Johnston School District
School District · Johnston, Rhode Island
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
3,172
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
3,172
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
How this district compares
Rhode Island rank
#19 of 38
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Rhode Island avg
Per-pupil spending
$20,836
+$159 vs Rhode Island median
District size
3,172 students
Larger than Rhode Island median
The short answer
Johnston ranks #19 of 38 Rhode Island districts by overall school rating. Johnston's schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 6 schools. Its top-rated schools are Thornton School (8.1/10), Sarah Dyer Barnes School (7.5/10), and Nicholas A. Ferri Middle (7.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +1.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Johnston schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Johnston
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (6 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thornton School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Sarah Dyer Barnes School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Nicholas A. Ferri Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Brown Avenue School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Winsor Hill School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Johnston Senior High | 5.5 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Johnston
Johnston is a Johnston, Rhode Island school district serving 8 schools.The district educates 3,172 students with a student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1. District-level spending was $20,836 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.7/10, Johnston demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Thornton School, which has a composite score of 8.1/10.
In standardized testing, Johnston students show an average math proficiency of 32.1% and ELA proficiency of 42.8%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Johnston, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Johnston with test data.
Schools in Johnston
8 schoolsElementary Schools5
Middle Schools1
High Schools1
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Rhode Island
- City
- Johnston
- Total Enrollment
- 3,172
- Teachers (FTE)
- 267
- District spending per student
- $20,836NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 12.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Johnston?
Johnston has 8 schools in total — 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Johnston?
The average composite rating for Johnston is 6.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Johnston?
Johnston's district-level spending was $20,836 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Johnston?
The average student-teacher ratio in Johnston is 11.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Johnston?
Thornton School is the highest-rated school in Johnston with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What are the test scores in Johnston?
Across schools in Johnston with test data, the average math proficiency is 32.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 42.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Johnston compare to other districts in Rhode Island?
Johnston has an average school rating of 6.7/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Rhode Island by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 32.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 42.8%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in RI
Compare Johnston with neighboring districts in the state.
- Providence (39)
- Cranston (23)
- Warwick (19)
- Pawtucket (16)
- East Providence (12)
- Woonsocket (10)
- Cumberland (9)
- Chariho (8)
- Coventry (8)
- North Kingstown (8)
- North Providence (8)
- Achievement First Rhode Island (7)
- Central Falls (7)
- Barrington (6)
- Blackstone Valley Prep a Ri Mayoral Academy (6)
- Bristol Warren (6)
- East Greenwich (6)
- Lincoln (6)
- West Warwick (6)
- Westerly (6)
- Burrillville (5)
- Exeter-West Greenwich (5)
- Middletown (5)
- Scituate (5)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Rhode Island Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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