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Commercial Historic District (Cottonwood, Arizona)Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Cottonwood · Mingus Union High School District, Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District

Cottonwood’s public schools score below 66% of Arizona districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 20% of Cottonwood’s students scored proficient, below the Arizona average (35%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Cottonwood, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.

#121of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
31%
▼ 9 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
20%
▼ 15 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
81%
▲ 3 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.8K
▲ 4% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024 · Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District
Students per teacher
20.8
AZ 17.2 · larger classes
Schools in town
8
2,107 students on the public path
In brief

Cottonwood’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 134 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cottonwood’s, its schools beat 28%, lower than their 34% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 31% of tested students were proficient in reading and 20% in math, against 40% and 35% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Mingus Union High spends $11,543 per student and Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District $12,825, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Liberty Leadership Academy, Verde Christian Academy (private), Immaculate Conception Catholic School (private) and Rise Resource Center (private) are in town. Mingus Online Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Cottonwood’s grade

C+ Test scoresB− Graduation

C: better than 34% of Arizona school districts, #121 of 139 Arizona towns. Graduation is above the Arizona average; test scores are below it.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 34%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (134)Better than 28%
CC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,447 test results and a graduating class of 290 could put Cottonwood anywhere from C to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Cottonwood’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,453 in math, 1,441 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cottonwood, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–83 schoolsDepends on your addressD to B+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+

Cottonwood runs its own schools through grade 12 (Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District). From grade 8, students attend the Mingus Union High School District, shared with Camp Verde, Clarkdale and Jerome. Parts of Cottonwood (11% of its land) are served by Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary District instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Cottonwood

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Mingus Union High School DistrictGrades 8–12 · 2 schools · 1,202 students · 20.7 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,543AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B
Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,765 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 20.9 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$12,825AZ $12,318 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · 8–12, Mingus Union High School District27%
State average 40.4% · 256 students tested
Math · 8–12, Mingus Union High School District32%
State average 34.8% · 256 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District32%
State average 40.4% · 1185 students tested
Math · PK–12, Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District17%
State average 34.8% · 1197 students tested

Cottonwood vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Cottonwood’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CottonwoodCCottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District PK–12 · Mingus Union High 8–12
ClarkdaleC+Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary District PK–8 · Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District PK–12 · Mingus Union High 8–12
Camp VerdeB−Camp Verde Unified District PK–12 · Mingus Union High 8–12

All 2 neighbors share Mingus Union High with Cottonwood for grades 8–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Cottonwood

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arizona’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Cottonwoodby address
Cottonwood Education Services
Grades PK–12
86 students25:1Rate it →
Cottonwood Community School
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
430 students24:1Rate it →
Mountain View Preparatory School
Elementary · Grades K–8
B+
426 students22:1Rate it →
Mingus Union High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
1,165 students21:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Liberty Leadership Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
Charter
81 students27:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Cottonwoodnot counted as local schools
Mingus Online Academy
High · Grades 8–12
Online
37 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Verde Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
218 students18:1Rate it →
Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
205 students11:1Rate it →
Rise Resource Center
Grades K–12
Private · Special education
58 students2:1Rate it →

Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (VACTE - Mingus Union High School, VACTE - Cottonwood-Oak Creek Unified School District, Arizona iZone Institute and The Academy At Mingus).

Questions about Cottonwood’s schools

Are Cottonwood’s schools good?

On Arizona’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cottonwood children attend score below 66% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #121 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 28%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cottonwood in?

Two districts: Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District runs grades PK–12, and Mingus Union High School District runs grades 8–12, shared with Camp Verde, Clarkdale and Jerome.

Where do Cottonwood kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Mingus Union High School and Cottonwood Education Services.

What is Cottonwood’s graduation rate?

81% of the class of 2023 in Mingus Union High School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Cottonwood spend per student?

$11,543 in Mingus Union High School District and $12,825 in Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Cottonwood?

Yes: Verde Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 218 students), Immaculate Conception Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 205 students) and Rise Resource Center (special education, grades K–12, 58 students). Cottonwood also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Cottonwood families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cottonwood → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arizona. Stars are from neighbors.