Who Do I contact?
Click here to access a list of staff to contact.
Ask us/Tell Us
We invite you to ask us any questions you have about the schools, district and programs. We welcome any comments, suggestions or information you have about the district, programs available and the web site.
Click here to send your comments and/or questions and your e-mail will be forwarded to the appropriate department.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a typical school day schedule?
2. What are the school attendance boundaries?
3. What is the average class size?
4. What is the number of students at each grade level?
5. What is the number of students at each building?
6. What are the guidelines involving the bussing of students?
7. What extended services are provided for students?
8. What should my child be able to do when entering kindergarten?
9. How do I get assistance with fees, supplies, etc.?
10. What do I need to do to register my child for school?
11. How do Johnston students score on ITBS/ITED exams?
12. How do Johnston students taking the ACT compare to state and national scores?
13. What is the graduation rate?
14. How do I find out more about the student lunch program?
15. Are students required to wear uniforms for physical education?
16. Do the schools have a nurse on staff?
17. Does the district offer preschool?
18. Does the district have before/after school childcare?
19. What offerings are there for student involvement outside of the school day?
20. What is Heartland AEA?
21. How is the decision made to cancel school due to weather?
22. Why don’t all metro area schools make the same decision to close or start/end school day?
23.
Where can I find out about school closings and cancellations?
24.
If there were a weather delay on a Wednesday, what schedule would the district follow?
25.
Recommendations for parents when school resumes after a severe winter storm.
26.
What about Kids/Teen Connection (KTC) and preschool?
27.
What about other community education programs and facility rentals?
What is a typical school day schedule?
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• Half-Day Kindergarten
8:50-11:35 a.m.
• All Elementaries
(All-Day Kindergarten & Grades 1-5)
8:50 a.m.-3:35 p.m.
• Summit Middle School
(Grades 6-7)
7:50 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
• Johnston Middle School
(Grades 8-9)
7:50 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
• Johnston High School – normal
(Grades 10-12)
7:55 a.m.-2:50 p.m.
High School Periods
• Johnston High School – late-start Wed.
(Grades 10-12)
8:30 a.m.-2:50 p.m.
What are the school attendance boundaries?
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The elementary school of attendance is determined through elementary attendance boundaries. Boundaries of each elementary can be obtained from any elementary school office or by clicking here.
All sixth and seventh grade students attend Summit Middle School at 9500 Windsor Parkway.
All eighth and ninth grade students attend Johnston Middle School at 6207 NW 62nd.
All 10th through 12th grade students attend Johnston High School at 6501 NW 62nd.
What is the average class size?
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| 18-24 |
Kindergarten |
| 20-25 |
First Grade |
| 20-25 |
Second Grade |
| 20-25 |
Third Grade |
| 20-26 |
Fourth Grade |
| 20-26 |
Fifth Grade |
| 25-27 |
Sixth Grade |
| 25-27 |
Seventh Grade |
| 25-27 |
Eighth Grade |
What is the number of students at each grade level?
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These enrollment numbers include all students attending Johnston including part-time dual enrolled students and students in shared programs. In 2011-2012 numbers were as follows as of October 2011:
| 23 |
Preschool Special Education |
| 216 |
Preschool (four-year-old children) |
| 1 |
Preschool (five-year-old children) |
| 460 |
Kindergarten |
| 474 |
Grade 1 |
| 488 |
Grade 2 |
| 496 |
Grade 3 |
| 487 |
Grade 4 |
| 491 |
Grade 5 |
| 495 |
Grade 6 |
| 507 |
Grade 7 |
| 479 |
Grade 8 |
| 488 |
Grade 9 |
| 449 |
Grade 10 |
| 403 |
Grade 11 |
| 453 |
Grade 12 |
| 6,410 |
Total for Preschool to 12th grade |
What is the number of students at each building?
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In 2011-2012 the number of students at each building were as follows as of October 2011:
| 846 |
Beaver Creek Elementary (Pre-K to 5) |
| 681 |
Horizon Elementary (Pre-K to 5) |
| 477 |
Lawson Elementary (Pre-K to 5) |
| 536 |
Timber Ridge Elementary (Pre-K to 5) |
| 536 |
Wallace Elementary (Pre-K to 5) |
| 1,002 |
Summit Middle School (6/7) |
| 967 |
Johnston Middle School (8/9) |
| 1,305 |
Johnston High School (10-12) |
| 40 |
Oakmoor Preschool * |
| 20 |
Appletree Preschool * |
| * District preschools for four-year-old children is in addition to programs at each elementary. |
What are the guidelines involving bussing of students?
