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Cottage Grove Historic DistrictPhoto: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Cottage Grove · South Lane School District 45J

Cottage Grove’s public schools score below 63% of Oregon districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Cottage Grove, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Oregon, not nationally.

#98of 142 Oregon townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Oregon state tests taken in spring 2022, when 63% 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
41%
▼ 3 pts vs OR 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 3 pts vs OR 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
72%
▼ 9 pts vs OR 81%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.8K
▼ 5% vs OR $17.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.6
OR 17.9
Schools in town
6
1,988 students on the public path
In brief

Cottage Grove’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 198 Oregon towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cottage Grove’s, its schools beat 29%, lower than their 37% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 44% and 31% statewide; 63% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

72% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,776 per student, against $17,749 across Oregon (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Lincoln Middle School, then Cottage Grove High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Academy for Character Education and Cottage Grove Christian School (private) are 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 Cottage Grove’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Oregon school districts, #98 of 142 Oregon towns. Both inputs trail the Oregon average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Oregon school districts we grade (178)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
Oregon towns with similar household incomes (198)Better than 29%
C−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 920 test results and a graduating class of 230 could put Cottage Grove anywhere from C− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 63% of Cottage Grove’s students in the tested grades sat them (909 in math, 931 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C−
6–8Lincoln Middle SchoolSouth Lane School District 45JC+
9–12Cottage Grove High SchoolSouth Lane School District 45JB+

Cottage Grove’s public schools are run by South Lane School District 45J. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

South Lane School District 45JGrades K–12 · 9 schools · 2,697 students · 17.6 per teacher (OR 17.9)
$16,776OR $17,749 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 44% · 931 students tested
Math28%
State average 30.6% · 909 students tested

Cottage Grove vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Oregon towns that share Cottage Grove’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Cottage GroveC+South Lane School District 45J

Every school in Cottage Grove

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

District schools in Cottage Groveby address
Harrison Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
450 students17:1Rate it →
Bohemia Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
443 students16:1Rate it →
Lincoln Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
455 students17:1Rate it →
Cottage Grove High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
640 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Academy for Character Education
Grades K–12
B+
Charter
354 students21:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Cottage Grove Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–7
Private · Religious
22 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Cottage Grove’s schools

Are Cottage Grove’s schools good?

On Oregon’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cottage Grove children attend score below 63% of Oregon’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #98 of 142 Oregon towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 29%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cottage Grove in?

South Lane School District 45J, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,697 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Cottage Grove kids go to high school?

Cottage Grove High School, with 640 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Cottage Grove’s graduation rate?

72% of the class of 2023 in South Lane School District 45J graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon.

How much does Cottage Grove spend per student?

$16,776 in South Lane School District 45J (FY2024), against $17,749 across Oregon. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Cottage Grove?

Yes: Cottage Grove Christian School (religious, grades PK–7, 22 students). Cottage Grove also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Cottage Grove families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cottage Grove → 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 Oregon. Stars are from neighbors.