The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cottonwood Elementary School
Cottonwood Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Salina, Kansas. As part of the Salina public school district, it is a neighborhood elementary school with an open enrollment pattern typical of a district elementary school. The school is not a charter or magnet.
On the 2024-25 Kansas state assessments, Cottonwood's students showed a range of proficiency across subjects and grades. In math, proficiency rates climbed from the lower grade levels to the upper ones, with roughly half of fifth graders meeting the state standard. In English language arts, performance was stronger, with about half of fourth graders and a similar share of fifth graders scoring proficient or above. Science, tested only in fifth grade, saw about a third of students reach proficiency. Because Kansas changed its cut scores for these tests, the results cannot be directly compared to prior years, so the trend direction is not yet clear. Within Saline County, Cottonwood's overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when measured against the other districts in the county. This suggests the school's academic outcomes are moderate but on the higher side among its local peers.
The student body is diverse in its composition. Just under half of students are white, about three in ten are Hispanic, and roughly one in five identify as two or more races. Smaller shares are Black, Asian, or American Indian. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that marks the school as serving a community where economic need is common. Many families may find this an important factor when choosing a school, as the level of need can shape the kinds of support services and resources the school prioritizes. Data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available in the provided records.
Cottonwood sits in Salina, a micropolis in north-central Kansas that functions as a regional trade, transportation, and industrial center. Major employers include food manufacturing, battery production, farm equipment, commercial buses, and insurance, along with two hospital systems and two higher-education institutions. The city's population has declined slightly since earlier decades, but it remains a stable community with a mix of older industrial roots and current manufacturing. Housing in the area is more affordable than the state average, with typical home values below the Kansas benchmark and rents below the national norm. The mortgage payment on a median-priced home would be modest relative to national household income. This affordability may appeal to families looking for lower-cost living.
The district itself approved a bond issue in a recent election, a sign of investment in school facilities that was publicly reported. The specific projects or scope of the bond were not detailed in the available information, but the passage indicates community support for district improvements.
Cottonwood Elementary is a large enough school for its grade band but still feels like a single building within a larger district. For a parent or resident, the key picture is a school where academic performance is toward the upper end among local schools, serving a student population with a high rate of economic disadvantage. The school does not offer middle or high school grades, so families will need to consider later transitions. The local housing market is relatively affordable, and the district has recently demonstrated financial commitment through a bond. A parent may want to follow up with the school about specific programs such as early literacy support, enrichment offerings, or how the school addresses the needs of its student body.
See more original research from School Decision →