Top Rankings
Johnston School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Rhode Island for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,957 students in Johnston School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Rhode Island.
Public Elementary Schools in Johnston School District have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the Rhode Island public elementary school average of 30%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 32% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 48% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Rhode Island public elementary school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (RI)
# Schools
8 Schools
231 Schools
# Students
3,136 Students
89,332 Students
# Teachers
275 Teachers
6,795 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Johnston School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 62 school districts in Rhode Island (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#36 out of 62 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
20%
29%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
33%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
31%
Graduation Rate
87%
83%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.65
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
4%
3%
% Hispanic
34%
31%
% Black
7%
9%
% White
52%
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,918 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,389. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,058 is less than the state median of $21,601. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$66 MM
$2,998 MM
Spending
$66 MM
$2,892 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,918
$22,389
Spending / Student
$21,058
$21,601
Best Johnston School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Brown Avenue School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
14 Brown Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 934-0270
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 934-0270
Gr: 1-5 | 251 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #22.
Sarah Dyer Barnes School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
24 Barnes Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 231-8710
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 231-8710
Gr: K-5 | 266 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Winsor Hill School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
100 Theresa Street
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 831-4619
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 831-4619
Gr: 1-5 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #44.
Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
10 Memorial Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 233-1930
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 233-1930
Gr: 6-8 | 720 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #55.
Thornton School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4 School Street
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 943-7369
Johnston, RI 02919
(401) 943-7369
Gr: 1-5 | 340 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
