%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Cottonwood Plains Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 17th percentile in 2022 → 40th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 40th (2026) from a 17th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Colorado average (34% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Science scores 19 pts below the Colorado average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg39%

Colorado avg41%

568^th of 946

Colorado public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 22 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Colorado Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 20Elementary Schools in the Thompson School District R-2j

35^th of 114Thompson School District R-2j among Colorado 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	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	568 of 946	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.9	574 of 950	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.6	692 of 943	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.7	676 of 933	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.3	768 of 921	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.2	547 of 710	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.1	524 of 965	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.2	468 of 917	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	57.6	346 of 929	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.9	344 of 914	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.6	292 of 938	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.5	338 of 962	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	58.8	417 of 954	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	72.0	261 of 935	72.1%	★★★★☆
2011	70.0	287 of 935	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.6	337 of 925	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	70.5	259 of 872	70.3%	★★★★☆
2008	66.5	295 of 849	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.6	218 of 852	74.4%	★★★★☆
2006	72.4	230 of 829	72.3%	★★★★☆
2005	66.2	297 of 823	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	62.5	329 of 808	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	28.6	487 of 695	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.7	521 of 694	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.7	606 of 684	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.6	515 of 642	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.1	545 of 595	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.2	569 of 758	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.8	469 of 690	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	40.6	192 of 322	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.4	252 of 337	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.5	349 of 365	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.3	258 of 265	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.4	280 of 332	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.1	214 of 308	30.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	28.2	474 of 697	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.7	446 of 700	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.4	531 of 683	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.7	412 of 649	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.5	526 of 594	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.3	375 of 764	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.9	358 of 693	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Colorado percentile	Rating
2026	57.0	242 of 547	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.5	369 of 551	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	17.8	477 of 539	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.3	305 of 525	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.4	370 of 596	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.9	180 of 337	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2026)56th percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile~ school

Male (2026)32nd percentile-8 vs school

Female (2026)30th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Colorado (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts42%~ state avg

Math32%-5 vs state

Science17%-19 vs state

2.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★0

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 25, 2022

There is a lot of diversity at Cottonwood. Students follow PRIDE. They learn “to do the right things even when no one is looking!!” Teachers work to support and help each child learn and grow. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, January 10, 2020

Schools like this are why our system is not even in the top 50 worldwide. Mediocrity fest all around. Fifth graders still cannot spell basic words correctly but this does not seem to deter the teachers from displaying their written work in the hallways - spelling mistakes and all...as if they are something to be proud of. Seriously personal items theft and bullying issues too. Dormant admin. Close Quote

