Cottonwood

cottonwood.hemetusd.org

197 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Cottonwood Elementary School, located in the rural community of Aguanga, California, serves as a central hub for families in the surrounding mountain and valley regions. As part of the Hemet Unified School District, the school is situated in a scenic, remote setting that fosters a close-knit educational environment. Its mission focuses on providing a foundational academic experience while emphasizing a supportive community culture that bridges the distance for students living in more isolated areas of the district.

The school is known for its small-town charm and dedicated staff, who prioritize personalized attention for each student. Because of its unique location along Sage Road, Cottonwood Elementary often functions as a cornerstone for the local community, integrating traditional classroom learning with the values of a rural, tight-knit neighborhood. The school strives to offer a balanced curriculum that prepares students for success as they transition into the broader district’s middle and high school programs.

197

Total Students

12.8

Full-Time Teachers

15.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

73.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cottonwood
Demographic	Student Count
White	73
Hispanic	113
Asian	2
Two or More	8
American Indian	1

Hispanic
113 (57.4%)
White
73 (37.1%)
Two or More
8 (4.1%)
Asian
2 (1.0%)
American Indian
1 (0.5%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Hemet Unified
Phone:	(951)767-3870
Website:	http://cottonwood.hemetusd.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	197
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	12.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	125
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	20

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 34

Grade 1 25

Grade 2 25

Grade 3 11

Grade 4 18

Grade 5 30

Grade 6 16

Grade 7 18

Grade 8 20