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The district currently provides 100% bussing free of charge. Open enrolled students are responsible for their own transportation to and from school. Routes are determined each year based upon numbers and mailed to students so they know which route they ride. For more information about bussing, click here or call 515-278-8149.
What extended services are provided for students?
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English Language Learner (ELL)
Extended Learning Program (ELP)
Special Education
What should my child be able to do when entering kindergarten?
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A child needs to turn five-years-old before September 15 of the fall they are planning to attend (for example: five-years-old before Sept. 15, 2011 if wanting to start kindergarten the fall of 2011). You must have proof of your legal address or residence (utility bill, mortgage with your name/address on it); your child’s birth certificate; and immunization records. For more information on registering your child for kindergarten, click here.
Knowing if your child is ready for school is a decision that parents need to make concerning their child. Standards and benchmarks of what our district wants kindergarteners to know and be able to do after their first year can be found by clicking here.
How do I get assistance with fees, supplies, etc.?
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According to Iowa Code Section 256.7(20), the State Board of Education is to adopt rules that require school district to waive school textbook rental and material fees for indigent families. Free or reduced lunch is also available for those families that qualify. In addition there are times that assistance is provided to families through such programs as project share, preschool empowerment, and community education scholarships.
For more information on if your family qualifies for free/reduced lunch and/or waiver of fees, contact the Nutrition Services Department at 515-278-0278. For information on assistance with community education programs (preschool, KTC, etc.) contact CE at 515-278-0552.
What do I need to do to register my child for school?
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If you are registering a student for the first time, it is best to register your child at the school they will attend. Boundary information for elementary schools can be found by clicking here. General registration information is provided by clicking here.
How do Johnston students score on Iowa Tests (state exams for No Child Left Behind Act)?
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Please click here for further information about ITBS/ITED.
How do Johnston students taking the ACT compare to state and national scores?
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Please click here for further information about ACT.
What is the graduation rate?
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96.5% for 2010 graduates
How do I find out more about the student lunch program?
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The Nutrition and Food Services Department offers nutritionally balanced, appetizing school meals to the students, staff and parents of the JCSD during the school day. School meals are planned to include the appropriate servings of meat/meat alternate, breads/grains, fruits/vegetables & milk. Menus must follow guidelines set by the federal government and must meet nutritional goals when averaged over a school week.
Meals are set-up as offer vs. served which means the student must select at least three and no more than five of the meal components offered. (Side orders of any components may be purchased “a la Carte” for an additional charge.)
A computerized lunch accounting system is used to manage student lunch accounts. Lunch money is pre-paid and credited into individual lunch accounts. Purchases are automatically recorded and deducted from the lunch account balance. All students are assigned a personal keypad number to access their lunch account. Cash or check payments are accepted at your child’s school, the district nutrition office, or debit/credit card payments online at PayPAMS. You will need your child’s key pad number to register on the PayPAMS Web site.
Substitutions for specific foods are allowed only when supported by a statement from a recognized medical authority. If a student needs a substitution for any item, such as in the case of a food allergy, they must have a medical note from the Doctor. This medical note must be updated annually and submitted to the Director of Nutrition and Food Services and the School Nurse.
For questions, please contact the district nutrition office at 515-278-0278. To view the monthly menu, click here.
Are students required to wear uniforms for physical education?
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Students in grades 6-12 are required to dress for physical education class but there not a specific uniform to be purchased. Please see the individual school’s handbook for more information.
Do the schools have a nurse on staff?
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All school buildings have full-time health care. Buildings that have students that have severe physical needs have a nurse on site. Those buildings include the High School, Middle School, Summit, Beaver Creek, Timber Ridge and Lawson. A nurse is shared between Wallace and Horizon; however, both these buildings have a full-time health associate on staff when the nurse it not present.
Does the district offer preschool?
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Preschool for children ages 3-5 is offered through Johnston Community Education. Classes vary in the number of days the child attends and the location of the classes. For more information on preschool, click here.
Does the district have before/after school childcare?
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The district provides before/after school childcare for Kindergarten through grade five at each elementary school. This care is provided through Johnston Community Education and is called Kids/Teen Connection (KTC). For more information about KTC, click here.
Summit After School (SAS) is an after-school program for sixth and seventh grade students at Summit Middle School. For more information about SAS, click here.
What offerings are there for student involvement outside of the school day?
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The Johnston Community School District offers a wide variety of opportunities for participation in extra-curricular activities.
