Cotton County Schools & Education
Cotton County, Oklahoma
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
16/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
76.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
76.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,462
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,520
School Score
16/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 28/100
State Score Position
#64
of 77 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Cotton County
Measured School Summary
Cotton County faces educational challenges with a school score of 16/100 and a graduation rate of 76.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,462 per pupil, Cotton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 44% below the Oklahoma average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Cotton County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
7 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
16/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #64 of 77 Oklahoma counties with school score data.
Completion
76.7%
7.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,462
$58 below the state average
School coverage
7
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Cotton County has 7 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Cotton County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Review-carefully county
Cotton County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#64
of 77 Oklahoma counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
WALTERS
Elementary to high school visible
610 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
BIG PASTURE
Elementary and high visible
201 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
TEMPLE
Elementary and high visible
184 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
WALTERS is the largest listed district slice, with 3 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cotton County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cotton County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Cotton County, Oklahoma
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Small-Scale Educational Network
Cotton County operates seven public schools across three districts, serving a total student population of 995. The infrastructure consists of three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
Graduation Rates and Local Investment
The county reports a 76.7% graduation rate, which sits below the Oklahoma average of 84.3% and the national benchmark of 87.0%. Annual per-pupil spending of $6,462 is nearly identical to the state average but less than half of the $13,000 national median.
Focus on the Walters District
The Walters school district is the county's largest, educating 610 students across its three campuses. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the county's offerings, as there are currently no charter schools in operation.
Rural Roots and Intimate Classrooms
Attending school here feels personal, with an average enrollment of just 142 students per school across rural and town settings. Walters Elementary is the largest campus with 274 students, while Temple Elementary serves only 137 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Cotton County
Reported Enrollment
995
7 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Cotton County
WALTERS
BIG PASTURE
TEMPLE
7 Public Schools in Cotton County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WALTERS ES | Record | WALTERS | Walters, 73572Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 274 |
| WALTERS HS | Record | WALTERS | Walters, 73572Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 196 |
| BIG PASTURE ES | Record | BIG PASTURE | Randlett, 73562Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 143 |
| WALTERS MS | Record | WALTERS | Walters, 73572Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 140 |
| TEMPLE ES | Record | TEMPLE | Temple, 73568Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 137 |
| BIG PASTURE HS | Record | BIG PASTURE | Randlett, 73562Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 58 |
| TEMPLE HS | Record | TEMPLE | Temple, 73568Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 47 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,462
State avg $6,520
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Cotton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Oklahoma counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Oklahoma?
How should I read the school score in Cotton County?
What is the graduation rate in Cotton County?
How much does Cotton County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Cotton County, Oklahoma — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Cotton County, Oklahoma?
Cotton County operates seven public schools across three districts, serving a total student population of 995. The infrastructure consists of three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
How do schools in Cotton County perform academically?
The county reports a 76.7% graduation rate, which sits below the Oklahoma average of 84.3% and the national benchmark of 87.0%. Annual per-pupil spending of $6,462 is nearly identical to the state average but less than half of the $13,000 national median.
What are the major school districts in Cotton County, Oklahoma?
The Walters school district is the county's largest, educating 610 students across its three campuses. Traditional public schools make up 100% of the county's offerings, as there are currently no charter schools in operation.
What is the school experience like in Cotton County?
Attending school here feels personal, with an average enrollment of just 142 students per school across rural and town settings. Walters Elementary is the largest campus with 274 students, while Temple Elementary serves only 137 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.