Cottonwood Elem

385 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 2nd

School Overview

Cottonwood Elementary School is located in Paola, Kansas, and serves as a foundational part of the USD 368 school district. The school is dedicated to fostering a supportive learning environment for young students, focusing on academic growth, social-emotional development, and building a strong sense of community. By emphasizing core subjects like literacy and mathematics alongside character development, the school aims to prepare its students for a successful transition to middle school.

As a neighborhood school, Cottonwood Elementary prioritizes a collaborative partnership between educators, families, and the local Paola community. The school environment is structured to encourage curiosity and active participation, offering various programs and classroom strategies designed to meet the diverse needs of its student body. With a focus on creating a safe and engaging atmosphere, Cottonwood works to ensure that every child has the tools and encouragement necessary to achieve their full potential during their formative years.

385

Total Students

29.6

Full-Time Teachers

13.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

40.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cottonwood Elem
Demographic	Student Count
White	335
Hispanic	19
Black	3
Two or More	26
American Indian	2

White
335 (87.0 %)
Two or More
26 (6.8 %)
Hispanic
19 (4.9 %)
Black
3 (0.8 %)
American Indian
2 (0.5 %)

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:	Paola
Phone:	(913)294-8050
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 2nd
Total Students:	385
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	29.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	143
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	14

* 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 37

Kindergarten 120

Grade 1 110

Grade 2 118