Elementary offers band to fifth grade students.
Summit Middle School and Johnston Middle School offer the following activities at various grade levels for our students:
•Vocal Music (Swing and Show Choirs) •Band (Concert & Jazz) •Mock Trial •Odyssey of the Mind •French Club •Leadership Camp •Art Club •Student Council •Technology Student Association •Outdoor Education Camp •Athletics (7/8 Gr.)-Football, Volleyball (G), Basketball (B & G), Wrestling, Track (B & G), Softball (G-8th), Dance Team (8th), Cheerleading, Jogger’s Club, Cross-Country (B & G), Bowling (9B & 9G), and Swimming (B & G)
The Johnston High School (10-12th) and Johnston Middle School (9th) offer the following activities:
•Band (Concert, Pep, Jazz, Marching, Color Guard) •Mock Trial •Academic Competitions •Art Club •Spanish Club •Leadership Camp •French Club •Safety Club •Student Council •Drama (Plays, Individual Speech, Large Group Speech) •Technology Student Association •Year Book/Newspaper Staff •National Honor Society •Students Against Driving Drunk •T.L.C. (Team Leadership Connection) •Diversity committee •Chess Club •Vocal Music (Concert Choir, Freshmen Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Show Choirs - Sound Advice and Innovation) •Fencing •Athletics-Football, Volleyball (G), Cross-Country (B & G), Basketball (B & G), Wrestling, Swimming (B & G), Track (B & G), Golf (B & G), Tennis (B & G), Soccer (B & G), Baseball, Softball, Bowling (B & G), Cheerleading, and Dance Team
What is Heartland AEA?
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Heartland Area Education Agency works in partnership with public and accredited private schools to provide educational services, programs and resources for improving student achievement. Heartland AEA staff members serve preschool children, K-12 students, families, educators and sometimes entire communities.
Heartland AEA's staff members, 70 percent of whom are licensed educators, aid student achievement in many ways. They teach students; work with preschoolers; consult with teachers, principals and superintendents; meet with parents; lead school-community meetings; and undertake many other tasks to improve teaching and learning.
Heartland AEA has the largest student enrollment (126,000) of Iowa's 11 area education agencies. AEAs were created by the 1974 Iowa Legislature and opened a year later to ensure efficient, effective and equal educational opportunities for all children.
The agency is a public entity funded by federal and state aid, legislatively controlled property tax, grants, course tuition and the sale of educational products. Most of Heartland AEA's services are free. A nominal fee is charged for some services, such as printing, graphic design, lamination, some staff development courses and special school district requests.
Heartland AEA Web site
How is the decision made to cancel school due to weather?
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Factors considered when deciding about school due to weather
Our first and foremost consideration is the safety of our students and staff. We take a number of steps to ensure they have a safe trip to and from school. Many factors go into the determination of whether to hold school:
* Monitoring Current Conditions & Forecasts - Prior to a storm, district personnel monitor forecasts and live radar images to help determine if a weather system is likely to impact the current conditions. For example: If there is six inches of “powder” snow on the ground and the forecast is for high winds, this could cause visibility problems. If the road is slushy, but temperatures are forecast to drop quickly and drastically, this could be a factor.
* Personnel on the Street - District personnel take to the streets to determine the actual conditions in the district. If a storm is at night or predicted for the morning; building and grounds, transportation, and central office personnel begin monitoring actual conditions by driving different sections of the district between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m., and continue throughout the early morning hours. District personnel also clear lots and sidewalks, and sand and salt as necessary.
* Ability to Clear Pathways - We take into consideration whether we will be able to clear school sidewalks and parking lots – is there too much snow to clear in a timely fashion, or is snow continuing to accumulate at a rate in which it cannot be cleared adequately? A third party assists the district by clearing the larger parking lots and that timeframe needs to also be taken into consideration.
* Monitoring Temperature - We take into account the temperature and wind chill, both to determine air temperature safety, but also to determine the possibility of changing road conditions. Driving conditions are not the only focus, as students that walk to/from bus pickup/drop-off locations and/or to and from school must also be figured into the decision. Conditions for children to be outside walking or waiting for a bus also can pose safety concerns.
* Visibility - Visibility is monitored; if blowing snow causes poor visibility this could be a factor.
* Coordination of Sources - All of these factors are taken into consideration and a decision is made through communication and data input from many sources. In addition, the district coordinates with city staff and police regarding any decision that is made, as well as, communicating with neighboring school districts that have similar district characteristics.
