Summary:
The Ottumwa, Iowa school district serves 11 schools, including 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district faces significant challenges in providing a high-quality education to its diverse student population, with most schools performing below state averages in academic achievement.
A few standout schools in the district include Horace Mann Elementary School and Eisenhower Elementary School, which consistently rank among the top elementary schools in the state and have test scores well above the district and state averages. In contrast, Wilson Elementary School stands out for its exceptional 3rd-grade test scores, despite lower overall performance.
The district as a whole faces significant challenges, with most schools struggling academically and large gaps between their performance and state averages. This is particularly concerning at the high school level, where both Ottumwa High School and Gateway High School rank in the bottom 15% of Iowa high schools. The district's diverse, economically disadvantaged student population and potential funding inequities may be contributing factors to these performance gaps, which the Ottumwa Community School District will need to address to provide a high-quality education for all students.
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