Schools & Families in Ottawa

Ottawa Township High School serves the city's families with a genuinely disclosed set of academic-performance figures this record states plainly, alongside Ottawa's real, genuine outdoor-recreation and small-town family character.

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A real, disclosed academic picture

Ottawa Township High School (1,223 students, 14:1 student-teacher ratio) carries a B- Niche grade and a GreatSchools Rating of 3/10. State test scores show real, disclosed figures: 24% of students proficient in math, 37% in reading. Niche user reviews (3.4/5 average) cite supportive teachers and strong arts programs alongside noted room for improvement in communication and college preparation.

Family fit: small-town character and real outdoor access

Ottawa's small-town, river-town character pairs with genuine, year-round access to Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park -- a real draw for families prioritizing outdoor recreation over big-city amenities.

Ottawa's population skews older than the Illinois average

Ottawa Township's median age (43.6) runs meaningfully older than Illinois's own statewide median (39.4) -- families should weigh this genuinely older community composition alongside the school-performance data above when evaluating fit.

Key takeaways

Ottawa Township High School (B- Niche grade, 3/10 GreatSchools rating) shows real, disclosed academic gaps: 24% math, 37% reading proficient.
Niche reviews cite supportive teachers and strong arts programs alongside real, disclosed room for improvement in communication and college prep.
Ottawa's real, genuine Starved Rock/Matthiessen State Park access is a distinct family draw.
Ottawa's population skews meaningfully older than the Illinois statewide average -- worth weighing for family fit.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-25. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.