Enrollment
379
Elementary
DISTRICT 376 · STATE 313
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·PAOLA·NCES 201050001726
Cottonwood Elem
709 N. Hedge Lane, Paola, KS 66071 · (913) 294-8050 · Miami County
GRADES PK–02ELEMENTARY32-TOWNTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL379 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
13.7:1
28 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 13.3:1 · STATE 13.2:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
41%
157 students
DISTRICT 38% · STATE 51%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 34 | 9% |
| Kindergarten | 111 | 29% |
| Grade 1 | 113 | 30% |
| Grade 2 | 121 | 32% |
Student demographics
26%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 23% · STATE 58% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
Based on grade levels within Paola. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
Where Cottonwood Elem ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In Kansas | In Miami County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 379 | #225 of 714 | #3 of 6 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.7:1 | #290 of 539 | N/A |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 25.7% | #444 of 540 | N/A |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 41.4% | #458 of 658 | #3 of 6 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -21.4% | #99 of 377 | N/A |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
379
+8 (+2%) vs 2020
+4% since 2000-01, when it was 363
Student : Teacher
13.7:1
was 12.4:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 379 | 27.8 | 13.7:1 | 41% (157) |
| 2023-24 | 359 | 29.6 | 12.1:1 | 45% (161) |
| 2022-23 | 385 | 29.6 | 13.0:1 | 37% (144) |
| 2020-21 | 371 | 30 | 12.4:1 | 32% (120) |
| 2017-18 | 482 | 30.5 | 15.8:1 | 39% (190) |
| 2015-16 | 469 | 29 | 16.2:1 | 38% (176) |
| 2010-11 | 410 | 29 | 14.1:1 | 41% (168) |
| 2000-01 | 363 | 22 | 16.5:1 | 26% (93) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Cottonwood Elem.
About Cottonwood Elem
Cottonwood Elem is a mid-sized elementary school in Paola, located in Paola, Kansas. It is open to students in pre-K through 2 and enrolls 379 students. Elementary schools in Kansas have about 313 students on average; enrollment here is 21% higher.
Cottonwood Elem is one of the 4 schools that make up Paola (1,732 students in total).
The share of White students at Cottonwood Elem is 86%. The next largest groups are 7% Hispanic and 5% multiracial. Measured by the diversity index, the student body scores 26%.
On staff are 27.8 full-time-equivalent teachers; the student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. The 13.2:1 average for elementary schools in Kansas is close to this figure. Cottonwood Elem has a free or reduced-price lunch rate of 41%.
In Miami County, median household income comes to about $89,000, a bachelor's degree or higher is held by about 31% of adults, and the poverty rate is about 6%. The county's public schools total 17, with about 6,529 students.
Sunflower Elem sits about 0.2 miles from Cottonwood Elem. Inside a five-mile radius, there are 3 other public schools.
Federal data place Cottonwood Elem in the Town: Distant locale, which means it is in a town some distance from an urbanized area.
Over 4 years, enrollment stayed close to where it was, going from 371 to 379. By 2024-25, the school had 13.7 students per teacher, compared with 12.4 in 2020-21.
This community page is for conversations about athletics, class schedules, and weather closures. You can also rate the school on this page.
Miami County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
34,938
Census ACS
Median income
$89,000
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
31%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
6%
Below federal line
Schools in county
17
6,529 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Paola
- Paola HighHigh · 567 students
- Paola MiddleMiddle · 413 students
- Sunflower ElemElementary · 373 students
Other schools in Paola
- Paola HighHigh · 567 students
- Paola MiddleMiddle · 413 students
- Sunflower ElemElementary · 373 students
Nearby schools
- Sunflower Elem0.2 mi · 373
- Paola High0.3 mi · 567
- Paola Middle0.6 mi · 413
- Osawatomie Middle School7.6 mi · 195
- Osawatomie Virtual School8.1 mi · 18
- Osawatomie High8.1 mi · 295
Frequently asked questions
About Cottonwood ElemHow many students attend Cottonwood Elem?
Cottonwood Elem enrolls approximately 379 students in grades PK-02.
Is Cottonwood Elem an elementary, middle, or high school?
Cottonwood Elem is an elementary school covering grades PK-02.
How many teachers does Cottonwood Elem have?
Cottonwood Elem employs 28 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.
What is the racial breakdown of students at Cottonwood Elem?
At Cottonwood Elem, the student body is approximately 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 1% Black, 0% Asian, 5% Two or more.
Who oversees Cottonwood Elem?
Cottonwood Elem is overseen by Paola in Miami County.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.