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Below Average

#1026 of 1,280 schools in IA

Horizon Elementary

Elementary School · Johnston Comm School District

PO BOX 10 5905 N W 100th Street, Johnston, IA 50131

Enrollment

673

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

4.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#1,026 of 1,280

In Johnston

#8 of 8

public schools

In district

#8 of 8

Johnston Comm School District

School environment

7.0 / 10

Very Good

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Horizon Elementary

4.8/10

Elementary School in Johnston · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Summit Middle School

6.9/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Johnston Senior High School

5.7/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Horizon Elementary

Horizon Elementary is a public elementary school in Johnston, IA, part of Johnston Comm School District. Horizon Elementary serves approximately 673 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Horizon Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,026 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Horizon Elementary show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.3 pts below district
  • This school 4.8 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.1
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.64 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.4Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency73.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency74.9% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-3.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+5.8 pts
Overall Proficiency74% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)73% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+1.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile48th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,378
Chronic Absenteeism12%

Horizon Elementary — Students at Horizon Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

40.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 83.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 81.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
93%
ELA
91%
2013
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2014
Math
89%
ELA
87%
2015
Math
90%
ELA
89%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
86%
2017
Math
85%
ELA
87%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
74%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
74%
2020*
Math
71%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
71%
ELA
67%
2022
Math
71%
ELA
72%
2025
Math
73.3%
ELA
74.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.9/10.

How Horizon Elementary Compares

See how Horizon Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.8/10
20th percentile in IA
Academic
6.4/10
Average
Growth
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
40%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
46 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

PO BOX 10 5905 N W 100th Street, Johnston, IA 50131

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Horizon Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Olmsted Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby Urbandale), which scores notably higher. Another option is South Prairie Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 2.5 miles away, in nearby Grimes), which scores notably higher. Additionally, North Ridge Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby Grimes), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Johnston, see our Johnston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Summit Middle School Johnston 0.2 mi 6.9
Johnston Senior High School Johnston 0.8 mi 5.7
Beaver Creek Elementary School Johnston 1.3 mi 5.4
Timber Ridge Elementary Johnston 2.0 mi 6.0
Urbandale Middle School Urbandale 2.5 mi 6.1
South Prairie Elementary Grimes 2.5 mi 8.2
Urbandale High School Urbandale 2.9 mi 5.8
Johnston Middle School Johnston 2.5 mi 5.1
Heritage Elementary Grimes 3.1 mi 3.3
Olmsted Elementary School Urbandale 3.0 mi 8.4
Webster Elementary School Urbandale 3.0 mi 7.4
Karen Acres Elementary School Urbandale 3.3 mi 7.4
Henry A Wallace Elementary School Johnston 2.7 mi 7.5
Crestview School of Inquiry Clive 4.0 mi 3.8
Lawson Elementary School Johnston 3.1 mi 6.8
ST PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL Urbandale 3.6 mi 4.8
North Ridge Elementary Grimes 3.7 mi 8.0
DC-G Oak View Grimes 3.3 mi 7.6
Indian Hills Junior High School Clive 4.4 mi 8.0
Clive Learning Academy Des Moines 4.4 mi 6.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50131 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$103,316

Median Home Value

$347,100

Median Rent

$1,284/mo

Population

24,388

College Educated

58%

Homeownership

72.3%

Avg Commute

19.3 min

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Median Age

38.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Elementary School Clarion, IA 4.8
Denison Elementary School Denison, IA 4.8
Moulton Elementary School Des Moines, IA 4.7
River Woods Elementary School Des Moines, IA 4.7
Grant Ragan Elementary School Waukee, IA 4.9
Hawthorne Elementary School Keokuk, IA 4.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Horizon Elementary

What grades does Horizon Elementary serve?

Horizon Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Horizon Elementary?

Horizon Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 673 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizon Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Horizon Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Horizon Elementary rank in IA?

Horizon Elementary ranks #1,026 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Horizon Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Horizon Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Horizon Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Horizon Elementary has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Horizon Elementary a charter school?

No, Horizon Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Horizon Elementary a Title I school?

No, Horizon Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Horizon Elementary?

40.3% of students at Horizon Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
673
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
46
Free/Reduced Lunch
40.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.0%

District

Johnston Comm School District
District Enrollment
7,480
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,378
District Rank
#8 of 8

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