Оттумва орта мектебінің тарихы мен жаңартылуы

Public secondary school in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States

The Ottumwa High School football/track stadium, known as Schaefer Stadium, was established in the early 1920s in memory of a past student of OHS. Walter B. Schaefer graduated from the Ottumwa High School in 1903 with athletic records and many college football opportunities. He went to the University of Chicago to play football under the famous coaching of Amos Alonzo Stagg, but Schaefer left college early to fight in the war. Schaefer was killed while serving in 1918. He was considered one of the greatest athletes in Iowa and especially in football, which is why the Ottumwa Stadium is now known as Schaefer Stadium. In 2018, Schaefer Stadium was updated. New bleachers for the home side and a new visitor exit were added.

To address the growing student population, the Ottumwa Community School District began construction on the current high school building at the same location as the Adams School in 1921. The "new" high school was designed by architects Croft & Boerner of Minneapolis. It was completed in 1923. As part of the construction, the Adams School was lifted from its foundation and moved east—it would serve as a building for vocational classes at the new high school. Ottumwa High School as it stands today opened on August 29, 1923, to grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. It reportedly cost just over one million dollars to complete. During this renovation some plaster designs were removed from the original 1921 1923 ceiling and placed glass for viewing near the exits. The auditorium was closed from 2002 to 2003 for renovations. Its grand re opening took place on November 23, 2003. At the same time, additional renovations to the gymnasium facilities were completed with aid of a federal grant obtained with the help of Iowa Senator Tom Harkin.

In 2023, the Ottumwa Community School District approved a $30 million expansion and renovation plan for the high school. Expected to be done in two stages, the plan calls for a $10.5 million competition gym that will be across the high school on Second Street, and feature two full sized basketball courts and three volleyball courts. In 2001, anatomy/physiology teacher Gail Wortmann was named Iowa Teacher of the Year. She was also awarded the Milken Family Foundation Teacher of the Year award in that year. From 2000 to 2002, science teacher Peggy Steffen served as an Einstein Fellow for NASA.

Students at Ottumwa High School can participate in many extracurricular activities. In addition to 14 varsity athletic teams (archery, baseball/softball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country running, football, golf, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, soccer, trapshoot, dance, and wrestling), OHS offers numerous clubs and other activities such as the JROTC program and Drama, as well band, choirs, and orchestra. An Art Club, Debate Team, Speech Team, International Club, Best Buddies, Fellowship of the Rainbow, and Science Club are joined by local chapters of DECA, Family Career and Community Leaders, Future Educators of America, Human Rights Youth, SADD, and the National Honor Society (known at OHS as the "Torch Club") to extend opportunities for students.

Ottumwa High School is a four year comprehensive high school serving 1,300 students in grades 9–12. It is accredited by North Central Association and the State of Iowa Department of Public Instruction. The school year is divided into two semesters of 90 days in length. Class size averages 25 students with seven 50 minute periods.

Ottumwa High School utilizes a seven period school day, with classes beginning at 8:10 am and ending at 3:15 p. m. School is also dismissed at 1:00 p. m. every Friday for teacher professional development. All students are required to take several core academic classes, including three years of language arts, two years of mathematics, three years of social studies, two years of science, and two years of physical education to graduate and receive a diploma.

SparkTank is a project based program that began in 2018. It allows students at the Ottumwa High School to gain work experiences by connecting with local businesses to provide a real work environment and a real work experience. The courses that SparkTank offers are engineering and design, building manufacturing, Ignite, communication and technology, building and construction, and school to work classes. Although this course is set up in a different manner than a classroom, students still use teamwork and collaboration to meet project deadlines. Students are working for  local businesses, expectations are higher to meet the business’ standard. SparkTank also helps students with their communication skills, technical skills, employability skills, and cooperation skills. SparkTank's ultimate goal is to give students the life lessons they need to find and career goal and find a job after graduation. SparkTank is located at 325 East Main Street, Ottumwa. SparkTank partners with the Governor's Stem Advisory Council, Iowa ALN, and Future Ready Iowa.