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Students in Ottawa have one of the best educational programs in the state. Residents generously support the school systems and encourage excellence in education.
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An elementary school district, a high school district, a parochial high school, and two parochial elementary schools administer to the education needs in Ottawa. Ottawa Elementary District 141 operates five school buildings and has a total enrollment of more than 2,270 students.
The curriculum focuses on the basics of reading, math, and social studies. There is also instruction in art, music, and physical education.
Most classrooms in the four elementary schools are computer equipped. Shepherd Middle School has two computer labs and all district students use its planetarium as part of the science curriculum. Shepherd was designated a "Blue Ribbon" middle school by the Department of Education in 1998.
District 141 offers a select program for gifted and talented students and provides special education programming for the developmentally challenged. Extracurricular activities provided include intramural boys and girls’ softball, basketball, and volleyball. |
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Two Catholic elementary schools and a Catholic high school are options for students. Marquette High School enrolls about 270 students who choose from more than 80 academic and business courses. More than 90 percent continue on to a college or university education.
Over the past eight years, the school has had 62 Illinois State Scholars, seven National Merit Commended Students, and two National Merit Scholars.
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Ottawa High School has an enrollment of more than 1,600 students and occupies four buildings that house classrooms, a swimming pool, auditorium, and three gymnasiums. The school completed $19 million of facility additions and enhancements in 2004. Together, they have about 340,000 square feet of space.
Students choose from more than 100 academic courses and 50 career-oriented courses.
The curriculum includes accelerated courses, plus advanced courses in chemistry and composition, and advanced placement in U.S. history. The school has won eight consecutive Illinois High School Association State music championships, and nine overall.
A Tech Prep program prepares students to continue their technical education at nearby Illinois Valley Community College or another technical school. Curriculum includes agricultural technology, automotive technology, vocational childcare, electronics technology, information systems technology and technical drawing technology. Emphasis is placed on math, English, science, and the appropriate sequence of technically oriented vocational courses.
Ottawa High School students are encouraged to participate in the school’s 25 clubs and organizations as extracurricular activities, including band, jazz band, concert choir, and drama. The school fields a full roster of boys and girls sports teams who excel in extra-curricular competition. The campus contains tennis courts, football, softball, baseball, and soccer fields |
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Continuing education is available at the 425-acre campus of Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) is on a wooded bluff overlooking the Illinois River.
Established in 1967, IVCC is a comprehensive two-year college that awards associate degrees in arts, science, and applied sciences.
A broad range of career programs award certificates of completion. Students earning associate degrees often transfer to a four-year institution to complete work on a bachelor’s degree. |
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