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Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Q: Is Sarah Dyer Barnes School a good school?

Sarah Dyer Barnes School ranks 113 th of 166 Rhode Island elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

113^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Rhode Island Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of Rhode Island elementary schools

Summary

Sarah Dyer Barnes School is an elementary school located in Johnston, Rhode Island, serving 280 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Johnston School District, which is ranked 35 out of 60 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's consistent investment in resources, with per-student spending increasing from $15,727 in 2020-2021 to $18,940 in 2022-2023, Sarah Dyer Barnes School has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state averages in academic assessments. The school's performance on RICAS tests is below the district and state averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, with particularly low proficiency rates in 4th grade. Additionally, the school's performance on the Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) is also below the district average.

Equity concerns are also evident, as the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups. Male students, White students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds rank in the bottom 25% of their respective subgroups statewide, suggesting that the school may be struggling to address the unique needs of these populations. While the school's student-teacher ratio has remained relatively stable, the lack of significant improvement in academic performance raises questions about the effectiveness of the district's resource allocation and the need for targeted interventions to support student learning.

266

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,169

Per pupil spending ?

51.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

24 Barnes Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919

(401) 231-8710

District: Johnston

Students who attend Sarah Dyer Barnes School usually attend:

Middle:	Nicholas A. Ferri Middle
High:	Johnston Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.2%

Hispanic:

25.9%

African American:

8.3%

See top rated Rhode Island elementary schools

Compare Sarah Dyer Barnes School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 47th percentile in 2015 → 32nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2015

!Near the bottom of Johnston's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg26%

113^th of 166

Rhode Island public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From bottom 47% (2015) to bottom 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Rhode Island Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Johnston

35^th of 60Johnston among Rhode Island districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	30.8	113 of 166	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.2	117 of 166	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.8	99 of 167	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.7	89 of 166	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.2	92 of 166	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.9	93 of 169	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.8	81 of 169	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.8	96 of 168	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.5	87 of 170	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.1	89 of 169	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	42.1	108 of 159	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.4	103 of 165	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.0	102 of 165	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	47.5	103 of 165	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.2	106 of 169	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	36.6	117 of 169	30.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	101 of 164	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	36.9	74 of 111	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	28.5	123 of 158	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	122 of 166	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	26.5	73 of 97	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	22.7	107 of 129	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2025)38th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)33rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)27th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)25th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)22nd percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)17th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Rhode Island (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts29%

Mathematics22%

Science20%

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 27, 2016

I have found that the teachers are wonderful with the children. They put a lot of effort into teaching and the children are learning new information everyday. My daughter is excited to go to school and to do the work given to her plus her homework. The classrooms are clean and bright. One of their teachers just received the highest Presidential award for math and science. Their PTO puts a lot of effort into fundraising to buy supplies and books for the children. We find the principal is strict with her school rules which we agree with her. She does a good job. Only wish that the children had access to more computers. Close Quote

