Ottumwa Virtual Learning

Ottumwa Virtual Learning is a small, alternative public virtual school serving grades PK-12 in Ottumwa, Iowa, which is part of the Ottumwa Community School District. With only 57 students enrolled, this school has seen fluctuating graduation rates, high chronic absenteeism, and significant academic underperformance compared to the district and state averages.

Ottumwa Virtual Learning's four-year graduation rates have ranged from 45.8% to 88.3% in recent years, well below the state average of 91.5%. The school has also experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 21.6% to 28.3%, much higher than the state average of 11.8%. Academically, Ottumwa Virtual Learning students perform significantly below their peers, with only 40% of 9th-graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 72.2% in the district and 76.4% statewide. In Mathematics, 0% of 9th-graders were proficient or better, compared to 53.3% in the district and 65.6% statewide.

The school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 44.44% to 70.18%, suggests it may be serving a population with significant socioeconomic challenges. These factors, along with the virtual learning environment, limited funding, or a lack of qualified teachers, could be contributing to the school's poor performance and high chronic absenteeism rates. Addressing these issues will be crucial for Ottumwa Virtual Learning to improve outcomes for its students.