Lottery
- When does the lottery open and close? The lottery opens on February 1st at 9:00am and closes on February 28th at 11:59pm. Preference is not given to people who apply earlier in the application window. The lottery is completely random.
- When does the lottery actually get drawn? The lottery will be drawn on March 14th at 10:00am. Families will be emailed with their lottery results.
- What happens if my student gets waitlisted? If your student is waitlisted, please continue to check your email with updates on your waitlist status. We make offers as seats become available. You can also check your student’s status anytime with the link provided in your “Results” email.
- What is Cottonwood’s lottery sibling policy? If one of your students is a lottery seat recipient and you accept that seat then, your waitlisted student is pulled over to the Sibling Priority Waitlist. Those students are placed on the Sibling Priority Waitlist according to the date and time stamp of when you accepted the seat for your Lottery recipient. All siblings must have submitted an application to the lottery for the current year.
- How many applications does Cottonwood receive each year? It depends on the year, but we have seen up to 700 applications in recent years, with the most being in sixth grade.
- How many seats are available in each grade level? The number of seats is dependent on the number of returning students. Sixth grade eligible spots are determined by how many eligible siblings from current Cottonwood students will be coming. This number can be anywhere from 40-70 on average, which may only leave about 80-110 spots for new students.
Support Services
- How does Cottonwood handle IEP’s and 504’s? Cottonwood is a public school, which accepts and adheres to all IEP’s and 504’s. Students who come in with IEP’s will have a meeting with the Cottonwood Special Education Director.
- Do you have a full time school nurse? Yes, we have a full time RN and Health Assistant.
- Are you able to provide healthcare needs during the school day for students? We follow all NMPED guidelines for student health including medication administration, asthma, allergies, diabetes, seizures, and any other health concerns.
- Do you offer mental health/social work support during the school day? Yes, we have a full time counselor and social worker to assist students when needed.
- How can a student with an IEP receive social work services? Referral and assessment from social worker and/or teacher(s).
Athletics and Activities
- What NMAA athletics and activities does Cottonwood offer? Cottonwood participates in the New Mexico Activities Association as a 3A school. Students in grades 8-12 can participate in girls volleyball, basketball, track and field, cross country, golf, swimming, chess, speech and debate, mock trial, esports, and science olympiad.
- What sports are offered for middle school students? Students in grades 6-8 can participate in girls volleyball, basketball, cross country, golf, swimming, flag football, soccer, and track and field.
- What are the requirements to participate in athletics or activities? Cottonwood requires students participating in any athletics or activities to have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 with no F’s.
- What clubs does Cottonwood offer? Cottonwood offers student-led and teacher sponsored clubs based on student choice each year. Since they are student driven, clubs tend to vary from year to year.
International Baccalaureate Program
- What is the International Baccalaureate? International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally minded way of learning that helps students be open minded and reflective about their learning. Cottonwood offers the Diploma Program for our 11th and 12th grade students, which is a rigorous college preparatory curriculum.
- Do all students participate in the International Baccalaureate program? The curriculum for 6th-10th students is infused with IB philosophy and skill development in preparation for entering the Diploma Program in 11th grade. All 11th and 12th grade students participate in the Diploma Program.
- What is the value of an International Baccalaureate education? There are a range of benefits for students, which include honing in on their research skills, thinking critically, reflecting on their learning, building their independence and resilience, engaging with their community through acts of service, showing a commitment to academic excellence, and possible college credit.
General Information
- What are the dress code expectations of a Cottonwood student? All students are required to wear their school issued lanyard and ID. Students must wear a Cottonwood polo or spirit wear shirt. No large rips or tears in pants.
- Does the school have bus service? Yes, we have several different bus stops throughout the city of Albuquerque and in Rio Rancho.
- Does the school offer lunch services? CCPS offers free lunches, breakfast and after school snack to all of our students per the state of New Mexico.
- How much homework will my child receive being a student at Cottonwood? Students will receive about 10 minutes times their grade level. For example, a sixth grade student may receive about an hour each night. This can also depend on the time of year.
- What does Cottonwood’s school calendar look like? Our current school calendar can be found here.
- What does Cottonwood’s bell schedule look like? Our current bell schedule can be found here.
