Public schools in Ottumwa, IA
12 open public schools with an address in Ottumwa, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,005
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.7:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Ottumwa public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Ottumwa, IA: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,005 students, an average of 417 per school. The largest campus is Ottumwa High School (910 students), and the largest elementary school is Pickwick Early Childhood Center (560).
Every listed school belongs to Ottumwa Comm School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.7:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 47% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Ottumwa
Elementary schools in Ottumwa
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douma Elementary School Ottumwa Comm School District | 01–02 | 327 | 11.3:1 | |
| Eisenhower Elementary School Ottumwa Comm School District | KG–05 | 248 | 13.7:1 | |
| Fahrney Elementary Ottumwa Comm School District | 03–05 | 490 | 15.9:1 | |
| Horace Mann Elementary School Ottumwa Comm School District | KG–05 | 250 | 13.1:1 | |
| James Elementary School Ottumwa Comm School District | KG–05 | 249 | 13.1:1 | |
| Pickwick Early Childhood Center Ottumwa Comm School District | PK–KG | 560 | 22.6:1 | |
| Wilson Elementary School Ottumwa Comm School District | KG–05 | 335 | 12.4:1 |
Middle schools in Ottumwa
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Intermediate School Ottumwa Comm School District | 06–07 | 633 | 13.9:1 |
High schools in Ottumwa
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway High School Ottumwa Comm School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 213 | 29.6:1 | |
| Ottumwa High School Ottumwa Comm School District | 10–12 | 910 | 16.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Ottumwa
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evans Junior High School Ottumwa Comm School District | 08–09 | 684 | 13:1 | |
| Ottumwa Virtual Learning Ottumwa Comm School District · Virtual | PK–12 | 106 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White48.6%
- Hispanic26.2%
- Black9.8%
- Asian3.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander10.1%
- Multiracial1.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Ottumwa schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,005 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Ottumwa
How many public schools are in Ottumwa, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Ottumwa: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 5,005 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Ottumwa?
All listed public schools with an address in Ottumwa belong to Ottumwa Comm School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Ottumwa?
Ottumwa High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Ottumwa, with 910 students in 2024–25 (grades 10–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Ottumwa?
No school with an address in Ottumwa is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Iowa.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Ottumwa schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Ottumwa public schools is 13.7:1, similar to the Iowa school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Ottumwa guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Iowa cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Iowa cities