WAPELLO
Local Schools
THE SOURCE 2026 • 7
WAPELLO
Ottumwa Community School District
Superintendent
Brad McCloskey( begins duties July 1, 2026)
641-684-6597 brad. mccloskey @ ottumwaschools. com
The Ottumwa Community School District’ s mission is to“ Be the Best,” whether for families, students or staff. The district has taken a progressive approach to creating a positive educational experience, with enhancements both inside and outside the classroom. In 2022, the district began a reconfiguration of grade levels at the high school and south-side buildings to relieve overcrowding and improve student-teacher ratios. That process was completed at the start of the 2024-25 school year. Ottumwa High School celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. In 2024, the district became one of the first in the state to ban cellphone use throughout the district, a policy later mandated statewide. The district also added Fahrney Elementary School in 2024. In 2025, a new competition gymnasium opened across from the high school to host all indoor high school athletic events except swimming, ending more than 70 years of competition at Evans Junior High School. The gym is a centerpiece of extensive improvements made throughout the district.
2025 Certified Enrollment: 4,594( K-12)
48.3 % White; 26.4 % Hispanic; 10.6 % Hawaiian / Pacific Islander; 9.6 % Black; 3.0 % Asian; 1.6 % Multi-racial
Average class size( K-5, all elementary buildings)
Kindergarten— 18; First grade— 19; Second grade— 19; Third grade— 21; Fourth grade— 22; Fifth grade— 20
Buildings Ottumwa High School Nickname: Bulldogs, Enrollment: 910, Grade levels served: 10-12
Gateway High School Enrollment: 213, Grade levels served: 9-12
Evans Junior High School Enrollment: 684, Grade levels served: 8-9
Liberty Intermediate School Enrollment: 633, Grade levels served: 6-7
Fahrney Elementary School Enrollment: 490, Grade levels served: 3-5
Douma Elementary School Enrollment: 327, Grade levels served: 1-2
Eisenhower Elementary School Enrollment: 248, Grade levels served: K-5
Horace Mann Elementary School Enrollment: 250, Grade levels served: K-5
James Elementary School Enrollment: 249, Grade levels served: K-5
Wilson Elementary School Enrollment: 335, Grade levels served: K-5
Pickwick Early Childhood Center Enrollment: 149, Grade levels served: PK-K
Non-Public Schools Ottumwa Christian School Grade levels served: PK-12
Seton Catholic School Grade levels served: K-6
Ottumwa School Board
David Weilbrenner President david. weilbrenner @ ottumwaschools. com
Christina Schark Vice President christina. schark @ ottumwaschools. com
Becky Ingle Member becky. ingle @ ottumwaschools. com
Morgan Brown Member morgan. brown @ ottumwaschools. com
Brian Jones Member brian. jones @ ottumwaschools. com
Dusty Ware Member dusty. ware @ ottumwaschools. com
Brett White Member brett. white @ ottumwaschools. com
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Superintendent
Scott Williamson 641-969-4226 scott. williamson @ rocketsk12. org
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District has a strong history of academic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievement and is known for staff dedication to students and families. That commitment has supported recent gains in academic performance. The district emphasizes three core principles: maintaining a growth mindset, applying highly effective teaching practices that create successful learning environments, and actively engaging students in understanding what they are learning and why.
2025 Certified Enrollment: 849( PK-12) 93.2 % White; 4.1 % Hispanic; 2.1 %
Multi-racial
Buildings EBF Junior / Senior High School Nickname: Rockets, Enrollment: 431, Grade levels served: 7-12
Blakesburg Elementary Enrollment: 91, Grade levels served: K-6
Eddyville Elementary Enrollment: 236, Grade levels served K-6
Fremont Elementary Enrollment: 91, Grade levels served: K-6