Schools Near Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NGSA Science (2025)	RICAS English Language Arts (2025)				RICAS Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSA Science All Grades	RICAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts All Grades	RICAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	RICAS Mathematics 4th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 5th Grade	RICAS Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sarah Dyer Barnes School	Public	K-5	24 Barnes Avenue	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 231-8710	266	24	11.0	51.1%	160 (60.2%)	22 (8.3%)	69 (25.9%)	5 (1.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	30.8	113^th of 166 public elementary schools	31.9%		28.2	117^th of 166 public elementary schools	29.5%	4	20.5	30.2	24.5	34.1	29.4	18.6	16.3	31.8	22.1	$16,169	$1,304	$14,864
Early Childhood Center	Public	K	10 Memorial Avenue	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-0054	201	18	11.1	52.7%	95 (47.3%)	17 (8.5%)	67 (33.3%)	7 (3.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (6.5%)								(n/a)										$14,872	$1,825	$13,047
Pleasant View School	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Obediah Brown Road	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9325	433	39	11.1	80.4%	41 (9.5%)	61 (14.1%)	288 (66.5%)	14 (3.2%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.5%)	23 (5.3%)	17.6	141^st of 166 public elementary schools	15.1%		18.4	138^th of 166 public elementary schools	16.9%	3	20.0	8.5	17.8	27.5	17.4	10.4	8.7	22.2	13.7	$29,349	$4,776	$24,573
Centredale School	Public	PK, KG-5	41 Angell Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1145	221	18	12.2	60.6%	100 (45.2%)	43 (19.5%)	56 (25.3%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	16 (7.2%)	45.6	85^th of 166 public elementary schools	48.8%		32.5	103^rd of 166 public elementary schools	38.0%	18	33.3	33.3	38.7	21.2	31.1	36.6	35.5	33.3	35.2	$17,586	$2,105	$15,481
Winsor Hill School	Public	1-5	100 Theresa Street	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 831-4619	380	32	11.8	60.5%	195 (51.3%)	35 (9.2%)	123 (32.4%)	14 (3.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.6%)	25.5	129^th of 166 public elementary schools	22.3%		31.7	106^th of 166 public elementary schools	36.1%	23	15.9	23.8	31.5	17.6	25.1	25.0	19.4	24.6	22.6	$13,973	$2,228	$11,745
James L. McGuire School	Public	K-5	55 Central Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1135	384	25	15.3	48.7%	174 (45.3%)	59 (15.4%)	119 (31.0%)	11 (2.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.9%)	33	105^th of 166 public elementary schools	36.7%		26.9	121^st of 166 public elementary schools	27.1%	16	24.2	38.2	17.7	22.6	26.6	41.2	19.0	22.6	28.0	$13,151	$530	$12,621
Greystone School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Morgan Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1130	303	23	13.1	42.2%	128 (42.2%)	41 (13.5%)	93 (30.7%)	19 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.3%)	45.6	86^th of 166 public elementary schools	48.2%		47.8	80^th of 166 public elementary schools	51.8%	6	31.8	26.8	32.3	48.9	36.8	23.8	28.1	34.1	28.8	$15,362	$2,285	$13,077
Anthony Carnevale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Springfield Street	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 278-0554	519	39	13.3	84.2%	38 (7.3%)	62 (11.9%)	374 (72.1%)	18 (3.5%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.0%)	10.9	158^th of 166 public elementary schools	4.8%		12.6	155^th of 166 public elementary schools	6.6%	3	9.2	13.2	9.2	7.8	10.2	25.0	15.7	6.2	15.9	$27,010	$4,944	$22,066
George J. West Elementary School	Public	K-5	145 Beaufort Street	Providence	02908	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9337	502	39	12.8	93.4%	35 (7.0%)	79 (15.7%)	345 (68.7%)	4 (0.8%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	32 (6.4%)	22.6	131^st of 166 public elementary schools	21.1%		18.2	139^th of 166 public elementary schools	16.3%	8	14.5	28.0	18.1	19.3	21.6	29.9	24.0	17.9	23.5	$21,606	$3,831	$17,775
Achievement First Providence	Public, Charter	K-4	370 Hartford Avenue	Providence	02909	Providence County	Achievement First Rhode Island	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 347-1106	460	34	13.5	83.0%	21 (4.6%)	68 (14.8%)	353 (76.7%)	8 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.2%)	49.9	74^th of 166 public elementary schools	55.4%		35.6	96^th of 166 public elementary schools	42.2%	22		33.0	29.0		31.0	44.7	44.1		44.4	$14,246	$1,601	$12,645

Frequently Asked Questions about Sarah Dyer Barnes School

What district is Sarah Dyer Barnes School in?

Johnston

Is Sarah Dyer Barnes School a good school?

Sarah Dyer Barnes School ranks 113^th of 166 Rhode Island elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Sarah Dyer Barnes School?

Students at Sarah Dyer Barnes School are 60% White, 26% Hispanic, 8% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Sarah Dyer Barnes School attend?

Students who attend Sarah Dyer Barnes School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Nicholas A. Ferri Middle
High : Johnston Senior High

How many students attend Sarah Dyer Barnes School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 266 students attended Sarah Dyer Barnes School.

Rate Sarah Dyer Barnes School!

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Schools in Johnston, RI

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Rhode Island Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.