Liberty Elementary School

Summary:

Liberty Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Ottumwa, Iowa, serving grades 3-6 with a student population of around 430. The school is part of the Ottumwa Community School District, which is ranked 288 out of 309 school districts in Iowa and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Liberty Elementary has a more diverse student population compared to the nearby schools, with a racial makeup of 49.3% White, 26.28% Hispanic, and 13.02% Pacific Islander in the 2022-2023 school year. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), is consistently lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts ranged from 42.9% in 3rd grade to 56.8% in 6th grade, compared to the state averages of 64.2% to 74.5% respectively. Additionally, Liberty Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, reaching 58.14% in the 2022-2023 school year, much higher than the nearby schools.

Despite its diverse student population, Liberty Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Iowa elementary schools, with a ranking of 522 out of 557 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. This places it in the bottom 10% of elementary schools in the state, and it has maintained a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger over the years. In comparison, the nearby Horace Mann Elementary School and Eisenhower Elementary School have significantly higher academic performance and rankings, highlighting the disparity in educational outcomes within the Ottumwa Community School District.

Detail:

Public 3-6

50 Traxler Drive
Ottumwa, IA 52501

(641) 682-4502

District: Ottumwa Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
522^nd of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,867

Students who attend Liberty Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Evans Middle School
High:	Ottumwa High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.6

Number of students: 430

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.3%

Hispanic:

26.3%

Pacific Islander:

13.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 58.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Liberty Elementary School ranks worse than 93.7% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 4^th among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Ottumwa Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.5. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Liberty Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Ottumwa Community School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Liberty Elementary School is $13,867, which is the 3^rd highest among 5 elementary schools in the Ottumwa Community School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Liberty Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Ottumwa Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ottumwa Community School District 288^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Liberty Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2015	7.97	575^th	616	6.7%
2016	5.32	578^th	599	3.5%
2017	10.16	527^th	574	8.2%
2018	12.17	513^th	567	9.5%
2019	13.70	552^nd	603	8.5%
2021	12.93	517^th	567	8.8%
2022	9.24	535^th	574	6.8%
2023	7.80	528^th	565	6.5%
2024	7.50	522^nd	557	6.3%

See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Liberty Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	491	15	4	152	4	1	18	685
2015	507	22	9	165	3	2	15	723
2016	488	30	8	180	4	4	11	725
2017	485	35	12	189	2	11	13	747
2018	458	37	15	186	1	11	7	715
2019	397	30	14	181	4	14	5	645
2020	356	35	15	186	4	25	7	628
2021	315	37	20	160	4	30	6	572
2022	289	33	28	159	4	44	5	562
2023	212	22	23	113	2	56	2	430

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Liberty Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	685	47.6	14.3	54.3
2015	723	50.0	14.4	63.3
2016	725	47.0	15.4	53.2
2017	747	48.0	15.5	47.3
2018	715	47.8	14.9	43.2
2019	645	46.3	13.9	56
2020	628	43.2	14.5	49.8
2021	572	45.0	12.7	9.6
2022	562	45.9	12.2	52.3
2023	430	36.9	11.6	58.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Liberty Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	685	47.6	14.3	54.3
2015	723	50.0	14.4	63.3
2016	725	47.0	15.4	53.2
2017	747	48.0	15.5	47.3
2018	715	47.8	14.9	43.2
2019	645	46.3	13.9	56
2020	628	43.2	14.5	49.8
2021	572	45.0	12.7	9.6
2022	562	45.9	12.2	52.3
2023	430	36.9	11.6	58.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Liberty Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,196 (8.6%)	$12,671 (91.4%)	$13,867

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Liberty Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 552^nd of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 528^th of 565 Elementary schools	1.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Liberty Elementary School)	49.3	44.2	5.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ottumwa Community School District)	56.6	48.8	7.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Liberty Elementary School)	58.9	58.3	0.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ottumwa Community School District)	66.4	62.8	3.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Liberty Elementary School)	55	52.5	2.5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ottumwa Community School District)	56.5	62.4	5.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Liberty Elementary School)	53.8	50	3.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ottumwa Community School District)	61.7	56.6	5.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Liberty Elementary School)	47.4	44.3	3.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ottumwa Community School District)	53.8	52.4	1.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Liberty Elementary School)	50	42.4	7.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ottumwa Community School District)	59.9	52.4	7.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	645	430	33.3%
African American	30	22	26.7%
American Indian	4	2	50%
Asian	14	23	64.3%
Hispanic	181	113	37.6%
Pacific Islander	14	56	300%
White	397	212	46.6%
Two or More Races	5	2	60%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	56%	58.1%	2.2%

