Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Ottawa

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Downtown Ottawa, Kansas historic districtPhoto: Ian Ballinger · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Ottawa · Ottawa Unified School District 290

Ottawa’s public schools outscore 53% of Kansas districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Ottawa, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Ottawa, 25% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the Kansas average (32%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Kansas, not nationally.

#80of 151 Kansas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Kansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
25%
▼ 8 pts vs KS 32%
2021–22
Math proficiency
26%
▼ 3 pts vs KS 29%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 7–12 pts vs KS 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.2K
▼ 5% vs KS $15.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.6
KS 13.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
2,136 students on the public path
In brief

Ottawa’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 25% of tested students were proficient in reading and 26% in math, against 32% and 29% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas (the state reports Ottawa’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,248 per student, against $14,966 across Kansas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Sacred Heart Catholic School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Ottawa’s grade

C Test scoresA Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Kansas school districts, #80 of 151 Kansas towns. Graduation is above the Kansas average; test scores are below it.

Kansas school districts we grade (283)Better than 53%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kansas towns with similar household incomes (862)Better than 53%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,144 test results and a graduating class of 176 could put Ottawa anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Ottawa’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,148 in math, 1,141 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ottawa, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+
6–122 schoolsDepends on your addressD to C

Ottawa’s public schools are run by Ottawa Unified School District 290, which also serves Harrison, Hayes, Lincoln and Ottawa. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Ottawa Unified School District 290Grades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,150 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 11.6 per teacher (KS 13.3)
$14,248KS $14,966 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading25%
State average 32.5% · 1141 students tested
Math26%
State average 29.4% · 1148 students tested

Ottawa vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Kansas towns that share Ottawa’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OttawaB−Ottawa Unified School District 290
Ottawa Township—Ottawa Unified School District 290 PK–12 · West Franklin Unified School District 287 PK–12
Harrison—Ottawa Unified School District 290
Lincoln—Ottawa Unified School District 290

All 3 neighbors share Ottawa Unified School District 290 with Ottawa, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Ottawa

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Kansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Ottawaby address
Garfield Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
368 students12:1Rate it →
Sunflower Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
333 students11:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
298 students10:1Rate it →
Ottawa Sr High
High · Grades 6–12
D
681 students12:1Rate it →
Ottawa Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
456 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
63 students8:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Ottawa Virtual School).

Questions about Ottawa’s schools

Are Ottawa’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Kansas: the public schools Ottawa children attend outscore 53% of Kansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #80 of 151 Kansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ottawa in?

Ottawa Unified School District 290, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,150 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

What is Ottawa’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Ottawa Unified School District 290 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas.

How much does Ottawa spend per student?

$14,248 in Ottawa Unified School District 290 (FY2024), against $14,966 across Kansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Ottawa?

Yes: Sacred Heart Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 63 students).

Parents talk

What Ottawa families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ottawa → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Kansas. Stars are from neighbors.