Very Good
#660 of 2,102 schools in WI
Top 31% in state
Johnston Elementary
Elementary School · Appleton Area School District
2725 E Forest St, Appleton, WI 54915
Enrollment
409
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
7.1
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
409
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
7.1
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Appleton
#10 of 38
public schools
Wisconsin elementary schools
#399 of 1,099
In district
#10 of 36
Appleton Area School District
Academic growth
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Johnston Elementary
Johnston Elementary is a regular public school in Appleton, Wisconsin, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. With an enrollment of 409 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1, the school provides personalized attention to its young learners. Located on East Forest Street, Johnston Elementary benefits from being situated in a small city setting where it can foster close-knit community relationships.
Johnston Elementary offers a robust academic program with a focus on foundational skills for early learning through sixth grade. While the school's MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and state ranking of #1410 out of 2112 schools in Wisconsin indicate room for improvement, the school is committed to student development. In recent academic assessments, 37% of students were proficient or above in ELA/Reading, while 40% demonstrated proficiency or better in Math.
Johnston Elementary stands as a pillar within its small city community, providing educational support and growth opportunities for young learners in Appleton.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Johnston Elementary are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Johnston Elementary — Students at Johnston Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
60.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)
Based on 10 test records from WI state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.5/10.
How Johnston Elementary Compares
See how Johnston Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 30% (2019) to 22% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 22% (2019) to 17% (2021).
Location
2725 E Forest St, Appleton, WI 54915
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Johnston Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Horizons Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is ST FRANCIS XAVIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-MCD CAMPUS (rated 7.7/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Huntley Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Appleton, see our Appleton schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Engineering Charter School Appleton | 0.6 mi | 5.9 |
| Appleton eSchool Appleton | 0.6 mi | 7.0 |
| East High Appleton | 0.6 mi | 3.8 |
| Richmond Elementary Appleton | 0.8 mi | 5.2 |
| Horizons Elementary Appleton | 1.3 mi | 7.8 |
| Westside Elementary Kimberly | 1.4 mi | 6.8 |
| McKinley Elementary Appleton | 1.5 mi | 6.2 |
| Madison Middle Appleton | 1.5 mi | 6.9 |
| Berry Elementary Appleton | 2.0 mi | 7.2 |
| Edison Elementary Appleton | 1.6 mi | 6.0 |
| ST FRANCIS XAVIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-MCD CAMPUS Appleton | 1.9 mi | 7.7 |
| Gerritts Middle Kimberly | 1.6 mi | 7.0 |
| Huntley Elementary Appleton | 2.1 mi | 7.7 |
| Mapleview Intermediate Kimberly | 2.0 mi | 7.2 |
| HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL Appleton | 2.0 mi | 6.5 |
| ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Appleton | 2.0 mi | 6.2 |
| Valley New School Appleton | 2.0 mi | 3.5 |
| RIVERVIEW LUTHERAN SCHOOL Appleton | 2.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Appleview Appleton | 2.1 mi | — |
| Woodland School Appleton | 2.7 mi | 6.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 54915 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$83,814
Median Home Value
$247,900
Median Rent
$974/mo
Population
44,269
College Educated
38%
Homeownership
72.6%
Avg Commute
20.2 min
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Median Age
38.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Johnston Elementary has a median household income of $83,814. It is an area where 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $247,900, with a median rent of $974/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Arcadia Elementary Arcadia, WI | 7.1 |
| Badger Elementary Appleton, WI | 7.1 |
| Baird Elementary Green Bay, WI | 7.1 |
| Chappell Elementary Green Bay, WI | 7.1 |
| Edgerton Elementary Hales Corners, WI | 7.1 |
| Gaylord A Nelson Educational Center Clear Lake, WI | 7.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Johnston Elementary
What grades does Johnston Elementary serve?
Johnston Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Johnston Elementary?
Johnston Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 409 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Johnston Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Johnston Elementary is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Johnston Elementary rank in WI?
Johnston Elementary is ranked #660 out of 2,102 schools in WI.
What is Johnston Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Johnston Elementary has a composite rating of 7.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Johnston Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Johnston Elementary has 40.3% math proficiency and 36.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Johnston Elementary a charter school?
No, Johnston Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Johnston Elementary a Title I school?
No, Johnston Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Johnston Elementary?
60.4% of students at Johnston 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,551/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Appleton). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 409
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 60.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Outagamie County
- Phone
- (920) 852-5505
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Appleton Area School District- District Enrollment
- 15,230
- Schools in District
- 38
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,085
- District Rank
- #10 of 36
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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