About Cottonwood
Where Curiosity Takes Root
Cottonwood Discovery School is a small and warm elementary school built on a simple belief:
Children thrive when they are known deeply and taught intentionally.
At Cottonwood Discovery School, we believe learning grows from strong relationships, meaningful experiences, and a deep sense of belonging. We create a place where children feel safe to ask questions, take healthy risks, make mistakes and grow, and discover who they are meant to become.
Our Mission
Whole-child learning
We exist to cultivate a thoughtful learning community rooted in experiential, developmentally responsive education.
We believe children learn best when they feel connected, capable, understood, and meaningfully engaged in the world around them. Through authentic relationships, purposeful learning, and meaningful experiences, we nurture curiosity, compassion, responsibility, and stewardship while helping children develop a strong sense of self, belonging, and contribution.
Our Approach
Rooted in relationships.
Grown through experience.
Children learn best when they feel connected—to their teachers, their peers, their work, and the world around them.
At Cottonwood, learning is active, relational, and intentional. Students engage with rich academic content through meaningful projects, collaborative problem-solving, outdoor experiences, and service to their community. We believe knowledge grows deeper when children can apply what they learn in authentic ways.
Small class sizes
Meaningful projects
Emotional safety
Community engagement
A community shaped by trust and purpose
★★★★★
“Cottonwood feels like the kind of school every child deserves – nurturing, grounded, and deeply committed to helping children feel seen, safe, and inspired.”
Parent Perspective
Community voice
Cottonwood Discovery School