Summary
Cottonwood School is a small elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Havre, Montana, with just 20 students enrolled. Despite its small size, the school faces several significant challenges, including declining performance rankings, underperformance in core academic subjects, and a relatively high student-teacher ratio.
Over the past few years, Cottonwood School has seen a sharp decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 30th out of 329 elementary schools in 2021-2022 to 314th out of 401 in the most recent 2024-2025 school year. This decline is concerning, as the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are well below the state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, only 41.67% of Cottonwood students were proficient in ELA, compared to the state average of 43.09%, and just 8.33% were proficient in Math, compared to 36.77% statewide.
Interestingly, the nearby Gildford Colony School, located about 14 miles away, has significantly higher performance rankings, proficiency rates, and a lower student-teacher ratio than Cottonwood School. This suggests that Cottonwood may be underperforming compared to similar small, rural schools in the region. Additionally, Cottonwood School's high spending per student, at $14,660 per student in 2018-2019, raises questions about the school's ability to provide a high-quality education to all students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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