Cottonwood Elementary School

Demographics

Percentage of students*

Why Cottonwood Elementary School was nominated

Cottonwood Elementary and its district are part of the national Opportunity Culture initiative, in which schools extend the reach of excellent teachers and their teams to many more students, for more pay, within regular budgets. The school has achieved high-growth learning results for its students; it posted the 10th-highest growth in the state in the math proficiency rate among medium-size schools, and the 18th-highest growth in the literacy rate. It received Certified Opportunity Culture® School status, Level 1, signifying a focus on student access to instruction led by Multi-Classroom Leader® teaching teams and incorporation of small-group, high-dosage tutoring into daily schedules. The foundation of the Opportunity Culture model is the Multi-Classroom Leader role, an excellent teacher who leads a small teaching team, providing instructional guidance and frequent, on-the-job development, while continuing to teach part of the time. The school uses this and other teacher and paraprofessional team roles to reach more students with excellent teaching.

Student experience design

At Cottonwood, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive student experience where every child feels valued, capable, and empowered to succeed. We believe every student deserves access to a high-quality education and meaningful opportunities to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our school culture encourages students not only to achieve personal success but also to serve others and contribute positively to their community. We deeply value family partnerships, recognizing that when families and schools work together, students thrive both in school and in life. As a community of lifelong learners, we are dedicated to preparing our students with the knowledge, skills, and character they need for a successful and fulfilling future.

Core Practices

Core Practices	Length of Use
Family And Community Support Services	1-2 years
Mental Health Services	5+ years
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics	5+ years
High Quality Instructional Materials	5+ years
Student-led Conferences	3-4 years

All Practices

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Career Readiness

Career Exploration

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Culturally Responsive Practices

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

No Tracked Classes

Project-based Learning

Performance Based Assessment

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

Student-led Goal Setting

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Artifacts

NMPED Vistas