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Cottonwood Elementary School

Q: Is Cottonwood Elementary School a good school?

Cottonwood Elementary School ranks 271 st of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

271^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 77% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Cottonwood Elementary School is a consistently high-performing public school serving about 360 students in grades K-5 within the well-regarded West Valley School District (Yakima) in Yakima, Washington.

Academically, Cottonwood stands out for its strong and stable test scores, which are above both district and state averages in English and math, and it has maintained a 4-star rating for over a decade. The school is particularly effective in supporting its students, with historically high performance noted for specific student groups. While the school has a lower percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch than some neighboring schools like Summitview Elementary or Wide Hollow Elementary, its success with these students when they are enrolled points to strong support systems. Notably, schools in the neighboring Yakima School District, such as Whitney Elementary and Gilbert Elementary School, have significantly lower proficiency rates despite similar or higher per-student spending.

Parents should note that, like some other West Valley schools such as Ahtanum Valley Elementary, Cottonwood sees a dip in 5th-grade math scores, indicating a potential area of focus. There has also been a recent decline in performance rankings for special education students, which the school may be addressing. Overall, Cottonwood is a top-tier choice in the area, known for its consistent quality and effective teaching within a high-achieving district that includes other strong schools like Mountainview Elementary and Apple Valley Elementary.

362

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,805

Per pupil spending ?

39.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1041 S 96th Ave
Yakima, WA 98908-9746

(509) 965-2052

District: West Valley School District (Yakima)

Students who attend Cottonwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	West Valley Mid-Level Campus
High:	West Valley High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.4%

Hispanic:

39.0%

Asian:

3.0%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Cottonwood Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 75th percentile in 2015 → 77th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (61% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Washington elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school61%

District avg53%

Washington avg48%

271^st of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 6Elementary Schools in the West Valley School District (Yakima)

54^th of 247West Valley School District (Yakima) among Washington 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	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	74.1	271 of 1160	76.6%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	160 of 1168	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	78.6	236 of 1169	79.8%	★★★★☆
2022	83.1	185 of 1169	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	80.7	197 of 1107	82.2%	★★★★☆
2019	82.1	182 of 1130	83.9%	★★★★☆
2018	77.1	234 of 1054	77.8%	★★★★☆
2017	73.9	263 of 1056	75.1%	★★★★☆
2016	84.9	141 of 1053	86.6%	★★★★☆
2015	72.0	266 of 1067	75.1%	★★★★☆
2013	72.9	266 of 1106	75.9%	★★★★☆
2012	79.8	156 of 1097	85.8%	★★★★☆
2011	60.2	426 of 1092	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.2	343 of 1088	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	76.9	186 of 1072	82.6%	★★★★☆
2008	74.7	218 of 1067	79.6%	★★★★☆
2007	63.4	387 of 1069	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	67.7	292 of 1051	72.2%	★★★★☆
2005	71.9	262 of 1031	74.6%	★★★★☆
2004	78.7	169 of 1026	83.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	68.2	303 of 1092	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	81.0	184 of 1093	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	81.7	182 of 1094	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	83.6	164 of 1100	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	78.3	183 of 1008	81.8%	★★★★☆
2019	78.0	216 of 1068	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	70.8	284 of 1004	71.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	68.6	167 of 659	74.7%	★★★★☆
2024	86.9	39 of 651	94.0%	★★★★★
2023	84.2	56 of 633	91.2%	★★★★★
2022	88.0	45 of 694	93.5%	★★★★★
2021	88.1	25 of 501	95.0%	★★★★★
2019	82.0	76 of 697	89.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	78.4	131 of 1013	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	88.5	47 of 1024	95.4%	★★★★★
2023	72.2	212 of 1013	79.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.2	120 of 1019	88.2%	★★★★☆
2021	67.1	190 of 854	77.8%	★★★★☆
2019	74.8	147 of 979	85.0%	★★★★☆
2018	76.2	110 of 835	86.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	78.0	207 of 1098	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	88.1	114 of 1099	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	72.9	269 of 1099	75.5%	★★★★☆
2022	80.6	201 of 1113	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	77.5	218 of 1025	78.7%	★★★★☆
2019	84.7	148 of 1075	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	81.1	169 of 999	83.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	49.3	182 of 363	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.6	51 of 339	85.0%	★★★★☆
2023	63.1	83 of 308	73.1%	★★★★☆
2022	75.5	68 of 478	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	64.2	139 of 566	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	94.2	21 of 637	96.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	78.8	190 of 1007	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	80.3	173 of 1009	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	76.2	230 of 1011	77.3%	★★★★☆
2022	82.2	151 of 1031	85.4%	★★★★☆
2021	80.0	158 of 943	83.2%	★★★★☆
2019	84.7	115 of 1027	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	76.8	185 of 833	77.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)87th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)81st percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)81st percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)75th percentile~ school

Female (2025)72nd percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2025)50th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts67%+14 vs state

