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Cottonwood, Shasta County, August 2022-8336Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Cottonwood · Anderson Union High School District, Cottonwood Union Elementary School District

Cottonwood’s public schools outscore 67% of California districts

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 California, not nationally.

#288of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 89% 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
49%
▲ 2 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▲ 2 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▼ 2 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.2K
▼ 24% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Anderson Union High
Students per teacher
20.7
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
2,215 students on the public path
In brief

Cottonwood’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 583 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cottonwood’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 67% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 35% across both districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Anderson Union High spends $16,159 per student and Cottonwood Union Elementary $16,154, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Cottonwood Creek Charter is in town. 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

B+ Test scoresC Graduation

B+: better than 67% of California school districts, #288 of 847 California towns. Test scores are above the California average; graduation is below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (583)Better than 72%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 871 test results and a graduating class of 376 could put Cottonwood anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 89% of Cottonwood’s students in the tested grades sat them (879 in math, 864 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–4North CottonwoodCottonwood Union Elementary School DistrictB
5–8West Cottonwood Junior HighCottonwood Union Elementary School DistrictB+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+

Cottonwood runs its own schools through grade 8 (Cottonwood Union Elementary School District). From grade 8, students attend the Anderson Union High School District, shared with Anderson. Its high school is in Cottonwood. 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.

Anderson Union High School DistrictGrades 8–12 · 6 schools · 1,580 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 20.8 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$16,159CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Cottonwood Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 2 schools · 917 students · 20.4 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$16,154CA $21,206 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · 8–12, Anderson Union High School District51%
State average 46.7% · 301 students tested
Math · 8–12, Anderson Union High School District25%
State average 33.1% · 317 students tested
Reading · K–8, Cottonwood Union Elementary School District48%
State average 46.7% · 563 students tested
Math · K–8, Cottonwood Union Elementary School District41%
State average 33.1% · 562 students tested

Cottonwood vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CottonwoodB+Cottonwood Union Elementary K–8 · Anderson Union High 8–12

Every school in Cottonwood

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

District schools in Cottonwoodby address
North Cottonwood
Elementary · Grades K–4
B
498 students21:1Rate it →
West Cottonwood Junior High
Middle · Grades 5–8
B+
419 students20:1Rate it →
Also serving Cottonwoodin other towns
West Valley Early College High
High · Grades 9–12
B
736 students22:1Rate it →
Anderson High
High · Grades 9–12 · Anderson
B+
562 students23:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Cottonwood Creek Charter
Elementary · Grades K–8
A
Charter
294 students26:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Cottonwood Preschool).

Questions about Cottonwood’s schools

Are Cottonwood’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Cottonwood children attend outscore 67% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #288 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cottonwood in?

Two districts: Cottonwood Union Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Anderson Union High School District runs grades 8–12, shared with Anderson.

Where do Cottonwood kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: West Valley Early College High and Anderson High.

What is Cottonwood’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Anderson Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Cottonwood spend per student?

$16,159 in Anderson Union High School District and $16,154 in Cottonwood Union Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

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 California. Stars are from neighbors.