The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Math. The lowest is 19% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cotteral Es
Cotteral Elementary serves students from pre‑kindergarten through fourth grade, making it one of the youngest elementary campuses in the Guthrie district. The school sits on the west side of town along West Noble Avenue, a few miles from Guthrie’s historic downtown core. The building itself is a single‑story structure typical of suburban elementary schools, surrounded by residential streets and modest commercial stretches.
Guthrie is a town with a distinct character. Its downtown is a National Historic Landmark district filled with Victorian architecture, antique shops, and bed‑and‑breakfasts, and it draws tourists for events such as the 89er Day celebration and Territorial Christmas. But the broader city is auto‑oriented; the historic core is walkable, but most residents commute by car, many to jobs in Oklahoma City about a half‑hour south. The town is growing steadily, with new residential and commercial development, and the cost of living remains below the national average. Housing values are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and rents have risen at a faster clip than home prices, a pattern common in communities that attract newcomers seeking lower housing costs.
Cotteral’s student body is majority white, with a share of Hispanic students and smaller shares of Black, multiracial, and Native American students. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced‑price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners were not available in the sources we reviewed. A parent may want to ask the school directly about the extent of these supports, as they often shape the classroom experience and resource allocation.
Academically, the picture is mixed. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across the tested grades and subjects, sits above the midpoint when compared with the five districts in Logan County. That relative standing is a modest strength — it suggests Cotteral performs better than several other county elementary options. But the absolute proficiency rates on the state’s OSTP assessments are low. In third‑grade math, about a quarter of students scored proficient or above; in fourth‑grade math, the share rose slightly. English language arts results were lower: roughly a quarter of third‑graders reached proficiency, while only a small share of fourth‑graders did. These are the only tested grades, so there is no data from earlier years. Oklahoma changed its math and ELA cut scores for this assessment year, which makes direct comparisons with prior years unreliable. A parent concerned about academic preparation would want to discuss with the school how these results translate to classroom instruction and what interventions are in place.
Because Cotteral serves only primary grades, there is no graduation rate, college‑going data, or advanced course access to report — those metrics apply only to high schools. The school does not appear to offer specialized programs beyond the standard elementary curriculum; no information about gifted education, Title I status, or extended learning opportunities was provided. The district website or school office would be the place to confirm any enrichment offerings.
The Guthrie district as a whole did not have recent substantive changes to note from our research. The district brief turned up only directory and fiscal information, so there are no reported shifts in leadership, boundaries, or programming that would affect a family’s decision.
For a family considering Cotteral Elementary, the key considerations are its status as a small PK‑4 building in a growing, affordable town with a strong historic identity. Academic outcomes are below state norms in absolute terms but relatively stronger within Logan County. The school’s size and grade span mean transitions to a larger intermediate or middle school will come relatively early. Parents who want a deeper picture of student support services, special education, and English learner resources will need to ask directly, as those data were not available here.
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