Cottonwood Elementary School

Cottonwood Elementary School is a K–5 school in Montrose, CO, serving 394 students and consistently ranking in the upper third of Colorado elementary schools, including a 69th-percentile state ranking for 2025–2026. While the Montrose County School District Re-1J overall sits near the middle of the pack statewide, Cottonwood stands out as the strongest academic performer among the district’s elementary schools, with proficiency rates well above both district and state averages in every subject tested.

Cottonwood’s 2025–2026 CMAS scores tell a clear story: 53.6% of students scored proficient in English Language Arts, 48.6% in math, and 54.1% in 5th-grade science — compared to state averages of 44.7%, 37.3%, and 36.1%, respectively. The math advantage is especially notable, nearly double the district average. Students also show strong growth between 3rd and 5th grade, moving from slightly below state benchmarks in both ELA and math to well above them by 5th grade. Perhaps most impressive are the results for economically disadvantaged students, who rank in the 76th–86th percentile statewide — a 4-star rating in recent years — suggesting the school is especially effective at supporting low-income learners. Attendance is another bright spot: chronic absenteeism at 21.2% is far better than the district’s 31.7% and the state’s 28.4%, and it improved over the prior year.

Compared to nearby elementary schools, Cottonwood is in a league of its own. Oak Grove Elementary, the next-best performer, ranks in the 46th percentile with ELA proficiency at 43.6% and math at 30.5%, while Cottonwood’s rates are 53.6% and 48.6%. Other nearby schools like Pomona, Northside, Olathe, and Johnson all rank well below the 50th percentile. With a lower free/reduced lunch rate than many peers, strong attendance, and a decades-long track record in the 60th–75th percentile range, Cottonwood delivers both high achievement and equitable outcomes. The only area to watch is 3rd-grade performance, which starts below state averages — but the school’s ability to accelerate learning by 5th grade makes it a standout choice in southwest Colorado.