The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science

09/02/2026

Welcome to Kindergarten, Class of 2039! We are so excited to see you grow and shine!🌻

08/31/2026

Welcome back, Cottonwood! A few new faces and so many new adventures await! 💚

Kinders, Teacher Cayla and Teacher Jen are SO excited to see you tomorrow!!

08/25/2026

We’re looking for the last couple students to join our community for the 26/27 school year! Could it be your student?!

🔗APPLICATION LINK IN OUR BIO!

Will you LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE so we can get the word out?

08/08/2026

Sometimes the right school finds you at just the right time 🦋

We have very limited openings in Kindergarten and 8th grade at The Cottonwood School of Civics & Science for the 2026/2027 school year!

Cottonwood is a small, *tuition-free public K–8 school* in Portland’s Lair Hill neighborhood. We believe that healthy communities are created by engaged, informed and compassionate citizens, and that children learn best when participating in authentic, hands-on learning experiences that are closely tied to the community. Through service, integrated curriculum and experiential learning, we provide opportunities for our students to actively build relationships locally, inspiring them to become catalysts of change in a global community.
If that sounds like the right fit for your student, we would love to meet you!

Apply Today!
🔗 thecottonwoodschool.org/enrollment

📣 SHARE this post so we can get the word out!

The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science is a small, public charter school community that is dedicated to providing a creative learning environment where students develop a sense of place.

08/02/2026

We are hiring!!

We are seeking a patient, creative, and passionate Literacy Specialist to support young learners in kindergarten through third grade. The ideal candidate will have experience in primary education and a strong understanding of literacy development and willingness to coach classroom teachers in literacy instruction. This role involves working with students individually or in small groups by using multisensory methods in order to make learning fun, engaging, and interactive and to foster a love of reading. Additionally, the Literacy Tutor will coordinate and administer benchmark testing to assess students' literacy progress and tailor instruction accordingly. The specialist will also have experience working with struggling readers, students with 504 Plans, students moving towards an evaluation for special ed, and adapting instruction to meet diverse learning needs.

POSITION TITLE: Literacy Specialist and Testing Coordinator
REPORTS TO: Director of Faculty,Teaching and Learning
FLSA: Exempt Status
JOB STATUS: Regular, Part Time 32 hours per week
FTE: .8 FTE/ 10 months
Salary: $44,646

TO LEARN MORE & APPLY: Link in bio!

💚 PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK!💚

06/30/2026

Education that extends beyond the four walls of a classroom is at the heart of what we do at The Cottonwood School Civics and Science.

We know families explore multiple options as they determine the best fit for their students to thrive. As families make final enrollment decisions, a few openings have become available for the 2026–2027 school year in Kindergarten, 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades!

That means an exciting opportunity to welcome a few more students who will thrive in Place-Based Education!

Cottonwood is a small, tuition-free public K–8 school in Portland’s Lair Hill neighborhood. We believe that healthy communities are created by engaged, informed and compassionate citizens, and that children learn best when participating in authentic, hands-on learning experiences that are closely tied to the community. Through service, integrated curriculum and experiential learning, we provide opportunities for our students to actively build relationships locally, inspiring them to become catalysts of change in a global community.

If that sounds like the right fit for your student, we would love to meet you!

Apply Today!
🔗 thecottonwoodschool.org/enrollment
📣 SHARE this post so we can get the word out!

06/13/2026

This process took wayyyyy longer than we anticipated! But IT’S HERE!!! If you’re driving South on SW Natio, check out our new sign!! 🤩

06/13/2026

Some spots are still open, and we have opened up registration to incoming students, and kids from other schools, if your kiddo has a pal they'd like to do camp with!

Kaileah and Josey are brilliant and fun and kid-centered, and these camps will undoubtedly be stellar experiences.

Sliding Scale + Aftercare (3-5pm) available!
Register Today! https://tinyurl.com/7n6z5zy3

06/11/2026

Congrats to the SW Charter School/Cottonwood High School Class of 2026!! Here are a few recent grads with their Kindergarten teacher, Miss Amanda 🥹

06/11/2026

🎓 A huge shout-out to our graduating 8th graders! Enjoy this series of photos that embodies the playfulness and joy this group shares with the world around them!

Many of these students have called Cottonwood home for the past nine years, growing alongside our school community from their earliest elementary days to this exciting milestone. We are so proud of all they have accomplished and the unique gifts they have shared with our community.

As you begin your high school journey, we hope you carry with you the lessons you’ve learned at Cottonwood—staying curious, building community, caring for the land, and always remembering the importance of place.
We can’t wait to see where your path leads next!💚