The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Liberty Elementary School
Liberty Elementary School sits within the Ottumwa Community School District in southeast Iowa and serves grades three through six, a span that places it as an intermediate school before students move on to middle school. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and operates as part of the district's recently reconfigured grade structure—a change the district made for the 2024-25 school year that reassigned which buildings serve which grade levels, so families should be aware that school assignments may have shifted from prior years.
On Iowa's state assessments, known as ISASP, Liberty's students overall show a mixed academic picture. Proficiency in English language arts reached a level that the school and district likely consider a reasonable starting point, with a majority of students meeting the state's proficient-or-above bar. Math proficiency was lower, and science proficiency—measured separately a year prior—came in well below both. The data available covers a single year, so there is no trend line to indicate whether performance is improving or declining. When placed against other districts within Wapello County—the four-district comparison set—Liberty's overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile. That comparison is a broad one, but it signals that across tested subjects the school's results trail most of its county peers, and a parent may want to ask the school what supports are in place to raise math and science performance.
The student body is large for a school with this grade band and reflects a notably diverse population. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to a community with many households facing economic pressure. The racial and ethnic composition includes a large white majority, a sizable Hispanic group, and smaller but significant shares of students who identify as Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the available records, so a parent who needs information on those services should request it directly from the school.
Because Liberty serves only grades three through six, there is no graduation rate to report. The school also lacks publicly reported chronic absenteeism data, and discipline and staffing information were not available in the provided records.
Ottumwa itself is a mid-sized micropolitan center with a history rooted in farm-equipment manufacturing and meatpacking—major employers include JBS Live Pork, John Deere Ottumwa Works, and the Ottumwa Community School District itself. The city has a revitalized downtown district with historic civic buildings, and it functions as the primary commercial hub for Wapello County. Housing in the area is substantially more affordable than both state and national benchmarks, which may be a practical consideration for families looking to buy or rent. Public transit and an Amtrak station connect the community regionally.
For a family evaluating Liberty Elementary, the school represents a large, diverse public elementary setting set in an industrial town with a strong sense of local history and affordable housing. The academic results are uneven, with ELA as a relative bright spot and math and science areas that merit further inquiry. The recent districtwide grade reconfiguration means families should confirm how the current attendance boundaries and feeder patterns apply to their child. The school does not serve high school grades, so its high school outcomes are not part of its profile. A parent who values a school that serves a broad cross-section of the community and who is comfortable asking about targeted academic support may find Liberty a workable fit, but the proficiency comparisons suggest there is room for strong improvement.
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