Pickwick Early Childhood Center

560 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - K

School Overview

The Ottumwa Community Preschool, located at 608 E. Williams in Ottumwa, Iowa, serves as a foundational educational hub for the local district, focusing on early childhood development. As part of the Ottumwa Community School District, the preschool is dedicated to preparing young children for their transition into elementary school by fostering a supportive learning environment that emphasizes social, emotional, and cognitive growth. The program typically adheres to state-approved curriculum standards, ensuring that children gain essential pre-literacy, numeracy, and interpersonal skills through play-based and structured classroom activities.

The facility serves as a vital resource for families in the Ottumwa area, aiming to provide equitable access to high-quality early education. By partnering with families and the broader community, the school works to create a nurturing space where students can build confidence and curiosity. With a focus on foundational development, the Ottumwa Community Preschool plays a key role in setting the stage for long-term academic success and positive educational experiences for the youngest members of the community.

560

Total Students

24.7

Full-Time Teachers

22.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

43.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Pickwick Early Childhood Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	282
Hispanic	148
Black	63
Asian	20
Two or More	14
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	29

White
282 (50.4%)
Hispanic
148 (26.4%)
Black
63 (11.3%)
Pacific Islander
29 (5.2%)
Asian
20 (3.6%)
Two or More
14 (2.5%)
American Indian
4 (0.7%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Ottumwa Comm School District
Phone:	(641)684-7179
Grade Range:	Pre-K - K
Total Students:	560
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	24.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	22.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	231
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	12

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 411

Kindergarten 149