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#972 of 1,280 schools in IA

Johnston Middle School

School · Johnston Comm School District · Johnston, IA

A Johnston Comm School District school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.

PO BOX 10 6501 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA 50131

  • Math 81% vs IA 71% (2025)
  • Reading 88% vs IA 79% (2025)
  • 3/5 advanced STEM subjects

Academics

Full Profile · 4/3 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.61 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.6Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency87.8% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+6.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+6.8 pts
Overall Proficiency85% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)80% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+4.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
College Readiness2.2Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.1Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.2:1
District spending per student$12,378
Chronic Absenteeism22.3%

Students at Johnston Middle School score 85% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 80%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency81%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
71%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency88%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
79%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency has held near 85% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
89%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
91%
ELA
84%
2013
Math
94%
ELA
90%
2014
Math
92%
ELA
89%
2015
Math
91%
ELA
88%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
86%
2017
Math
88%
ELA
86%
2018
Math
85%
ELA
83%
2019
Math
85%
ELA
83%
2020*
Math
79%
ELA
84%
2021*
Math
79%
ELA
84%
2022
Math
75%
ELA
80%
2025
Math
81%
ELA
88%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 86% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 86% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

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

Based on 33 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

26.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Johnston Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 36Car-Dependent
  • Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated826/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Johnston), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$103,316

Median home value

$347,100

Median rent

$1,284/mo

College educated

58%

Homeownership

72.3%

Poverty rate

7.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50131; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Athletics20sports offered
8 boys'·12 girls'·29 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses3of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Urbandale High SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.89–122.5 mi1,311Compare →
Urbandale Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.16–82.7 mi869Compare →
Hoover High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.29–122.9 mi923Compare →
Meredith Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.56–83.0 mi653Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Johnston Comm School District

Schools in district
8
Rank in district
#7 of 8
District spending per student
$12,378NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
6.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Johnston Middle School is listed in Johnston Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Johnston Middle School

Johnston Middle School is a public school in Johnston, IA, part of Johnston Comm School District, serving approximately 1,200 students in grades 8th-9th with a 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #972 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Johnston Middle School

What grades does Johnston Middle School serve?

Johnston Middle School serves students in grades 8th through 9th.

How many students attend Johnston Middle School?

Johnston Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 1,200 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Johnston Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Johnston Middle School is 18.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Johnston Middle School rank in IA?

Johnston Middle School ranks #972 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Johnston Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Johnston Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 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 Johnston Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Johnston Middle School has 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Johnston Middle School a charter school?

No, Johnston Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Johnston Middle School a Title I school?

No, Johnston Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Johnston Middle School?

26.2% of students at Johnston Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
8th – 9th
Enrollment
1,200
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
66
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
22.3%
Area population (ZIP 50131)
24,388
Area average commute
19.3 min
Area median age
38.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50131; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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