- Enrollment
- 1,820
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Johnston, IA
Lawson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lawson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 191545000532
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lawson Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Johnston · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 28.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Lawson Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lawson Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Johnston, IA.
School address
District: Johnston Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 191545000532 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Lawson Elementary School held near 595 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 40.4 → 40.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 191545000532 · Johnston, IA Elementary · MID · TRAD
545 enr · 13.6:1 · 28.2% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Johnston Senior High School (1,820 students)
Lawson Elementary School held near 595 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE held 40.4 → 40.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Lawson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Johnston Senio
Johnston Senior High School
1,820 students
- Johnston Middl
Johnston Middle School
1,161 students
- Summit Middle
Summit Middle School
1,118 students
- Henry a Wallac
Henry a Wallace Elementary School
840 students
- Timber Ridge E 667
Timber Ridge Elementary
667 students
- This school 545
Lawson Elementary School
545 students
What this shows Lawson Elementary School reports 545 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lawson Elementary School compares
Lawson Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 8% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.2% | ▼ 23% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 545 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
545
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 44% in Iowa - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.5%
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
$12,286
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $13,441
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 545 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.7%
Asian 14.1%
African American 9.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%
Two or More 6.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 61.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.0, Lawson Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Johnston Comm School District reports $12,286 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lawson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Johnston Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Summit Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry a Wallace Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Timber Ridge Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lawson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools in Johnston
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~545 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lawson Elementary School
How many students attend Lawson Elementary School?
Lawson Elementary School has 545 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Johnston, IA. CCD year-over-year: 607 (2022-23) → 595 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lawson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lawson Elementary School is 13.6:1, which is 8% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lawson Elementary School?
28.2% of students at Lawson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lawson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lawson Elementary School is White at 61.7% of enrollment, in Johnston, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lawson Elementary School?
Lawson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lawson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Johnston?
By Resource Investment Index, Lawson Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary 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 elementary schools in Johnston on the city page.
What other schools are in Johnston Comm School District?
Besides Lawson Elementary School, Johnston Comm School District also operates Johnston Senior High School (1,820 students), Johnston Middle School (1,161 students), and Summit Middle School (1,118 students). See the Johnston Comm School District district page for the complete list.