Cottonwood High School

Summary:

Cottonwood High School is a public high school in Cottonwood, Alabama, serving grades 7-12 with a student population of 398. The school is part of the Houston County School District, which is ranked 40 out of 137 districts in Alabama and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cottonwood High School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (74.62%) compared to the surrounding schools, which have more diverse student populations. The school generally performs better than the Houston County and Alabama averages in English proficiency, particularly in the 7th and 8th grade, but struggles in mathematics, with proficiency rates below the county and state averages. Additionally, Cottonwood High School has a high percentage of students (around 69%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. The school's spending per student, at $9,749, is lower than the nearby Houston County High School ($10,708) and Rehobeth High School ($7,799), and it has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 17.5, compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 15.9 to 21.2.

Cottonwood High School's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past decade, from a high of 74 out of 353 Alabama high schools in 2014-2015 to a low of 144 out of 378 in 2023-2024, suggesting a need to address the school's academic performance. Additionally, there are notable gaps in performance between white and African American students, with the proficiency rate in 11th grade English being 20.34% for the school overall, but only 10.53% for African American students. While Cottonwood High School performs better than the nearby Houston County High School, the Rehobeth High School consistently outperforms Cottonwood High School across various metrics.


Detail:

Public 7-12

 663 Houston St
       Cottonwood, AL  36320


(334) 691-2587

District: Houston County

SchoolDigger Rank:
144th of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,749 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  17.4 Help
Number of students:  396

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.5%
African American:
13.4%
Hispanic:
6.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  68.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Cottonwood High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2021 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.8. (See more...)
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Compare Details Cottonwood High School ranks better than 69.5% of middle schools in Alabama. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 63.09. (See more...)
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Compare Details Cottonwood High School ranks better than 61.9% of high schools in Alabama. It also ranks 4th among 5 ranked high schools in the Houston County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 55.86. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Cottonwood High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (75.5%), African American (13.4%), Hispanic (6.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 68.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cottonwood High School is 17.4. 2 high schools in the Houston County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Cottonwood High School employs 22.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cottonwood High School is $9,749, which is the 2nd highest among 5 high schools in the Houston County School District.
Schooldigger 2021 Rankings:

Cottonwood High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Cottonwood High School 135th of 442 Alabama public middle schools. (See Cottonwood High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Cottonwood High School 144th of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Cottonwood High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Houston County:

SchoolDigger ranks Houston County 40th of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Cottonwood High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 35.29 444th 623 28.7%
2005 46.83 403rd 688 41.4%
2006 50.58 358th 689 48.0%
2007 50.53 382nd 698 45.3%
2008 56.91 305th 698 56.3%
2009 65.60 221st 696 68.2%
2010 73.90 141st 704 80.0%
2011 68.41 211th 709 70.2%
2012 72.62 151st 696 78.3%
2013 59.65 324th 696 53.4%
2014 53.98 317th 695 54.4%
2015 63.77 209th 691 69.8%
2016 53.31 318th 691 54.0%
2017 63.93 222nd 688 67.7%
2018 77.84 140th 680 79.4%
2019 48.09 372nd 681 45.4%
2021 50.80 335th 692 51.6%
See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Cottonwood High School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 50.95 192nd 407 52.8%
2005 67.00 97th 415 76.6%
2006 62.76 128th 409 68.7%
2007 74.29 77th 412 81.3%
2008 65.93 120th 417 71.2%
2009 52.84 205th 425 51.8%
2010 56.75 198th 435 54.5%
2011 68.27 134th 435 69.2%
2012 61.19 174th 436 60.1%
2013 68.35 114th 436 73.9%
2014 54.68 189th 438 56.8%
2015 63.24 124th 430 71.2%
2016 57.95 161st 432 62.7%
2017 56.97 167th 432 61.3%
2018 59.46 160th 423 62.2%
2019 60.29 160th 437 63.4%
2021 45.15 234th 440 46.8%
2022 50.67 198th 432 54.2%
2023 63.02 134th 437 69.3%
2024 63.09 135th 442 69.5%
See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 47.28 88th 195 54.9%
2018 63.42 51st 223 77.1%
2019 54.78 87th 254 65.7%
2024 79.84 28th 281 90.0%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 59.54 108th 349 69.1%
2018 67.32 108th 396 72.7%
2019 64.99 115th 396 71.0%
2021 49.52 199th 415 52.0%
2022 54.13 175th 421 58.4%
2023 56.17 153rd 410 62.7%
2024 74.43 75th 437 82.8%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 58.21 139th 380 63.4%
2018 52.51 183rd 392 53.3%
2019 61.25 125th 399 68.7%
2021 42.01 240th 415 42.2%
2022 50.84 197th 423 53.4%
2023 55.07 169th 417 59.5%
2024 58.01 152nd 426 64.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 54.19 157th 380 58.7%
2018 56.76 157th 397 60.5%
2019 57.78 155th 399 61.2%
2021 47.01 209th 418 50.0%
2022 49.62 191st 427 55.3%
2023 64.93 111th 419 73.5%
2024 65.54 117th 428 72.7%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 33.81 175th 269 34.9%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 34.09 154th 247 37.7%
2018 42.46 181st 331 45.3%
2019 45.27 169th 343 50.7%
2021 30.90 261st 369 29.3%
2022 36.99 233rd 376 38.0%
2023 53.01 142nd 370 61.6%
2024 47.32 172nd 373 53.9%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Cottonwood High School