Schools Near Liberty Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)				ISASP Mathematics (2024)				ISASP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Liberty Elementary School	Public	3-6	50 Traxler Drive	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 682-4502	430	37	11.6	58.1%	212 (49.3%)	22 (5.1%)	113 (26.3%)	23 (5.3%)	2 (0.5%)	56 (13.0%)	2 (0.5%)	7.5	522^nd of 557 public elementary schools	6.3%		7.8	528^th of 565 public elementary schools	6.5%	6	42.9	48.7	45.9	56.8	62.9	45.2	48.9	46.6	31.9	$13,867	$1,196	$12,671
Pickwick Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	1306 W Williams	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 684-7179	569	26	21.9	30.9%	287 (50.4%)	50 (8.8%)	156 (27.4%)	24 (4.2%)	2 (0.4%)	38 (6.7%)	12 (2.1%)								(n/a)
Douma Elementary School	Public	1-2	307 W. Mary St.	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-4668	330	23	14.4	50.3%	164 (49.7%)	16 (4.8%)	89 (27.0%)	18 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	37 (11.2%)	5 (1.5%)								(n/a)										$14,254	$1,164	$13,090
Wilson Elementary School	Public	K-5	1102 E. 4th St.	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-5441	345	28	12.3	60.0%	119 (34.5%)	35 (10.1%)	113 (32.8%)	10 (2.9%)	4 (1.2%)	57 (16.5%)	7 (2.0%)	26.3	453^rd of 557 public elementary schools	18.7%		14.1	511^th of 565 public elementary schools	9.6%	58	64.7	52.9	60.0		72.5	31.4	64.4		42.2	$13,451	$1,167	$12,284
James Elementary School	Public	K-5	1001 N Benton	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-5411	229	17	13.5	63.8%	88 (38.4%)	36 (15.7%)	60 (26.2%)	4 (1.7%)	1 (0.4%)	31 (13.5%)	9 (3.9%)	7	527^th of 557 public elementary schools	5.4%		11.4	517^th of 565 public elementary schools	8.5%	10	48.3	38.2	53.3		58.6	35.3	26.7		30.0	$13,974	$1,218	$12,755
Horace Mann Elementary School	Public	K-5	1523 N Court St	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-4661	240	16	15.0	38.8%	149 (62.1%)	26 (10.8%)	41 (17.1%)	6 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.8%)	4 (1.7%)	42.9	376^th of 557 public elementary schools	32.5%		48.5	337^th of 565 public elementary schools	40.4%	39	39.5	82.9	66.7		60.5	82.9	61.9		61.9	$13,776	$1,167	$12,609
Eisenhower Elementary School	Public	K-5	2624 Marilyn Rd	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 684-5617	238	16	14.9	27.3%	198 (83.2%)	10 (4.2%)	17 (7.1%)	3 (1.3%)	2 (0.8%)	6 (2.5%)	1 (0.4%)	66.3	188^th of 557 public elementary schools	66.2%		69.2	175^th of 565 public elementary schools	69.0%	13	73.0	88.4	67.7		81.1	81.4	75.0		58.1	$12,778	$1,167	$11,611
Cardinal Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	5414 Hwy 16	Eldon	52554	Wapello County	Cardinal Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 652-3591	514	37	14.0	64.6%	453 (88.1%)	1 (0.2%)	41 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.3%)	31.1	439^th of 557 public elementary schools	21.2%		37.2	418^th of 565 public elementary schools	26.0%	21	43.5	76.5			55.3	70.4				$10,997	$435	$10,563
Blakesburg Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	407 S Wilson	Blakesburg	52536	Wapello County	Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont Central School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 938-2203	119	12	9.5	32.8%	112 (94.1%)	1 (0.8%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.4%)	39	392^nd of 557 public elementary schools	29.6%		36.2	424^th of 565 public elementary schools	25.0%	32		46.7	69.2	66.7		73.3	76.9	58.3	61.5	$13,338	$575	$12,764
Fremont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	525 East Main Street	Fremont	52561	Mahaska County	Eddyville-Blakesburg- Fremont Central School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 933-4211	126	10	12.6	42.9%	113 (89.7%)	1 (0.8%)	10 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)								(n/a)										$14,187	$580	$13,607

Frequently Asked Questions about Liberty Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Liberty Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Liberty Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Evans Middle School
High : Ottumwa High School

What is the racial makeup of Liberty Elementary School?

Students at Liberty Elementary School are 49% White, 26% Hispanic, 13% Pacific Islander, 5% Asian, 5% African American.

What district is Liberty Elementary School in?

Ottumwa Community School District

How many students attend Liberty Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 430 students attended Liberty Elementary School.

Is Liberty Elementary School a good school?

Liberty Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.3% of Iowa elementary schools.

Rate Liberty Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.