James Elementary School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2025-26)

1001 N Benton
Ottumwa, IA 52501

Bottom 50%

Serving 228 students in grades Kindergarten-5, James Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Iowa for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 40-44% (which is lower than the Iowa state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 45-49% (which is lower than the Iowa state average of 70%).

The student-teacher ratio of 13:1 is lower than the Iowa state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Iowa state average of 29% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 228 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 64%
: Bottom 50% in IA
: 40-44% (Btm 50%)
: 45-49% (Btm 50%)
: 30-39% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

James Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Iowa for:

School Overview

James Elementary School's student population of 228 students has grown by 11% over five school years.

The teacher population of 18 teachers has grown by 28% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	James Elementary School
Kind	38
1	44
2	42
3	31
4	39
5	34

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Total Students

228 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	James Elementary School
2023	229
2022	202
2021	235
2020	205
2019	205
2018	196
2017	196
2016	213
2015	209
2014	212
2013	212
2012	225
2011	228
2010	219
2009	233
2008	234
2007	256
2006	245
2005	212
2004	250
2003	291
2002	231
2001	231
2000	235
1999	228
1998	242
1997	238
1996	217
1995	230
1994	245
1993	232
1992	228
1991	223
1990	241
1989	223
1988	241
1987	255

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

18 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	James Elementary School
2023	17
2022	18
2021	16
2020	14
2019	14
2018	18
2017	18
2016	18
2015	19
2014	21
2013	17
2012	18
2011	17
2010	18
2009	19
2008	18
2007	20
2006	18
2005	19
2004	16
2003	16
2002	16
2001	18
2000	17
1999	15
1998	16
1997	14
1996	14
1995	14
1994	12
1993	12
1992	13
1991	15
1990	15
1989	14
1988	16
1987	16

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Year Founded

1905

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

School Motto

Be the Best

School Rankings

James Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,223 schools in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of James Elementary School is 0.76, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.47. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IA)

#1165 out of 1223 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	James Elementary School
2023	#1165
2022	#1077
2021	#1088
2019	#874
2018	#1190
2017	#1174
2016	#1212
2015	#1112
2014	#1170
2013	#1097
2012	#1262

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40-44%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	42%	68%	53%
2022	52%	64%	49%
2021	52%	64%	50%
2019	67%	69%	59%
2018	52%	76%	64%
2017	57%	77%	68%
2016	57%	78%	69%
2015	72%	79%	70%
2014	67%	79%	72%
2013	72%	77%	68%
2012	57%	76%	66%

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45-49%

70%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2022	47%	70%	55%
2021	42%	68%	54%
2019	57%	68%	53%
2018	42%	74%	64%
2017	47%	75%	62%
2016	42%	75%	61%
2015	52%	76%	62%
2014	52%	76%	63%
2013	52%	72%	59%
2012	37%	71%	59%
2011	57%	76%	65%

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30-39%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2022	34%	63%	49%
2021	34%	60%	47%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	13:1	14:1	16:1
2022	11:1	14:1	15:1
2021	15:1	14:1	16:1
2020	15:1	14:1	16:1
2019	15:1	14:1	16:1
2018	11:1	14:1	15:1
2017	11:1	14:1	15:1
2016	12:1	14:1	15:1
2015	11:1	14:1	15:1
2014	10:1	14:1	15:1
2013	12:1	14:1	15:1
2012	12:1	14:1	15:1
2011	13:1	14:1	15:1
2010	12:1	13:1	14:1
2009	12:1	13:1	16:1
2008	13:1	13:1	15:1
2007	13:1	14:1	15:1
2006	14:1	13:1	16:1
2005	11:1	13:1	15:1
2004	16:1	13:1	16:1
2003	18:1	13:1	17:1
2002	14:1	13:1	17:1
2001	13:1	14:1	17:1
2000	14:1	14:1	16:1
1999	15:1	14:1	17:1
1998	16:1	14:1	17:1
1997	18:1	15:1	17:1
1996	16:1	15:1	18:1
1995	16:1	15:1	19:1
1994	20:1	15:1	19:1
1993	19:1	15:1	19:1
1992	18:1	15:1	17:1
1991	15:1	15:1	18:1
1990	17:1	15:1	16:1
1989	15:1	17:1	20:1
1988	15:1	15:1	17:1
1987	16:1	16:1	17:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2020)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2020	1%	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	2%	2%	3%
2022	2%	3%	3%
2021	1%	3%	2%
2020	1%	3%	1%
2019	1%	3%	1%
2009	1%	2%	2%
2008	1%	2%	1%
2007	2%	2%	2%
2006	1%	2%	1%
2005	1%	2%	1%
2004	2%	2%	2%
2003	1%	2%	2%
2002	3%	2%	2%
2001	2%	2%	2%
1988	1%	1%	1%

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Hispanic

21%

13%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	26%	13%	25%
2022	29%	12%	25%
2021	32%	12%	25%
2020	23%	11%	24%
2019	23%	11%	24%
2018	30%	11%	24%
2017	30%	11%	24%
2016	27%	10%	23%
2015	27%	11%	23%
2014	26%	10%	22%
2013	31%	9%	21%
2012	32%	9%	21%
2011	33%	9%	20%
2010	35%	8%	17%
2009	36%	7%	18%
2008	38%	7%	18%
2007	32%	6%	17%
2006	36%	5%	16%
2005	31%	5%	13%
2004	20%	5%	10%
2003	24%	4%	9%
2002	7%	4%	7%
2001	4%	4%	5%
2000	1%	2%	2%
1999	2%	3%	2%

