Enrollment
249
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ottumwa, IA
James Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 192211001320
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Ottumwa · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 61.1%
- free-lunch eligible
James Elementary School has class sizes larger than 73% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Ottumwa, IA.
School address
District: Ottumwa Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192211001320 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
16.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
61.1%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+68% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Elementary School
James Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Ottumwa, Iowa, enrolling 249 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 61.1% of students qualify for free meals, 68% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 249 students, its enrollment sits close to the Iowa median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 105 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #45.
Its student body is led by White (34%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 249 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Ottumwa's elementary schools, it stands alongside Liberty Elementary School (633 students): James Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.6:1 vs 17.6:1).
Ottumwa Comm School District also operates Ottumwa High School (910 students) and Evans Middle School (684 students) alongside James Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How James Elementary School compares
James Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.1% | ▲ 68% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 249 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
249
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
61.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 73% in Iowa - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,042
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $12,854
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 249 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 34.1%
Hispanic or Latino 22.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 22.1%
African American 16.1%
Two or More 3.2%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 34.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.5, James Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Ottumwa Comm School District, which includes James Elementary School.
$12,042
Per student
-6%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 19.3%
State 63.3%
Federal 17.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How James Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Evans Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Liberty Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pickwick Early Childhood Center | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wilson Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 910
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 9.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 633
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 335
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Ottumwa
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Liberty Elementary School
Standard public school
633 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Wilson Elementary School
Standard public school
335 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Douma Elementary School
Standard public school
327 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Horace Mann Elementary School
Standard public school
250 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Eisenhower Elementary School
Standard public school
248 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~249 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare James Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Ottumwa Comm School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about James Elementary School
How many students attend James Elementary School?
James Elementary School has 249 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ottumwa, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Elementary School is 15.6:1, which is 5% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Elementary School?
61.1% of students at James Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James Elementary School is White at 34.1% of enrollment, in Ottumwa, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Elementary School?
James Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Ottumwa?
By Resource Investment Index, James Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Ottumwa, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Ottumwa on the city page.
Is James Elementary School a good school?
James Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Ottumwa Comm School District?
Besides James Elementary School, Ottumwa Comm School District also operates Ottumwa High School (910 students), Evans Middle School (684 students), and Liberty Elementary School (633 students). See the Ottumwa Comm School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.