The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Science. The lowest is 33% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cottonwood Elementary
Cottonwood Elementary sits on Casper's west side, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of Natrona County School District #1. It is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet, and its enrollment falls in a moderate range for an elementary in this district, with a fairly even spread across the early grades and larger cohorts in the upper elementary years.
On Wyoming's WY-TOPP assessment, the most recent results show proficiency levels in math and English language arts that hover around the low-to-mid thirties across third, fourth, and fifth grades. Science, tested only in fourth grade at this level, came in somewhat higher. Participation was near full across all tested grades. When Cottonwood's overall proficiency is placed relative to districts in Natrona County, it lands in the bottom quartile, well below the range the county's districts typically post. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is hard to say from the provided data whether these results represent a dip or a longer-standing pattern. A parent weighing this school may want to ask the administration how it is approaching math and reading growth and what interventions are in place for students below proficiency.
The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic enrollment that makes up the next largest share and small representations from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on individualized education programs and English learner status was not reported, so those dimensions of student support are not visible here.
Casper itself is Wyoming's second-largest city, rooted in an oil-boom history that earned it the nickname "The Oil City." The local economy still carries energy-industry weight, with a Sinclair Oil refinery nearby in Evansville and logistics firms tied to wind-power component transport headquartered in town, but the day-to-day economy runs largely on services, banking, and commerce serving a large surrounding hinterland. The city is sprawling and car-oriented, with Interstate 25 as its main artery and Casper Mountain rising to the south along the North Platte River. Civic life is spread across separate campuses rather than concentrated in a walkable core: a recreation center, aquatics center, ice arena, municipal golf course, museums, and a community college all occupy their own sites. Summer brings free Thursday evening concerts by the Casper City Band at Washington Park. The school district itself is one of the area's largest employers, operating over a dozen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools across the city.
Housing in Cottonwood's zip code sits below both the state and national benchmarks for typical home values, and rents are also on the lower side. With mortgage rates elevated, the estimated monthly cost of owning remains higher than renting by a noticeable margin, which could shape decisions for families deciding whether to buy or rent in the attendance area. The price-to-income ratio is moderate by national standards.
Families across the district should also be aware of broader changes underway. The NCSD Board of Trustees has approved a facilities master plan called "Reimagining the Future of NCSD," publicly reported as including school consolidations, a new elementary school, and repurposing of older buildings to address declining enrollment and aging infrastructure. How these changes affect attendance boundaries and school assignments over the coming years is something families may want to track, especially those with younger children who will move through the system.
What is missing from the available data is worth naming. No chronic absenteeism figures, staffing ratios, course-access details, discipline data, or Title I status were provided. Graduation rate does not apply here, since Cottonwood serves only elementary grades. The absence of those measures limits the picture, but the academic results and community context give a parent a starting point for asking focused questions.
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