Ottumwa Comm School District

1112 N Van Buren
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Ottumwa Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 1,423 students in Ottumwa Comm School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Iowa.
Public Middle Schools in Ottumwa Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the Iowa public middle school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
12 Schools
372 Schools
# Students
5,005 Students
129,526 Students
# Teachers
329 Teachers
9,068 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Ottumwa Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 83% has decreased from 91% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#315 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

53%
68%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

55%
70%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

49%
63%
83%
87.5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
30.9%
24.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.45

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
2%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
26%
12%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
10%
6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
49%
73%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
10%
1%
% Two or more races
2%
5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,427 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,179. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,885 is less than the state median of $18,122. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$82 MM
$9,049 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$85 MM
$9,021 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$16,427
$18,179

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$16,885
$18,122

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Ottumwa Comm School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Evans Junior High School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
812 Chester Avenue
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6511
Gr: 8-9 | 684 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #22.
Liberty Intermediate School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
50 Traxler Drive
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 682-4502
Gr: 6-7 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #33.
Ottumwa Virtual Learning
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
115 N Ferry St
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Gr: PK-12 | 106 students Minority enrollment: 44%

Recent Articles

Is Your Child's School Day Too Structured?
Is Your Child's School Day Too Structured?
Discover where free time disappears during your child's school day, how to evaluate lunch, recess, and classroom schedules, and what parents can do when breaks become structured activities.
When Your Child's Best Friend Is in Another Class
When Your Child's Best Friend Is in Another Class
Discover how to help your child when their best friend is assigned to another classroom, including school placement policies, maintaining friendships, building connections, and knowing when to request help.
Should Your Child Repeat a Grade or Move Ahead?
Should Your Child Repeat a Grade or Move Ahead?
Before agreeing to grade retention, learn what evidence to request, how to review school policies, explore alternatives, understand parental rights, and secure an effective academic support plan for your child.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,005 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 51%
  • : 83% (Top 50% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 53% (Btm 50%)
  • : 55% (Btm 50%)
  • : 49% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Quick Links