The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on James Elementary School
James Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Ottumwa, a mid-sized southeastern Iowa city with a history rooted in farm-equipment manufacturing and meatpacking. The school sits north of the Des Moines River, in a community where major employers include JBS Live Pork, John Deere, the Ottumwa Community School District, and Ottumwa Regional Health Center. The area has a revitalized downtown district with historic buildings, and the city functions as the primary commercial hub for Wapello County. Housing in the surrounding zip code is well below state and national benchmarks, making the area more affordable than much of Iowa. For a family considering James Elementary, the neighborhood offers a mix of industrial and residential streets, with bus service and an Amtrak station providing regional connections.
Academically, James Elementary’s state assessment results show proficiency rates that fall below the midpoint when compared to other districts in Wapello County. In the most recent testing year, math proficiency was achieved by a share of students that places the school in the bottom quartile among county districts. English language arts results were similar in pattern. Science proficiency was lower still. These are the only tested subjects for the elementary grades. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects, sits noticeably below the median of its county peers. Because the district implemented a grade reconfiguration for the 2024-25 school year, families should be aware that school assignments and transitions may have shifted, which could affect the experience of enrolled students.
The student body is diverse. White students make up the largest single group, followed by Hispanic students, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students, and Black students, with smaller numbers of Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the community. The school does not report counts or rates for students receiving special education services or for English learners, so a parent who needs information about those supports should ask the school directly. Similarly, no data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing is available in public records, leaving gaps in the picture of daily school environment and student support.
What is clear from the available evidence is that James Elementary draws its students from a community with moderate housing costs, a strong industrial base, and a downtown that has seen revitalization efforts. The school itself is a regular public elementary school of modest size, with one class per grade level in most years. The academic results suggest that many students are not yet meeting state proficiency benchmarks, and the school’s performance relative to other Wapello County schools is on the lower end. For a parent focused on test scores and comparative performance, this context is worth weighing alongside the fact that a single year of data does not capture the full range of instruction, enrichment, or student growth the school may provide.
The district’s recent grade reconfiguration adds a layer of recent change that may affect how grade levels are served across buildings. A parent new to the area would want to confirm current grade assignments and any adjustments to attendance boundaries. The school’s own office and the district’s central administration can clarify what the reconfiguration means for James Elementary families. In short, James Elementary serves a diverse, lower-income student body in an affordable industrial city, with state test results that trail most other districts in the county. A family considering this school should look into the specific academic supports available, inquire about special programs and services not captured in the public data, and understand how the district’s recent reorganization shapes their child’s pathway through the elementary grades.
See more original research from School Decision →