Ottumwa High School

Ottumwa High School serves 1,239 students in grades 9-12 in this southeastern Iowa community. With 81 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1, providing reasonable class sizes for personalized attention. Academically, the school has room for growth, with 54% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 47% in mathematics.

The school ranks in the 6th percentile among Iowa high schools, indicating significant opportunities for improvement in student achievement. Despite these challenges, the dedicated teaching staff works to support student development across all grade levels. The school draws from a diverse community where the median household income is $55,801 and home values average $101,100.

About 19% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while 18.2% of families experience poverty, reflecting the economic diversity that characterizes many rural Iowa communities. As a comprehensive public high school, Ottumwa High School serves as an important educational anchor for families throughout Wapello County. The school's substantial enrollment of over 1,200 students makes it one of the larger high schools in southeastern Iowa's rural landscape.

Ottumwa High School operates in this remote town setting, serving families across a broad geographic area in south-central Iowa.

While current test scores at Ottumwa High School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.