Cottonwood Elementary School was stamped a State accountability rating of F (0-59) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 54 in student achievement, 65 in school progress and 51 in closing performance gaps. It scored 59 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.

On the other hand, Piney Woods Elementary School earned a State accountability rating of D. The school posted 62 in student achievement, 65 in school progress, 66 in closing performance gaps and 65 overall in post-secondary readiness.

A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.

Distinction Designations for Cottonwood Elementary School and Piney Woods Elementary School are not applicable as neither one earned a recognition for outstanding achievement in seven categories.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, the dominant group in Cottonwood Elementary School is Hispanics who make up nearly 90.87% of student population, followed by Whites or Caucasians (4.81%), African Americans (2.45%), Two or More Races (1.47%), Asians (0.20%) and Native Americans (0.10%).

The student population at Piney Woods Elementary School is also predominantly by Hispanics at 46.75%, followed by Whites or Caucasians (45.42%), African Americans (5.78%), Two or More Races (1.20%) and Asians (0.72%). There is no Native Americans student in the school.

Based on household incomes, Cottonwood Elementary School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly higher at 94.80% compared to 47.35% at Piney Woods Elementary School.

In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Cottonwood Elementary School has a significantly higher number of English Language Learners comprising 73.80% of its student population compared to 23.73% at Piney Woods Elementary School.

In addition, Cottonwood Elementary School has 74.19% bilingual students, 2.06% are in the gifted and talented program, while 15.51% are in the special education program. This stacks up against Piney Woods Elementary School with 25.66% bilingual students, 6.99% gifted and talented students and 20.00% students in the special education program.

69 teachers employed at Cottonwood Elementary School have been teaching in the school for an average of about 1.7 years with individual teaching experience averaging 4 years. The 47 teachers at Piney Woods Elementary School have been serving the school for an average of 6.7 years with individual teaching experience averaging 9.7 years.

Of its teaching staff, Cottonwood Elementary School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has two teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, six teachers have worked for 11-20 years, five teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 41 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including 15 beginning teachers. Piney Woods Elementary School has three teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has seven teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, three teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 12 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 17 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including six beginning teachers.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Cottonwood Elementary School there are 59 female teachers and nine male teachers. Of its teaching staff, four special education teachers are being assisted by 29 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has four staff members in the school administration department and seven more working as school support staff.

At Piney Woods Elementary School there are 44 female teachers and three male teachers. Of its teaching staff, six special education teachers are being assisted by 22 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has four staff members in the school administration department and three more working as school support staff.