Math60%+17 vs state

Science57%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cottonwood Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)			SBAC English Language Arts (2025)							SBAC Math (2025)				% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cottonwood Elementary School	Public	K-5	1041 S 96th Ave	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 965-2052	362	22	16.1	39.2%	197 (54.4%)	2 (0.6%)	141 (39.0%)	11 (3.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.8%)	74.1	271^st of 1160 public elementary schools	76.6%		85.2	160^th of 1168 public elementary schools	86.3%	111	56.7		56.7	66.7	74.5	62.7				67.5	63.5	79.2	40.7	60.0	96.6	96.6	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.3	100.0	98.3	98.3	98.3	$16,805	$1,247	$15,558
West Valley Virtual Academy K-6	Public, Virtual	K-6	9206 Zier Road	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	Yes	No	(509) 823-2602	28	0		53.6%	17 (60.7%)	1 (3.6%)	3 (10.7%)	3 (10.7%)	1 (3.6%)	3 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																									$7,880	$90	$7,790
Apple Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	7 N 88th Avenue	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 965-2060	447	26	17.1	42.3%	229 (51.2%)	3 (0.7%)	177 (39.6%)	8 (1.8%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	78.5	226^th of 1160 public elementary schools	80.5%		79.8	220^th of 1168 public elementary schools	81.2%	6	68.8		68.8	62.2	55.0	74.0				64.5	60.8	62.7	75.3	66.7	84.3	91.0	89.9	89.9	89.9	92.1	92.1	89.9	92.1	92.1	$16,344	$487	$15,858
Wide Hollow Elementary	Public	K-5	1000 S 72nd Ave	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 965-2023	433	27	16.0	65.1%	169 (39.0%)	4 (0.9%)	226 (52.2%)	14 (3.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.2%)	66.1	364^th of 1160 public elementary schools	68.6%		55.5	493^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	57.8%	129	64.4		64.4	57.1	51.3	68.9				59.7	51.8	55.0	53.3	53.5	92.9	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	92.9	94.6	94.6	94.6	$15,848	$373	$15,474
Summitview Elementary	Public	K-5	6305 W Chestnut Ave	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 972-5540	475	29	16.1	66.5%	199 (41.9%)	2 (0.4%)	246 (51.8%)	5 (1.1%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.6%)	39.7	686^th of 1160 public elementary schools	40.9%		44.7	625^th of 1168 public elementary schools	46.5%	61	44.1		44.1	43.9	44.3	49.5				46.1	59.8	43.0	24.7	41.7	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	98.8	97.6	97.6	97.6	$15,110	$864	$14,246
Ahtanum Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	3006 S Wiley Rd	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 965-2031	381	23	16.5	64.3%	207 (54.3%)	6 (1.6%)	152 (39.9%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	71.8	296^th of 1160 public elementary schools	74.5%		70.2	315^th of 1168 public elementary schools	73.0%	19	49.1		49.1	60.3	71.2	70.9				67.2	82.4	58.5	41.8	62.2	94.6	94.6	96.4	96.4	96.4	94.6	98.2	96.4	94.6	94.6	$16,863	$480	$16,383
Whitney Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4411 W Nob Hill Blvd	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-1900	433	27	15.8	81.1%	99 (22.9%)	4 (0.9%)	301 (69.5%)	9 (2.1%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.5%)	14 (3.2%)	26.7	870^th of 1160 public elementary schools	25.0%		26.7	872^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	25.3%	2	32.5		32.5	34.7	49.3	35.0				39.3	38.7	44.3	25.0	35.6	98.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	98.0	100.0	100.0	98.0	98.0	$21,271	$1,457	$19,815
Gilbert Elementary School	Public	K-5	4400 Douglas Dr	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-5800	415	29	14.1	77.8%	113 (27.2%)	3 (0.7%)	282 (68.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (3.1%)	33.8	766^th of 1160 public elementary schools	34.0%		30.1	814^th of 1168 public elementary schools	30.3%	48	54.6		54.6	38.0	34.9	54.6				41.6	24.1	28.6	45.5	31.5	98.4	98.4	100.0	100.0	100.0	98.4	100.0	100.0	98.4	98.4	$22,633	$2,174	$20,459
Mountainview Elementary	Public	K-5	830 Stone Rd	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 965-2070	238	16	15.2	55.0%	141 (59.2%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (37.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.4%)	75.8	252^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	78.3%		71.4	301^st of 1168 public elementary schools	74.2%	49	76.2		76.2	64.1	51.2	71.4				62.3	61.5	61.0	57.1	59.8	93.0	93.0	97.7	97.7	97.7	93.0	93.0	95.4	93.0	93.0	$17,223	$589	$16,634
K-8 Learning Lab	Public	1-8	610 N. 39th Avenue	Yakima	98902	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-1080	122	1	122.0	87.7%	18 (14.8%)	2 (1.6%)	101 (82.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)								(n/a)	20.0	20.0	20.0				15.8	20.8	29.2	21.3				3.4											$8,196	$699	$7,497

Frequently Asked Questions about Cottonwood Elementary School

What district is Cottonwood Elementary School in?

West Valley School District (Yakima)

How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 362 students attended Cottonwood Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Cottonwood Elementary School?

Students at Cottonwood Elementary School are 54% White, 39% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Cottonwood Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : West Valley Mid-Level Campus
High : West Valley High School

Is Cottonwood Elementary School a good school?

Cottonwood Elementary School ranks 271^st of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Cottonwood Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

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.