Why don’t all metro area schools make the same decision to close or start/end school day?
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Cancelling School for Weather: How Johnston relates to Other Districts
We are sometimes asked, "Why are some districts still in session when others have cancelled school?" Each district has unique characteristics that may result in them addressing school being held or not held based upon things specific to them. Some of these would allow districts to remain open while others would have the need to cancel or adjust start/end times. Several suburban school districts share some of these characteristics and thus often make the same decision as to school closure or time changes. These include such things as the following:
* Geographic Footprint – Some school districts have greater geographic areas, which mean their buses travel many more miles. Some districts may fill one or more buses in a single subdivision, where a more rural district may have to drive miles to fill one bus.
* Suburban Bus Routes – Being in the metro, most buses travel on lower-speed routes. Unlike a rural district that has buses traveling on gravel or highway roads.
* Stability of Routes – Terrain can impact the decision as to whether streets and roads are level and flat or if there more hills that buses and walkers must travel. The terrain also can affect the blowing snow and visibility.
* Snow Ordinances – City snow ordinances generally result in most routes being cleared more quickly than in a rural district. Some districts also have fewer streets and/or more personnel that may account for certain decisions.
* Different Bus Schedules – Due to differences in the start and end time of school for various districts, different bus schedules apply whereby our buses may be back in the transportation center while other district’s buses and students are still on the road. If high winds are forecast for 5:00 p.m., our routes may be complete while another district may still be busing students. Therefore, they may also dismiss early where some districts would not.
Where can I find out about school closings and cancellations?
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Notifications
Should inclement weather or an emergency situation occur which would result in the closing of school, the school district will utilize a number of methods to notify the public. Johnston Schools currently uses a service called AlertNow to help broadcast information regarding school closings and delays. AlertNow is a free service that will alert you via your mobile phone when school is canceled or postponed.
Television and Radio
If school must be dismissed early or cancelled because of adverse weather or other emergencies, the stations below will carry announcements.
| Radio: |
|
Television: |
| WHO (1040AM) |
|
WOI (Channel 5) |
| KIOA (93.3FM) |
|
KCCI (Channel 8) |
| KSTZ (102.5FM) |
|
WHO (Channel 13) |
| KLTI (104.1FM) |
|
|
| KAZR (103.3FM) |
|
|
| KPSZ (940AM) |
|
|
Please listen to the news broadcasts and special announcements on these stations rather than call the schools or administration office. Also, make a plan now so that your children know where to go if school is closed early and you are not at home.
DISTRICT WEB SITE
A message will be posted on the home page of this Web site under the District News heading. Parents can subscribe to the District News page via an RSS reader.
OTHER WEB SITES
www.kcci.com
www.whotv.com
www.myabc5.com
www.desmoinesregister.com
Parents should always keep in mind that in addition to the precautions taken by the school district to monitor the conditions, on days when the decision is made to have school, parents can still determine if it is unsafe for their children to travel to and from school, or if a delay in getting to school is appropriate.
If there were a weather delay on a Wednesday, what schedule would the district follow?
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Weather Delays on High School Late-Start Wednesdays
If the district decides on a one hour or two hour late start due to inclement weather, the high school
will follow the schedules listed below. Please note that the day we have a two hour delay, third and fourth period will
move to the afternoon in order to accommodate the lunch period (5th and 6th period). Each student with an early
dismissal would be expected to attend his/her third and fourth period class.
The following is the schedule for a one-hour delayed start:
| PERIOD 1 |
8:55-9:30 |
(35 min) |
| PERIOD 2 |
9:35-10:10 |
(35 min) |
| PERIOD 3 |
10:15-10:50 |
(35 min) |
| PERIOD 4 |
10:55-11:30 |
(35 min) |
| PERIOD 5 & 6 |
|
|
A lunch |
11:30-12:00 |
(30 min) |
5th |
12:00-12:35 |
(35 min) |
6th |
12:40-1:15 |
(35 min) |
| |
|
|
5th |
11:35-12:10 |
(35 min) |
B lunch |
12:10-12:40 |
(30 min) |
6th |
12:40-1:15 |
(35 min) |
| |
|
|
5 & 6 block |
11:35 a.m.-12:10 |
(75 min) |
lunch |
12:50-1:20 |
(30 min) |
| PERIOD 7 |
1:20-2:02 |
(42 min) |
| PERIOD 8 |
2:07-2:50 |
(43 min) |
The following is the schedule for a two-hour delayed start:
| PERIOD 1 |
9:55-10:30 |
(35 min) |
| PERIOD 2 |
10:35-11:10 |
(35 min) |
| PERIOD 5 & 6 |
|
|
A lunch |
11:10-11:40 |
(30 min) |
5th |
11:40-12:10 |
(30 min) |
6th |
12:15-12:45 |
(30 min) |
| |
|
|
5th |
11:15-11:45 |
(30 min) |
B lunch |
11:45-12:15 |
(30 min) |
6th |
12:15-12:45 |
(30 min) |
| |
|
|
5 & 6 block |
11:15-12:20 |
(65 min) |
C lunch |
12:20-12:50 |
(30 min) |
| PERIOD 3 |
12:50-1:15 |
(25 min) |
| PERIOD 4 |
1:20-1:45 |
(25 min) |
| PERIOD 7 |
1:50-2:17 |
(27 min) |
| PERIOD 8 |
2:22-2:50 |
(28 min) |
Recommendations for parents when school resumes after a severe winter storm.