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Black

17%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	16%	7%	6%
2022	14%	7%	6%
2021	14%	7%	7%
2020	22%	6%	6%
2019	22%	6%	6%
2018	15%	6%	6%
2017	15%	6%	6%
2016	15%	6%	5%
2015	13%	5%	4%
2014	18%	5%	5%
2013	14%	5%	4%
2012	12%	5%	3%
2011	8%	5%	2%
2010	8%	5%	2%
2009	9%	6%	3%
2008	5%	6%	3%
2007	6%	5%	2%
2006	5%	4%	2%
2005	6%	5%	2%
2004	7%	4%	2%
2003	6%	4%	2%
2002	9%	4%	2%
2001	6%	4%	2%
2000	5%	3%	2%
1999	2%	4%	1%
1998	5%	3%	2%
1997	3%	3%	2%
1996	5%	3%	1%
1995	3%	3%	2%
1994	2%	3%	2%
1993	3%	3%	2%

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White

36%

71%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	38%	72%	55%
2022	44%	73%	58%
2021	38%	74%	59%
2020	45%	75%	63%
2019	45%	75%	63%
2018	52%	77%	67%
2017	52%	77%	67%
2016	56%	78%	68%
2015	60%	78%	70%
2014	55%	79%	70%
2013	55%	80%	71%
2012	55%	81%	72%
2011	56%	81%	73%
2010	56%	82%	75%
2009	54%	84%	77%
2008	56%	84%	78%
2007	60%	86%	79%
2006	58%	88%	80%
2005	62%	87%	84%
2004	71%	88%	86%
2003	69%	89%	86%
2002	81%	89%	88%
2001	87%	89%	90%
2000	98%	94%	95%
1999	93%	91%	95%
1998	97%	92%	95%
1997	96%	93%	95%
1996	95%	93%	96%
1995	97%	93%	96%
1994	98%	93%	96%
1993	97%	94%	97%
1992	98%	95%	97%
1991	100%	95%	97%

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Hawaiian

20%

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	4%	5%	2%
2022	6%	5%	2%
2021	3%	4%	2%
2020	1%	4%	2%
2019	1%	4%	2%
2014	1%	3%	1%
2012	1%	3%	2%
2011	1%	2%	2%
2010	1%	2%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.76

0.47

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	0.75	0.46	0.63
2022	0.70	0.45	0.60
2021	0.73	0.43	0.59
2020	0.70	0.42	0.54
2019	0.70	0.42	0.54
2018	0.62	0.39	0.50
2017	0.62	0.39	0.50
2016	0.60	0.38	0.48
2015	0.56	0.38	0.46
2014	0.60	0.37	0.47
2013	0.59	0.35	0.45
2012	0.60	0.34	0.44
2011	0.58	0.34	0.43
2010	0.57	0.32	0.40
2009	0.58	0.29	0.37
2008	0.54	0.28	0.37
2007	0.54	0.26	0.35
2006	0.54	0.23	0.33
2005	0.52	0.24	0.28
2004	0.45	0.22	0.26
2003	0.47	0.21	0.24
2002	0.33	0.20	0.22
2001	0.24	0.20	0.18
2000	0.09	0.15	0.09
1999	0.17	0.16	0.10
1998	0.12	0.15	0.09
1997	0.08	0.13	0.08
1996	0.10	0.13	0.09
1995	0.06	0.13	0.07
1994	0.04	0.13	0.08
1993	0.06	0.11	0.07

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

75%

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	61%	36%	43%
2022	71%	35%	46%
2021	14%	35%	17%
2020	75%	36%	45%
2019	75%	36%	45%
2018	40%	34%	42%
2017	40%	34%	42%
2016	58%	34%	44%
2015	60%	34%	48%
2014	70%	34%	46%
2013	75%	34%	52%
2012	67%	33%	47%
2011	69%	31%	44%
2010	39%	29%	33%
2009	82%	26%	40%
2008	77%	26%	37%
2007	76%	24%	40%
2006	82%	25%	41%
2005	83%	23%	40%
2004	42%	22%	22%
2003	79%	21%	39%
2002	74%	19%	34%
2001	60%	19%	26%
2000	68%	19%	31%
1999	64%	20%	30%
1998	71%	21%	32%
1997	68%	20%	29%
1996	74%	20%	28%
1995	65%	20%	28%
1994	64%	19%	26%
1993	70%	19%	26%
1992	57%	18%	28%
1991	57%	17%	30%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2000-2023)
Year	James Elementary School	Iowa	Ottumwa Community School District
2023	3%	6%	3%
2021	4%	6%	4%
2020	2%	7%	5%
2019	2%	7%	5%
2016	1%	7%	5%
2015	1%	7%	6%
2014	6%	7%	7%
2013	5%	7%	7%
2012	9%	7%	6%
2011	4%	8%	7%
2010	8%	8%	7%
2009	8%	8%	7%
2008	9%	8%	6%
2007	10%	8%	10%
2006	6%	8%	8%
2005	4%	8%	8%
2004	2%	8%	4%
2003	5%	8%	7%
2002	3%	8%	5%
2001	9%	8%	6%
2000	8%	7%	7%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Ottumwa Community School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is James Elementary School's ranking?

James Elementary School is ranked #1165 out of 1,223 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.

What schools are James Elementary School often compared to?

James Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Horace Mann Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

40-44% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% IA state average), while 45-49% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 70% IA state average).

How many students attend James Elementary School?

228 students attend James Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

36% of James Elementary School students are White, 21% of students are Hispanic, 20% of students are Hawaiian, 17% of students are Black, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of James Elementary School?

James Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is lower than the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What grades does James Elementary School offer ?

James Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is James Elementary School part of?

James Elementary School is part of Ottumwa Community School District.