Average
#993 of 1,280 schools in IA
James Elementary School
Elementary School · Ottumwa Comm School District · Ottumwa, IA
An Ottumwa Comm School District elementary school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1001 N Benton, Ottumwa, IA 52501
- Math 44% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 45% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at James Elementary School score 45% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 17 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 45% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
77.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where James Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 9Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,030/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Ottumwa), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$59,091
Median home value
$109,600
Median rent
$955/mo
College educated
20.1%
Homeownership
65.5%
Poverty rate
17.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52501; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horace Mann Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 251 | Compare → |
| Seton Catholic Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 59 | Compare → |
| Ottumwa Virtual LearningEnrollment path unverified | 1.6 | PK–12 | 1.5 mi | 57 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Ottumwa Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #4 of 10
- District spending per student
- $12,391NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
James Elementary School is listed in Ottumwa Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About James Elementary School
James Elementary School is a public elementary school in Ottumwa, IA, part of Ottumwa Comm School District, serving approximately 228 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #993 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James Elementary School
What grades does James Elementary School serve?
James Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend James Elementary School?
James Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 228 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Elementary School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James Elementary School rank in IA?
James Elementary School ranks #993 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is James Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
James Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at James Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James Elementary School has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is James Elementary School a charter school?
No, James Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James Elementary School a Title I school?
No, James Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James Elementary School?
77.6% of students at James Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 228
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Wapello County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.6%
- Phone
- (641) 684-5411
- Area population (ZIP 52501)
- 30,341
- Area average commute
- 18.6 min
- Area median age
- 39.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 52501; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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