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Rank History for all high school students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 31.57 291st 357 18.5%
2005 43.09 241st 359 32.9%
2006 53.65 178th 357 50.1%
2007 65.36 123rd 358 65.6%
2008 57.94 155th 359 56.8%
2009 53.11 185th 357 48.2%
2010 52.91 184th 358 48.6%
2011 55.03 179th 360 50.3%
2012 70.70 80th 358 77.7%
2013 62.34 113th 358 68.4%
2014 39.04 219th 358 38.8%
2015 70.82 74th 353 79.0%
2016 56.17 143rd 351 59.3%
2017 58.55 116th 353 67.1%
2018 37.13 239th 356 32.9%
2019 49.50 195th 366 46.7%
2021 39.78 213th 371 42.6%
2022 30.57 251st 367 31.6%
2023 33.46 238th 371 35.8%
2024 55.86 144th 378 61.9%
See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 48.85 90th 196 54.1%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 60.46 89th 315 71.7%
2018 35.90 227th 349 35.0%
2019 56.34 150th 358 58.1%
2021 61.21 114th 361 68.4%
2022 44.41 184th 361 49.0%
2023 30.40 243rd 349 30.4%
2024 52.59 148th 375 60.5%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 45.07 167th 343 51.3%
2018 40.15 218th 347 37.2%
2019 31.26 245th 354 30.8%
2021 38.10 218th 359 39.3%
2022 46.58 183rd 367 50.1%
2023 34.48 219th 358 38.8%
2024 49.46 160th 366 56.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 70.40 75th 339 77.9%
2018 33.17 236th 350 32.6%
2019 66.09 109th 357 69.5%
2021 41.44 198th 366 45.9%
2022 22.21 285th 366 22.1%
2023 29.00 255th 358 28.8%
2024 57.50 138th 368 62.5%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 46.93 95th 224 57.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Cottonwood High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 45.54 107th 230 53.5%
2018 19.84 253rd 300 15.7%
2019 39.90 187th 313 40.3%
2021 26.78 236th 319 26.0%
2022 18.11 287th 326 12.0%
2023 24.38 238th 317 24.9%
2024 44.99 154th 325 52.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Cottonwood High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Cottonwood High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 844 844
1989 663 169 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 833
1990 696 187 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 885
1991 695 187 3 3 0 n/a n/a 0 888
1992 684 184 2 2 1 n/a n/a 0 873
1993 665 163 2 6 0 n/a n/a 0 836
1994 651 169 1 7 0 n/a n/a 0 828
1995 720 168 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 893
1996 720 168 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 893
1997 673 175 2 3 4 n/a n/a 0 857
1998 634 182 2 3 4 n/a n/a 0 825
1999 644 187 2 5 4 n/a n/a 0 842
2000 629 185 2 4 4 n/a n/a 0 824
2001 609 178 3 3 0 n/a n/a 0 793
2002 615 170 4 4 1 n/a n/a 0 794
2003 615 170 4 4 1 n/a n/a 0 794
2004 609 165 4 3 1 n/a n/a 0 782
2005 611 157 1 4 1 n/a n/a 0 774
2006 608 149 3 4 2 n/a n/a 0 766
2007 612 123 1 6 2 n/a n/a 3 747
2008 590 130 1 5 2 n/a n/a 0 728
2009 590 130 1 7 1 n/a n/a 0 729
2010 585 128 2 11 0 n/a n/a 6 732
2011 598 125 0 12 0 0 3 0 738
2012 620 107 0 9 0 0 6 0 742
2013 622 102 2 7 2 0 8 0 743
2014 598 101 3 12 0 0 8 0 722
2015 602 95 2 13 0 0 13 0 725
2016 624 103 1 16 0 0 12 0 756
2017 623 82 1 21 0 1 12 0 740
2018 616 97 1 28 0 1 9 0 752
2019 641 88 1 33 0 1 8 0 772
2020 608 85 9 37 0 1 12 0 752
2021 606 99 10 31 0 1 13 0 760
2022 274 54 6 15 0 1 7 0 357
2023 297 59 6 28 0 0 8 0 398
2024 299 53 9 25 0 0 10 0 396

