Cottonwood Plains Elementary School

386 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Cottonwood Plains Elementary School, located in the southern part of Fort Collins, Colorado, serves as a neighborhood school within the Poudre School District. The school is known for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that prioritizes both academic growth and the social-emotional development of its students. With a curriculum designed to meet state standards, Cottonwood Plains emphasizes foundational literacy and numeracy, while often integrating technology and hands-on learning experiences to engage students from diverse backgrounds.

Beyond its academic program, the school prides itself on building a strong community connection between students, families, and staff. The school culture is typically characterized by a focus on character education and a collaborative atmosphere, aiming to prepare students for success in middle school and beyond. By providing a range of extracurricular opportunities and support services, Cottonwood Plains strives to create a well-rounded educational experience that encourages students to be curious, respectful, and active members of their local community.

386

Total Students

25.6

Full-Time Teachers

15.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

45.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cottonwood Plains Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	179
Hispanic	171
Black	4
Asian	2
Two or More	29
American Indian	1

White
179 (46.4 %)
Hispanic
171 (44.3 %)
Two or More
29 (7.5 %)
Black
4 (1.0 %)
Asian
2 (0.5 %)
American Indian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Thompson School District R-2J
Phone:	(970)613-5900
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	386
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	25.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	148
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	26

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 29

Kindergarten 52

Grade 1 68

Grade 2 62

Grade 3 68

Grade 4 48

Grade 5 59