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Very Good

#40 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 25% of private schools

Ottumwa Christian School

School

438 MCKINLEY AVE, Ottumwa, IA 52501

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 9 schools in Ottumwa. Learn more

Enrollment

74

Student-Teacher

8.6:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Ottumwa

#2 of 2

public schools

Iowa schools

#9 of 35

About Ottumwa Christian School

Ottumwa Christian School serves 74 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Ottumwa, Iowa, offering a comprehensive educational experience with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.6:1. With just 9 full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides an intimate learning environment where students receive individualized attention throughout their academic journey. The school has earned a solid MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks 96th among Iowa's 157 schools, placing it in the 40th percentile statewide.

This small educational community allows for close relationships between students, teachers, and families, fostering a supportive atmosphere for learning and personal development. Located at 438 McKinley Avenue, the school serves a community where the median household income is $55,801 and median home values are $101,100. The surrounding area has a college education rate of 19% among residents with bachelor's degrees or higher, while 18.2% of the community faces economic challenges.

Despite being categorized as a "regular public school" in the data, the name suggests a faith-based educational approach. The school's small size enables personalized learning experiences that can benefit students across all grade levels. Ottumwa Christian School operates in Iowa's remote town setting, providing education to families seeking a close-knit academic community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 74 students, Ottumwa Christian School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.6:1, Ottumwa Christian School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Ottumwa Christian School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$6,689
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$7,774
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.16x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
71%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$260,539

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 74 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Ottumwa Christian School compares to 11 public schools serving similar grades in Ottumwa, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.6:1
This School
vs
17.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
74
This School
vs
453
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
4.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 74.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.1% vs 0%
Black 4.1% vs 0%
Ottumwa Christian School Ottumwa Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Ottumwa Christian School (this school) 7.1
Evans Middle School 4.4
Pickwick Early Childhood Center 2.9
Liberty Elementary School 2.8
Douma Elementary School 5.9
Gateway High School
Ottumwa High School 4.3
James Elementary School 3.9
Wilson Elementary School 5.4
Horace Mann Elementary School 5.1
Ottumwa Virtual Learning 3.4
Eisenhower Elementary School 5.9

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,204
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 8.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 43%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.6 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 74
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 56.1%
School
State
73.3%
ELA Proficiency 85.6%
School
State
75.5%

Based on 6 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 74.3%
Two or More 10.8%
Hispanic 8.1%
Black 4.1%
Pacific Islander 2.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

438 MCKINLEY AVE, Ottumwa, IA 52501

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ottumwa Christian School may also want to explore other schools in the area. SETON CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Eddyville Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 14.6 miles away, in nearby Eddyville), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Fremont Elementary (rated 7.4/10, 14.3 miles away, in nearby Fremont), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Ottumwa, see our Ottumwa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 17.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Evans Middle School Ottumwa 0.4 mi 4.4
Pickwick Early Childhood Center Ottumwa 0.6 mi 2.9
Liberty Elementary School Ottumwa 1.0 mi 2.8
Douma Elementary School Ottumwa 1.1 mi 5.9
Gateway High School Ottumwa 1.5 mi
James Elementary School Ottumwa 2.1 mi 3.9
SETON CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ottumwa 1.9 mi 7.9
Ottumwa High School Ottumwa 2.0 mi 4.3
Wilson Elementary School Ottumwa 2.3 mi 5.4
Horace Mann Elementary School Ottumwa 2.7 mi 5.1
Ottumwa Virtual Learning Ottumwa 2.8 mi 3.4
Eisenhower Elementary School Ottumwa 3.9 mi 5.9
Blakesburg Elementary Blakesburg 10.8 mi 5.9
Fremont Elementary Fremont 14.3 mi 7.4
Cardinal Elementary Eldon 11.0 mi 5.0
Cardinal High School Eldon 11.1 mi 6.8
Cardinal Junior High Eldon 11.1 mi 6.8
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Jr/Sr High Eddyville 13.9 mi 4.9
Eddyville Elementary Eddyville 14.6 mi 7.9
Davis County Elementary Bloomfield 17.5 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52501 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,091

Median Home Value

$109,600

Median Rent

$955/mo

Population

30,341

College Educated

20.1%

Homeownership

65.5%

Avg Commute

18.6 min

Poverty Rate

17.6%

Median Age

39.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Ottumwa Christian School has a median household income of $59,091. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $109,600, with a median rent of $955/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.6%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Prairie Edge Cedar Rapids, IA 6.9
NORTH IOWA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mason City, IA 5.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ottumwa Christian School

What grades does Ottumwa Christian School serve?

Ottumwa Christian School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Ottumwa Christian School?

Ottumwa Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 74 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ottumwa Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at Ottumwa Christian School is 8.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Ottumwa Christian School rank in IA?

Ottumwa Christian School is ranked #40 out of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Ottumwa Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ottumwa Christian School has a composite rating of 7.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ottumwa Christian School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ottumwa Christian School has 56.1% math proficiency and 85.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Ottumwa Christian School a private school?

Yes, Ottumwa Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Ottumwa Christian School a religious school?

Ottumwa Christian School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
39 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,030/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Ottumwa). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
74
Gender Split
47% M / 53% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
9
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
172 days
Setting
Remote Town
County
WAPELLO
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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