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Cottonwood High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 844 43.0 19.6 0
1989 833 45.0 18.5 n/a
1990 885 47.0 18.8 0
1991 888 46.0 19.3 n/a
1992 873 45.0 19.4 n/a
1993 836 47.0 17.8 n/a
1994 828 45.7 18.1 n/a
1995 893 48.1 18.6 n/a
1996 893 48.1 18.6 n/a
1997 857 49.4 17.3 44.1
1998 825 51.5 16.0 41.3
1999 842 55.0 15.3 55.5
2000 824 57.0 14.5 56.3
2001 793 56.5 14.0 55.9
2002 794 52.0 15.3 46.1
2003 794 52.0 15.3 46.1
2004 782 52.0 15.0 42.8
2005 774 52.0 14.9 36.6
2006 766 50.0 15.3 63.3
2007 747 50.0 14.9 60.8
2008 728 49.5 14.7 63.3
2009 729 46.0 15.7 65.3
2010 732 44.5 16.4 72.7
2011 738 47.0 15.7 70.5
2012 742 43.0 17.2 71.6
2013 743 48.0 15.4 70.3
2014 722 56.0 12.8 73.4
2015 725 40.0 18.1 70.5
2016 756 41.0 18.4 69.7
2017 740 44.0 16.8 70.1
2018 752 43.0 17.4 70.6
2019 772 44.0 17.5 70.1
2020 752 46.0 16.3 65.2
2021 760 44.0 17.2 69.2
2022 357 24.0 14.8 n/a
2023 398 22.6 17.5 68.6
2024 396 22.6 17.4 68.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Cottonwood High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 844 43.0 19.6 0
1989 833 45.0 18.5 n/a
1990 885 47.0 18.8 0
1991 888 46.0 19.3 n/a
1992 873 45.0 19.4 n/a
1993 836 47.0 17.8 n/a
1994 828 45.7 18.1 n/a
1995 893 48.1 18.6 n/a
1996 893 48.1 18.6 n/a
1997 857 49.4 17.3 44.1
1998 825 51.5 16.0 41.3
1999 842 55.0 15.3 55.5
2000 824 57.0 14.5 56.3
2001 793 56.5 14.0 55.9
2002 794 52.0 15.3 46.1
2003 794 52.0 15.3 46.1
2004 782 52.0 15.0 42.8
2005 774 52.0 14.9 36.6
2006 766 50.0 15.3 63.3
2007 747 50.0 14.9 60.8
2008 728 49.5 14.7 63.3
2009 729 46.0 15.7 65.3
2010 732 44.5 16.4 72.7
2011 738 47.0 15.7 70.5
2012 742 43.0 17.2 71.6
2013 743 48.0 15.4 70.3
2014 722 56.0 12.8 73.4
2015 725 40.0 18.1 70.5
2016 756 41.0 18.4 69.7
2017 740 44.0 16.8 70.1
2018 752 43.0 17.4 70.6
2019 772 44.0 17.5 70.1
2020 752 46.0 16.3 65.2
2021 760 44.0 17.2 69.2
2022 357 24.0 14.8 n/a
2023 398 22.6 17.5 68.6
2024 396 22.6 17.4 68.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Cottonwood High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,786 (18.3%) $7,950 (81.5%) $9,749

Data source: Alabama Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cottonwood High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 160th of 437 Middle schoolsRanks 134th of 437 Middle schools
 5.9%
Ranks 195th of 366 High schoolsRanks 238th of 371 High schools
 10.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade Mathematics (Cottonwood High School)5021.3
 28.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Houston County)60.728.5
 32.2%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)43.121
 22.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Cottonwood High School)55.432.4
 23%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Houston County)56.328.5
 27.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)44.721.1
 23.6%
End of Course Mathematics (Cottonwood High School)34.813.8
 21%
   End of Course Mathematics (Houston County)37.423.9
 13.5%
   End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)42.523.6
 19%
End of Course Science (Cottonwood High School)45.719
 26.7%
   End of Course Science (Houston County)37.430.6
 6.8%
   End of Course Science (Alabama)42.631.7
 10.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students772398
 48.4%
African American8859
 33%
American Indian00
Asian16
 500%
Hispanic3328
 15.2%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White641297
 53.7%
Two or More Races88
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients70.1%68.6%
 1.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Cottonwood High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 396 students attended Cottonwood High School.

Students at Cottonwood High School are 76% White, 13% African American, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Cottonwood High School ranks 144th of 378 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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