Enrollment
1,161
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Johnston, IA
Johnston Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Johnston Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 191545000926
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Johnston Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #5 of 8
- public schools in Johnston · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 21.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Johnston Middle School has class sizes larger than 89% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Johnston Middle School ranks #5 of 8 public schools in Johnston, IA.
School address
District: Johnston Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191545000926 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
64.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.1:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.3%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Johnston Middle School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Johnston Middle School
Johnston Middle School is a large combined-grade school in Johnston, Iowa, enrolling 1,161 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.1:1 is larger than about 89% of Iowa schools and 22% above the 14.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 21.3% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Iowa, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,161 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 58 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #33.
Its student body is led by White (64%) and African American (12%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 581 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
13.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Johnston's public schools, it stands alongside Henry a Wallace Elementary School (840 students): Johnston Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.1:1 vs 16.2:1).
Johnston Comm School District also operates Johnston Senior High School (1,820 students) and Summit Middle School (1,118 students) alongside Johnston Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Johnston Middle School compares
Johnston Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.1:1 | ▲ 22% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.3% | ▼ 41% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,161 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,161
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 89% in Iowa - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,756
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $12,854
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 581 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 93 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 64.1%
African American 12.0%
Asian 10.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
Two or More 4.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 64.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.4, Johnston Middle School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Johnston Comm School District, which includes Johnston Middle School.
$11,756
Per student
-9%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.6%
State 45.8%
Federal 7.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Johnston Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Summit Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Henry a Wallace Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Timber Ridge Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horizon Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Johnston Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,820
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,118
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 840
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 667
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Johnston
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,161 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Johnston Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Johnston Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Johnston Comm School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Johnston Middle School
How many students attend Johnston Middle School?
Johnston Middle School has 1,161 students enrolled. It is a public school in Johnston, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Johnston Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Johnston Middle School is 18.1:1, which is 22% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Johnston Middle School?
21.3% of students at Johnston Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Johnston Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Johnston Middle School is White at 64.1% of enrollment, in Johnston, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Johnston Middle School?
Johnston Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Johnston Middle School rank among public schools in Johnston?
By Resource Investment Index, Johnston Middle School ranks #5 of 8 public schools in Johnston, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Johnston on the city page.
Is Johnston Middle School a good school?
Johnston Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Johnston Comm School District?
Besides Johnston Middle School, Johnston Comm School District also operates Johnston Senior High School (1,820 students), Summit Middle School (1,118 students), and Henry a Wallace Elementary School (840 students). See the Johnston Comm School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.