Schools Near Cottonwood Plains Elementary School

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CMAS English Language Arts (2026)				CMAS Math (2026)				CMAS Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CMAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners fully immunized against measles (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Cottonwood Plains Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	525 Turman Drive	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Thompson School District R-2j	No	No	No	No	(970) 613-5900	330	24	13.6	52.7%	146 (44.2%)	3 (0.9%)	159 (48.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.4%)	35.6	568^th of 946 public elementary schools	40.0%		34.9	574^th of 950 public elementary schools	39.6%	6	41.0	38.8	46.3	42.3	38.1	40.8	18.9	31.9	17.0	100%	0%	$18,990
Coyote Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7115 Avondale Road	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Thompson School District R-2j	No	No	No	No	(970) 679-9400	242	17	14.1	27.3%	182 (75.2%)	1 (0.4%)	32 (13.2%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.9%)	80.7	170^th of 946 public elementary schools	82.0%		84.7	124^th of 950 public elementary schools	86.9%	46	66.7	70.4	71.8	69.7	66.7	55.6	43.6	54.5	51.3	88.1%	9.5%	$18,525
Laurene Edmondson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	307 West 49th Street	Loveland	80538	Larimer County	Thompson School District R-2j	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 613-6300	235	16	14.7	63.8%	127 (54.0%)	6 (2.6%)	88 (37.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.5%)	19.4	749^th of 946 public elementary schools	20.8%		18.6	758^th of 950 public elementary schools	20.2%	9	15.4	36.6	37.1	31.4	18.5	18.6	14.3	17.1	22.9	88.5%	11.5%	$18,007
Bacon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5844 South Timberline Road	Fort Collins	80528	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-5300	397	31	12.8	27.0%	300 (75.6%)	2 (0.5%)	57 (14.4%)	17 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (5.0%)	84.4	138^th of 946 public elementary schools	85.4%		84.4	126^th of 950 public elementary schools	86.7%	12	57.1	60.6	65.7	61.3	66.1	64.1	67.6	66.0	58.0	98.1%	0%	$21,467
Werner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5400 Mail Creek Lane	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-5550	374	24	15.7	22.7%	295 (78.9%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (11.5%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	20 (5.3%)	88	94^th of 946 public elementary schools	90.1%		87.6	106^th of 950 public elementary schools	88.8%	12	58.9	65.4	75.0	65.7	71.4	68.4	63.6	68.2	60.5	95%	0%	$28,019
Academy of Arts and Knowledge Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	4800 Wheaton Dr	Fort Collins	80525	Larimer County	State Charter School Institute	Yes	No	No	Yes	(970) 226-2800	240	18	13.7	47.5%	159 (66.3%)	6 (2.5%)	51 (21.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.6%)	26.3	666^th of 946 public elementary schools	29.6%		38.4	541^st of 950 public elementary schools	43.1%	125	21.6	29.4	34.3	28.3	35.1	14.7	29.4	26.7	34.3			$11,858
Centennial Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1555 West 37th Street	Loveland	80538	Larimer County	Thompson School District R-2j	No	No	No	No	(970) 613-5800	324	20	15.9	30.6%	217 (67.0%)	2 (0.6%)	72 (22.2%)	10 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.8%)	45.2	466^th of 946 public elementary schools	50.7%		53.6	417^th of 950 public elementary schools	56.1%	49	33.3	54.0	57.6	48.5	22.2	42.0	30.5	31.3	36.2	93.3%	4.4%	$17,238
McGraw Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4800 Hinsdale Drive	Fort Collins	80526	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-8335	349	25	13.9	34.4%	256 (73.4%)	4 (1.1%)	69 (19.8%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.0%)	85.9	123^rd of 946 public elementary schools	87.0%		88.3	93^rd of 950 public elementary schools	90.2%	30	52.5	70.0	76.6	66.8	59.3	67.1	59.4	62.2	63.5	91.5%	0%	$18,979
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3312 North Douglas Avenue	Loveland	80538	Larimer County	Thompson School District R-2j	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 613-6200	196	12	16.0	47.4%	118 (60.2%)	2 (1.0%)	61 (31.1%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.1%)	57.1	387^th of 946 public elementary schools	59.1%		47.4	469^th of 950 public elementary schools	50.6%	82	715.0	52.0	747.0	39.4	717.0	36.0	739.0	28.8	47.4	87.5%	12.5%	$21,045
Ponderosa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4550 Florence Drive	Loveland	80538	Larimer County	Thompson School District R-2j	No	No	No	No	(970) 679-9500	335	21	15.7	22.7%	259 (77.3%)	3 (0.9%)	61 (18.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	64.3	314^th of 946 public elementary schools	66.8%		69	276^th of 950 public elementary schools	70.9%	38	62.5	58.3	56.7	58.8	53.7	39.6	38.3	43.0	44.1	97.1%	2.9%	$17,716

Frequently Asked Questions about Cottonwood Plains Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Cottonwood Plains Elementary School?

Students at Cottonwood Plains Elementary School are 48% Hispanic, 44% White, 6% Two or more races.

Is Cottonwood Plains Elementary School a good school?

Cottonwood Plains Elementary School ranks 568^th of 946 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cottonwood Plains Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 330 students attended Cottonwood Plains Elementary School.

What district is Cottonwood Plains Elementary School in?

Thompson School District R-2j

What schools do graduates of Cottonwood Plains Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Cottonwood Plains Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lucile Erwin Middle School
High : Loveland High School

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Latest Colorado data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataOct 6, 2026

2025–26 CMAS, PSAT10, PSAT9 & SAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

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