National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

Cottonwood Elementary is a school-wide Title building serving 400 students in kindergarten through fifth grades. It is one of six elementary schools in Andover, Kansas, a suburban community outside of Wichita. The staff members at Cottonwood understand that relationships are key in building a family. Each day starts with a greeting and class meeting. We utilize Second Step and character lessons to encourage and model positive behavior. At weekly Rise and Shine assemblies, we bring our school community together to celebrate and recognize student successes. We build relationships through Buddy classes, pairing students together to read and connect. We create experiences that help students interact with one another, other members of the Cottonwood family, and the community. We strive to make our building and classrooms inviting and safe for all students.

Cottonwood teachers know the importance of targeting state standards to assess student progress. Teachers meet regularly to analyze data, select and implement research-proven strategies, and monitor student progress. We feel this has a direct correlation to our success. The mission of Cottonwood Elementary drives our school community. Ask our students, staff, or parents, and they will say that we have created a culture where kindness, caring, respect, confidence, and independence are our foundation. As a family, we help each other be better every day.