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Cotton County

Oklahoma · Public K-12

In Cotton County, Oklahoma, the public-school system rolls up to 7 schools and roughly 969 K-12 students, with county median household income around $58,425. By level, that breaks down as 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.

7-year change in Cotton County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
969
-57 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
969
NCES CCD
Median income
$58,425
Below Oklahoma avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.5%
Below Oklahoma avg
Elementary
3
538 students
Middle
1
129 students
High
3
302 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
WALTERS
588 students · 3 districts in Cotton County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Cotton County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
78%
Hispanic
8%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
12%
Native American
6%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
62%
Hispanic
12%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
16%
Native American
8%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
23.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.8% under 18

Test scores in Cotton County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 1 schools ranked. Oklahoma state average: 30.6%.

Top 1 schools (ELA)
  1. WALTERS ES· 34.3%

See all 1 schools in Cotton County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
WALTERS ESWaltersElementaryPK-05262·
WALTERS HSWaltersHigh09-12197·
BIG PASTURE ESRandlettElementaryPK-08150·
WALTERS MSWaltersMiddle06-08129·
TEMPLE ESTempleElementaryPK-08126·
BIG PASTURE HSRandlettHigh09-1267·
TEMPLE HSTempleHigh09-1238·

Cities in Cotton County

Walters3 schoolsRandlett2 schoolsTemple2 schools

About Cotton County

Cotton County is a compact Oklahoma county of about 5,485 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 969 students.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $58,425, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 15%.

In terms of grade levels, Cotton County is made up of 3 elementary schools (538 students), 1 middle school (129), and 3 high schools (302).

WALTERS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 588 students across Cotton County.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Cotton County has fell 6% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,026 students to 969.

On allk12, the community for Cotton County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Cotton County?
There are 7 public K-12 schools in Cotton County, Oklahoma, with a combined enrollment of about 969.
How many high schools are in Cotton County?
Cotton County, Oklahoma has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 302 students.
How many middle schools are in Cotton County?
Cotton County, Oklahoma has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 129 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cotton County?
Cotton County, Oklahoma has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 538 students.
What is the largest school district in Cotton County?
WALTERS is the largest school district in Cotton County, serving approximately 588 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cotton County?
Cotton County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 5,485, with a median age of 42. About 22.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cotton County?
Median household income in Cotton County is $58,425, below the Oklahoma average of $59,445. About 15.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cotton County?
Approximately 23.1% of adults 25 and older in Cotton County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cotton County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 66.5% of students in Cotton County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Oklahoma county average of 66.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cotton County schools?
Across Cotton County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.9 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data