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When School Resumes After a Storm
After a major snowstorm, some changes in regular routines may be needed. Depending on the severity of the storm, ongoing snow removal efforts may dictate that parents should take additional measures to ensure safe transportation of their students to and from school. When school resumes after a serious snowstorm, the district strongly encourages parents to observe the following:
* Assess your child’s route to school to determine if they can safely walk. If not, parents are encouraged to drop-off and pick-up students from school. The process of clearing streets, driveways and parking lots can leave many sidewalks throughout the city impassable. While crews often work around the clock to clear parking lots and sidewalks around school buildings, it is possible that not all sidewalks will be clear by school time. In addition, the district cannot control sidewalks on private or residential property and cannot clear these pathways even if they are adjacent to the school building.
* Consider driving high school students to school or arranging for car pools as there may not be enough parking spaces to accommodate all students with parking permits. This may include things like snow piles.
* Leave for school 10-15 minutes earlier than usual to allow time to negotiate through parking lots that may have substantial piles of snow. Visibility can be reduced, and in the interest of safety, all are encouraged to take their time and drive carefully.
* Encourage your children not to play on large piles of snow in district parking lots or along streets. While large snow mounds created by snow removal efforts are tempting for kids, they also pose a safety hazard from sliding/falling into traffic. In addition, snow removal crews may be working to remove snow piles with heavy machinery. Please make your students aware of these dangers and ensure they understand where it is not safe to play.
We thank you for your consideration, patience and assistance in these matters as operations are returned to normal after a winter storm.
What about Kids/Teen Connection (KTC) and preschool?
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In regards to preschool, SAS, and KTC:
Late start
-KTC will operate at all sites at normal times.
-Preschool-1 hour: If the Johnston Community School District delays classes one hour, Little Dragon Preschool, and Little Explorers Class will start at the same time as the elementary schools start
(9:50 am) 2 hour: If the Johnston Community School District delays classes two hours, then morning Little Dragon Preschool and Little Explorers Class will be cancelled. Afternoon preschool classes will begin at the regular time.
Early dismissal
-SAS and KTC will be held at their normal locations with the request that parents pick up their child(ren) as soon as possible. Afternoon preschool will be canceled if the cancellation is prior to the start of the preschool class. If preschool is in session when cancellation is made, parents are to pick up their child at the time that the early dismissal takes place.
-Preschool will attempt to notify parents by phone and advise parents to pick up their child(ren) ASAP if the district dismisses classes early. If school is dismissed during the break between the morning and afternoon sessions, we will attempt to notify parents by phone. In this case, the afternoon session will be cancelled.
No School
-SAS and Preschool classes will not be held.
-KTC will make an independent decision as to whether KTC will be held. If held, only Beaver Creek and Lawson will be open. An announcement about KTC will be made through the normal media/SNOWCAP outlets.
What about other Johnston Community Education programs and facility rentals?
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Johnston Community Education (JCE) classes/events and Facility Rentals
If and when the district administration decides to dismiss school early, cancel the entire day or cancel the evening activities due to weather then all JCE classes/activities (adult and youth) will also be cancelled for that day. This includes facility rentals, including gym use. Buildings will be closed if school is closed for weather related reasons.
If school is started late, then afternoon and evening classes will be held unless weather is such that cancellation is required. That announcement will be posted on the district Web site and the JCE weather recording. Call 515-278-0552 and after message, press 199 for the weather recording.
Saturday and Sunday events will be determined by the program coordinator and if needed, buildings & grounds director. Call 515-278-0552 and after 4 p.m. press #199 for the weather recording.
