The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 50% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Evergreen Elementary
Evergreen Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Cottonwood, a small unincorporated community in the southern part of the county, along Interstate 5 between Redding and Red Bluff. The school sits on Hooker Creek Road and enrolls a student body of about five hundred students across its five grade bands.
The school's academic profile shows a split picture. In English language arts, students perform at a rate above the midpoint for the state: third graders reach proficiency at a solid level, though fourth-grade proficiency declines noticeably. In math, the pattern reverses: third graders show middling attainment while fourth graders trail further. Across both subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Tehama County, a meaningful distinction in a county where academic performance varies widely. The data available covers only the current school year, so longer-term trend information is not available.
About three-fifths of Evergreen's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population and small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The school does not report enrollment data for students with individual education plans or English learners, a gap that may reflect the way the school records or reports these populations rather than their absence.
Cottonwood itself is a historic rural community with a strong ranching and agricultural character. Most residents own their homes and have family roots in the area. The town's civic center remains its historic Front Street district, lined with antique and craft shops and retaining a mid-nineteenth-century feel, though modern commercial development has spread westward across Interstate 5. The community library, a branch of the Shasta County system, sits on Main Street with limited hours. Regional employment opportunities are concentrated in nearby Anderson and Redding, where larger employers in lumber production, healthcare, and retail are based; Cottonwood's own economy relies on small business, ranching, and some rodeo operations.
The area has experienced rapid residential growth in recent years, driven by master-planned developments straddling the Tehama County line, including large active-adult communities and new subdivisions. This growth has raised planning issues around building codes and land use, and has been part of broader conversations in the region about whether Cottonwood should incorporate as a city to gain greater control over development and prevent annexation by neighboring Anderson.
Housing values in the 96022 zip code are moderate relative to California; monthly mortgage costs and rents are both below state benchmarks. The unemployment rate in the region remains steady, and median household income is stable, though the affordability picture reflects the reality that while homes cost less than statewide norms, local incomes also tend to be lower. Parents may want to look into the school's recent English language learner and special education enrollment numbers directly with the school if those populations are relevant to their situation, since state reporting does not break those figures out here. No information on discipline, attendance, staffing, or specialized coursework was available in the data provided.
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