6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Ottawa, Illinois

11 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 2 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 9

Private: 2

Districts: 5

Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Ottawa?

Use this page to compare every school in Ottawa by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Ottawa Esd 141. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Ottawa for 2026 are Mckinley Elem School (7.3/10), Jefferson Elem School (7.2/10), and Marquette Academy (6.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Mckinley Elem School

Rates 7.3/10 despite 45% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Ottawa schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Ottawa

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Mckinley Elem School	7.3 / 10	Elementary	+1.2	73th
2	Jefferson Elem School	7.2 / 10	Elementary	+0.8	71th
3	Marquette Academy	6.6 / 10	Other	—	58th
4	Rutland Elem School	6.3 / 10	Elementary	+0.6	52th
5	Wallace Elem School	6.3 / 10	Elementary	+0.5	51th
6	Shepherd Middle School	6.2 / 10	Middle	-0.0	49th
7	Lincoln Elem School	5.6 / 10	Elementary	-0.8	36th
8	Ottawa Township High School	5.4 / 10	High	—	31th
9	Central Intermediate School	5.3 / 10	Middle	-1.0	29th
10	Marquette Academy	5.0 / 10	Other	—	14th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.0/10
Median household income: $77,562
Median home value: $157,100
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22%
Avg commute: 23 min
Owner-occupied homes: 73%

How Ottawa compares

Illinois rank

#250 of 444

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.3

below Illinois avg (6.2)

Median household income

$78k

95% of Illinois median

Schools in this city

11

About Schools in Ottawa, Illinois

Ottawa, Illinois has 9 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.7 out of 10 — a solid foundation for a small city. More than half the schools clear the 7-point mark, with 5 of 9 (56%) scoring 7 or above. That places Ottawa's upper tier well ahead of many comparably sized Illinois communities, even if a few schools pull the average down.

The elementary level is where Ottawa genuinely stands out. McKinley Elementary leads the city at 8.8 out of 10, the highest-rated school in Ottawa. Rutland Elementary follows at 8.7, and both Jefferson and Deer Park C C Elementary score 8.4 — giving parents of younger children four strong options clustered near the top of the ratings scale. For families with elementary-age kids, Ottawa offers an unusually deep bench at that level.

The picture shifts heading into middle school. Shepherd Middle School scores 7.1 out of 10, a respectable but noticeably lower mark than the leading elementary schools. That gap is worth watching: families who have thrived in Ottawa's top elementary schools should look carefully at Shepherd's academic trajectory data, extracurricular offerings, and how well the transition is managed before locking in a neighborhood. The step down between elementary and middle is the most significant performance shift in this city's landscape.

Practically speaking, Ottawa rewards families who do the geographic homework. The city's top four elementary schools are distinct attendance-zone schools — not magnet programs — so your home address determines your default assignment. Parents prioritizing the strongest elementary experience should map McKinley and Rutland's attendance boundaries before house-hunting. With a 6.7 citywide average and more than half the schools rated 7 or above, Ottawa compares favorably within its peer group, but the gap between the top-rated schools and the lower-ranked ones is real. Confirming your specific school assignment early, then cross-checking against state test score trends and enrollment data, will give you the clearest picture of what your child's path through Ottawa schools actually looks like.

Filter by Level: All Levels (11) Elementary (6) Middle (2) High (1)

Filter by Type: All Types (11) Public (9) Private (2)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (11) Academics (9) Growth (9) Resources (9)

Filter by ZIP: 61350 (11)

Elementary Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mckinley Elem School 399 students · Pre-K–4th	399	Pre-K–4th	7.3
2	Jefferson Elem School 306 students · Pre-K–4th	306	Pre-K–4th	7.2
3	Rutland Elem School 69 students · Pre-K–8th	69	Pre-K–8th	6.3
4	Wallace Elem School 400 students · Pre-K–8th	400	Pre-K–8th	6.3
5	Lincoln Elem School 363 students · Pre-K–4th	363	Pre-K–4th	5.6
6	Deer Park C C Elem School 37 students · Pre-K–8th	37	Pre-K–8th	4.3

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Shepherd Middle School 381 students · 7th–8th	381	7th–8th	6.2
2	Central Intermediate School 325 students · 5th–6th	325	5th–6th	5.3

High Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Ottawa Township High School 1,270 students · 9th–12th	1,270	9th–12th	5.4

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Marquette Academy Private 340 students · Pre-K–12th	340	Pre-K–12th	6.6
2	Marquette Academy Private 339 students · Pre-K–12th	339	Pre-K–12th	5.0

Schools in Ottawa

Ottawa, Illinois · 11 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$77,562

Median Home Value

$157,100

Median Rent

$940/mo

Population

23,999

College Educated

22%

Homeownership

73%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

12.4%

Community Profile

Ottawa has a median household income of $77,562. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $157,100, with a median rent of $940/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.4%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Illinois
Elementary: 6
Middle: 2
High: 1
Other: 2

Resources

🔍 Google "Ottawa schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Ottawa 📊 Niche Ottawa Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (5)

Deer Park CCSD 82

1 school · 37 students

Ottawa ESD 141

5 schools · 1,774 students

Ottawa Twp HSD 140

2 schools · 1,270 students

Rutland CCSD 230

1 school · 69 students

Wallace CCSD 195

2 schools · 400 students

Nearby Cities

Grand Ridge (1 school)

8 mi

Utica (1 school)

8 mi

Marseilles (2 schools)

Earlville (4 schools)

Other Major Cities in Illinois

Top metros statewide by school count.

Chicago 850 schools Aurora 62 schools Rockford 61 schools Naperville 58 schools Peoria 53 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Ottawa, Illinois

How many schools are in Ottawa, Illinois?

Ottawa has 11 schools, including 9 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Ottawa, Illinois?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Ottawa is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Ottawa, Illinois?

The top-ranked school in Ottawa on MySchoolScout is Mckinley Elem School with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Ottawa, Illinois?

The top-ranked elementary school in Ottawa on MySchoolScout is Mckinley Elem School with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best middle school in Ottawa, Illinois?

The top-ranked middle school in Ottawa on MySchoolScout is Shepherd Middle School with a composite score of 6.2/10.

What is the best high school in Ottawa, Illinois?

The top-ranked high school in Ottawa on MySchoolScout is Ottawa Township High School with a composite score of 5.4/10.

How many school districts serve Ottawa, Illinois?

Ottawa is served by 5 school districts: Deer Park Ccsd 82, Ottawa Esd 141, Ottawa Twp Hsd 140, Rutland Ccsd 230, Wallace Ccsd 195.

What is the education level in Ottawa, Illinois?

According to Census data, 22% of adults in Ottawa have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Ottawa, Illinois?

The median household income in Ottawa is approximately $77,562 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Ottawa, Illinois?

Yes, Ottawa has 2 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Marquette Academy with a score of 6.6/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Ottawa, Illinois?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Ottawa is 12.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Ottawa, Illinois?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.