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Schools in Johnston · Johnston Community School District

Johnston’s public schools outscore 86% of Iowa districts

On the state math tests, 77% of Johnston’s students scored proficient, above the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Johnston, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#19of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
79%
▲ 9 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
77%
▲ 13 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 10 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.9K
▼ 6% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.0
IA 14.1 · larger classes
Schools in town
8
7,339 students on the public path
In brief

Johnston’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 218 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Johnston’s, its schools beat 74%, lower than their 86% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 79% and math 77% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,934 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Summit Middle School, then Johnston Senior High School. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Johnston’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 86% of Iowa school districts, #19 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Iowa average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 86%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (218)Better than 74%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,878 test results and a graduating class of 586 could put Johnston anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Johnston’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,878 in math, 4,878 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Johnston, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+
6–7Summit Middle SchoolJohnston Community School DistrictA−
10–12Johnston Senior High SchoolJohnston Community School DistrictA−

Johnston’s public schools are run by Johnston Community School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Johnston Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 7,339 students · 16.0 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$12,934IA $13,713 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading79%
State average 69.7% · 4878 students tested
Math77%
State average 63.8% · 4878 students tested

Johnston vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Johnston’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
JohnstonAJohnston
UrbandaleA−Urbandale PK–12 · Waukee PK–12
GrimesADallas Center-Grimes

Every school in Johnston

8 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Johnstonby address
Henry A Wallace Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A+
840 students16:1Rate it →
Timber Ridge Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
667 students14:1Rate it →
Horizon Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
613 students14:1Rate it →
Beaver Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
575 students14:1Rate it →
Lawson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B
545 students13:1Rate it →
Summit Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–7
A−
1,118 students15:1Rate it →
Johnston Middle School
Secondary · Grades 8–9
A
1,161 students16:1Rate it →
Johnston Senior High School
High · Grades 10–12
A−
1,820 students21:1Rate it →

Questions about Johnston’s schools

Are Johnston’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Johnston children attend outscore 86% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #19 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 74%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Johnston in?

Johnston Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 7,339 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Johnston kids go to high school?

Johnston Senior High School, with 1,820 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Johnston’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Johnston Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Johnston spend per student?

$12,934 in Johnston Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Johnston families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Johnston → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.