Public schools in Cottonwood, CA
10 open public schools with an address in Cottonwood, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,076
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Cottonwood public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Cottonwood, CA: 4 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,076 students, an average of 342 per school. The largest campus is West Valley Early College High (736 students), and the largest elementary school is Evergreen Elementary (541).
Evergreen Union operates the most schools here (5), and 3 regular districts have at least one Cottonwood campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 21:1, similar to the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 49% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Cottonwood
Elementary schools in Cottonwood
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek Charter Cottonwood Creek Charter District · Charter | KG–08 | 294 | 26.2:1 | |
| Evergreen Community Day School (K-5) Evergreen Union · Alternative School | KG–05 | 2 | 4:1 | |
| Evergreen Elementary Evergreen Union | KG–04 | 541 | 22.5:1 | |
| North Cottonwood Cottonwood Union Elementary | KG–04 | 498 | 21.2:1 |
Middle schools in Cottonwood
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Community Day School (5-8) Evergreen Union · Alternative School | 05–08 | 3 | 6:1 | |
| Evergreen Middle Evergreen Union | 05–08 | 399 | 21:1 | |
| West Cottonwood Junior High Cottonwood Union Elementary | 05–08 | 419 | 19.6:1 |
High schools in Cottonwood
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Valley Early College High Anderson Union High | 09–12 | 736 | 22.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Cottonwood
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Preschool Cottonwood Union Elementary | Not reported | — | — | |
| Evergreen Institute of Excellence Evergreen Union · Charter | KG–12 | 184 | 15.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White72.1%
- Hispanic17.6%
- Black0.6%
- Asian1.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native3.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial4.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Cottonwood schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,076 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Cottonwood
How many public schools are in Cottonwood, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Cottonwood: 4 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 3,076 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Cottonwood?
Schools with an address in Cottonwood belong to 4 education agencies, led by Evergreen Union (5 schools), Cottonwood Union Elementary (3 schools), Anderson Union High (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Cottonwood?
West Valley Early College High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Cottonwood, with 736 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Cottonwood?
Yes. 2 of the 10 public schools in Cottonwood are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Cottonwood Creek Charter, Evergreen Institute of Excellence. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Cottonwood schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Cottonwood public schools is 21:1, similar to the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Cottonwood guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities