Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Q: Is Sarah Dyer Barnes School a good school?

Sarah Dyer Barnes School ranks 117 th of 166 Rhode Island elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Sarah Dyer Barnes School is a public elementary school in Johnston, Rhode Island, serving 284 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 higher spending per student, which has increased from $14,785 in 2017-2018 to $17,157 in 2020-2021, Sarah Dyer Barnes School has consistently underperformed compared to the state and district averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 20.4% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 27.7% in the Johnston district and 37.8% statewide. In Mathematics, 22.4% of students were proficient or better, compared to 20.2% in the district and 39.1% statewide. The school's statewide ranking has also declined over the years, from 81 out of 169 Rhode Island elementary schools in 2017-2018 to 117 out of 166 in 2023-2024, with a consistent 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

When compared to nearby schools in the Johnston School District, such as Winsor Hill School and Early Childhood Center, Sarah Dyer Barnes School generally underperforms in both ELA and Mathematics proficiency. The school's performance is also lower than some nearby schools in North Providence and Providence, such as Greystone School and Achievement First Providence, which have higher proficiency rates in both subjects. The school's high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 33.69% to 39.79%, may contribute to its lower academic performance.

Detail:

Public K-5

24 Barnes Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919

(401) 231-8710

District: Johnston

SchoolDigger Rank:
117^th of 166 Rhode Island Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,157

Students who attend Sarah Dyer Barnes School usually attend:

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

Student/teacher ratio: 10.8

Number of students: 284

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.9%

Hispanic:

19.4%

African American:

9.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 39.8%

See top rated Rhode Island elementary schools

Compare Sarah Dyer Barnes School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Sarah Dyer Barnes School ranks worse than 70.5% of elementary schools in Rhode Island. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Johnston School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 28.23. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (66.9%), Hispanic (19.4%), African American (9.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 39.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sarah Dyer Barnes School is 10.8, which is the lowest among 5 elementary schools in the Johnston School District! (See more...)

Compare Sarah Dyer Barnes School employs 26.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sarah Dyer Barnes School is $17,157. 2 elementary schools in the Johnston School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Sarah Dyer Barnes School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Johnston:

SchoolDigger ranks Johnston 35^th of 60 Rhode Island school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Sarah Dyer Barnes School.

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Rank History for Sarah Dyer Barnes School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	RI State Percentile
2009	36.59	117^th	169	30.8%
2010	45.16	106^th	169	37.3%
2011	47.54	103^rd	165	37.6%
2012	46.97	102^nd	165	38.2%
2013	43.36	103^rd	165	37.6%
2014	42.07	108^th	159	32.1%
2015	50.06	89^th	169	47.3%
2016	51.46	87^th	170	48.8%
2017	46.82	96^th	168	42.9%
2018	51.75	81^st	169	52.1%
2019	43.87	93^rd	169	45.0%
2021	37.23	92^nd	166	44.6%
2022	40.75	89^th	166	46.4%
2023	35.78	99^th	167	40.7%
2024	28.23	117^th	166	29.5%

See the entire list of Rhode Island Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Rhode Island Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

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

Enrollment information for Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	359	0	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	363
1989	364	3	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	372
1990	323	1	4	2	n/a	n/a	n/a	330
1991	314	2	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	320
1992	331	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	334
1993	322	1	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	328
1994	313	0	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	318
1995	303	5	4	10	0	n/a	n/a	322
1996	303	5	4	10	0	n/a	n/a	322
1997	316	5	4	10	0	n/a	n/a	335
1998	308	8	5	6	0	n/a	n/a	327
1999	298	8	7	6	0	n/a	n/a	319
2000	276	6	9	11	0	n/a	n/a	302
2001	215	7	6	16	0	n/a	n/a	244
2002	201	7	6	12	0	n/a	n/a	226
2003	201	7	6	12	0	n/a	n/a	226
2004	191	5	7	17	0	n/a	n/a	220
2005	202	3	5	16	1	n/a	n/a	227
2006	194	5	6	12	1	n/a	n/a	218
2007	170	3	3	17	1	n/a	n/a	194
2008	184	8	2	16	1	n/a	n/a	211
2009	201	5	6	13	1	n/a	n/a	226
2010	208	8	2	13	3	n/a	n/a	234
2011	197	10	3	18	3	0	2	233
2012	227	6	3	21	3	0	0	260
2013	215	7	6	16	2	0	1	247
2014	206	8	8	10	1	0	1	234
2015	226	9	7	21	2	0	1	266
2016	258	10	6	28	2	0	2	306
2017	245	10	9	28	1	0	3	296
2018	239	14	10	34	1	0	3	301
2019	232	11	10	32	1	0	2	288
2020	230	13	11	41	1	0	2	298
2021	207	17	10	46	1	0	1	282
2022	192	21	7	57	1	0	1	279
2023	190	28	7	55	1	0	3	284

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	363	n/a	n/a	7.2
1989	372	n/a	n/a	5.6
1990	330	n/a	n/a	7.9
1991	320	20.0	16.0	9.7
1992	334	17.0	19.6	8.7
1993	328	21.0	15.6	8.8
1994	318	20.0	15.9	9.4
1995	322	20.0	16.1	9
1996	322	20.0	16.1	9
1997	335	18.0	18.6	10.4
1998	327	19.7	16.6	8.9
1999	319	20.0	16.0	13.8
2000	302	21.0	14.4	16.9
2001	244	19.0	12.8	18
2002	226	n/a	n/a	19
2003	226	n/a	n/a	19
2004	220	16.0	13.8	20.5
2005	227	16.0	14.2	19.8
2006	218	13.0	16.8	19.7
2007	194	22.0	8.8	21.6
2008	211	24.0	8.8	31.3
2009	226	19.8	9.0	36.7
2010	234	21.3	10.9	38.9
2011	233	18.9	12.3	38.2
2012	260	20.0	13.0	39.6
2013	247	17.5	14.1	32.4
2014	234	15.6	15.0	45.3
2015	266	11.0	24.1	35.7
2016	306	25.0	12.2	42.8
2017	296	25.2	11.7	40.9
2018	301	25.0	12.0	41.5
2019	288	25.3	11.3	39.2
2020	298	24.8	11.9	39.3
2021	282	23.3	12.0	36.2
2022	279	27.5	10.1	33.7
2023	284	26.1	10.8	39.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	363	n/a	n/a	7.2
1989	372	n/a	n/a	5.6
1990	330	n/a	n/a	7.9
1991	320	20.0	16.0	9.7
1992	334	17.0	19.6	8.7
1993	328	21.0	15.6	8.8
1994	318	20.0	15.9	9.4
1995	322	20.0	16.1	9
1996	322	20.0	16.1	9
1997	335	18.0	18.6	10.4
1998	327	19.7	16.6	8.9
1999	319	20.0	16.0	13.8
2000	302	21.0	14.4	16.9
2001	244	19.0	12.8	18
2002	226	n/a	n/a	19
2003	226	n/a	n/a	19
2004	220	16.0	13.8	20.5
2005	227	16.0	14.2	19.8
2006	218	13.0	16.8	19.7
2007	194	22.0	8.8	21.6
2008	211	24.0	8.8	31.3
2009	226	19.8	9.0	36.7
2010	234	21.3	10.9	38.9
2011	233	18.9	12.3	38.2
2012	260	20.0	13.0	39.6
2013	247	17.5	14.1	32.4
2014	234	15.6	15.0	45.3
2015	266	11.0	24.1	35.7
2016	306	25.0	12.2	42.8
2017	296	25.2	11.7	40.9
2018	301	25.0	12.0	41.5
2019	288	25.3	11.3	39.2
2020	298	24.8	11.9	39.3
2021	282	23.3	12.0	36.2
2022	279	27.5	10.1	33.7
2023	284	26.1	10.8	39.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$743 (5.0%)	$14,041 (95.0%)	$14,785
2019	$970 (5.9%)	$15,362 (94.1%)	$16,333
2020	$758 (4.8%)	$14,968 (95.2%)	$15,726
2021	$1,486 (8.7%)	$15,671 (91.3%)	$17,157

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sarah Dyer Barnes School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 93^rd of 169 Elementary schools	Ranks 99^th of 167 Elementary schools	4.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	38.1	32.4	5.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Johnston)	44.3	31.5	12.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	47.9	36.8	11.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	31	26.5	4.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Johnston)	33.6	28.5	5.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	36.1	34.5	1.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	47.4	44.7	2.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Johnston)	36.4	33.5	2.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	37.2	33.3	3.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	22.8	31.9	9.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Johnston)	30.8	27	3.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	32.6	36	3.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	40	29.2	10.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Johnston)	37.1	33.6	3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	39.1	35.1	4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	37.8	14.3	23.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Johnston)	36.1	13.8	22.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	30.1	30	0.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	42.4	35.7	6.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Johnston)	36.1	32.6	3.5%
All Grades Mathematics (Sarah Dyer Barnes School)	29.9	23.8	6.1%
All Grades Mathematics (Johnston)	25.2	20.9	4.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	288	284	1.4%
African American	11	28	154.5%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	10	7	30%
Hispanic	32	55	71.9%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	232	190	18.1%
Two or More Races	2	3	50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39.2%	39.8%	0.6%

Schools Near Sarah Dyer Barnes School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NGSA Science (2024)	RICAS English Language Arts (2024)				RICAS Mathematics (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	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	284	26	10.8	39.8%	190 (66.9%)	28 (9.9%)	55 (19.4%)	7 (2.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	28.2	117^th of 166 public elementary schools	29.5%		35.8	99^th of 167 public elementary schools	40.7%	18	29.2	9.8	31.8	21.3	20.4	15.7	27.3	25.0	22.4	$17,157	$1,486	$15,671
Early Childhood Center	Public	K	10 Memorial Avenue	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-0054	195	17	11.5	38.5%	95 (48.7%)	19 (9.7%)	62 (31.8%)	9 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.1%)								(n/a)										$18,706	$1,512	$17,194
Pleasant View School	Public	PK, KG-5	110 Paul Street	Providence	02904	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9325	418	34	12.3	72.5%	44 (10.5%)	59 (14.1%)	255 (61.0%)	15 (3.6%)	6 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (7.4%)	18.4	138^th of 166 public elementary schools	16.9%		14.8	147^th of 167 public elementary schools	12.0%	9	19.1	13.0	22.2	17.0	17.4	15.2	20.9	17.0	17.6	$26,648	$2,852	$23,796
Centredale School	Public	PK, KG-5	41 Angell Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1145	224	23	9.6	37.9%	109 (48.7%)	26 (11.6%)	69 (30.8%)	3 (1.3%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.8%)	32.5	103^rd of 166 public elementary schools	38.0%		41.4	93^rd of 167 public elementary schools	44.3%	10	23.3	44.8	26.3	20.0	29.9	21.4	27.5	20.0	23.5	$18,633	$1,939	$16,693
Winsor Hill School	Public	1-5	100 Theresa Street	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 831-4619	384	31	12.3	48.7%	220 (57.3%)	25 (6.5%)	119 (31.0%)	15 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.0%)	31.7	106^th of 166 public elementary schools	36.1%		26.8	124^th of 167 public elementary schools	25.7%	18	33.7	31.5	29.0	22.8	27.9	30.4	12.9	15.9	20.5	$13,296	$1,170	$12,125
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	388	23	17.0	41.8%	168 (43.3%)	58 (14.9%)	120 (30.9%)	13 (3.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.0%)	26.9	121^st of 166 public elementary schools	27.1%		35.5	100^th of 167 public elementary schools	40.1%	21	20.4	27.9	33.8	12.2	25.8	14.5	27.9	16.3	20.1	$14,357	$581	$13,776
Greystone School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Morgan Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1130	314	28	11.0	31.2%	155 (49.4%)	35 (11.1%)	80 (25.5%)	23 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.4%)	47.8	80^th of 166 public elementary schools	51.8%		40.6	94^th of 167 public elementary schools	43.7%	14	37.2	34.4	28.3	38.6	33.6	37.5	30.4	28.9	31.7	$17,132	$1,848	$15,283
Anthony Carnevale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Springfield Street	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 278-0554	464	42	11.1	84.7%	55 (11.9%)	54 (11.6%)	304 (65.5%)	18 (3.9%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.5%)	12.6	155^th of 166 public elementary schools	6.6%		11.3	153^rd of 167 public elementary schools	8.4%	2	13.6	8.6	8.6	6.3	7.8	26.8	19.4		16.8	$24,837	$3,131	$21,706
George J. West Elementary School	Public	K-5	145 Beaufort Street	Providence	02908	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9337	601	35	17.0	83.9%	38 (6.3%)	104 (17.3%)	400 (66.6%)	10 (1.7%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (6.0%)	18.2	139^th of 166 public elementary schools	16.3%		17.3	140^th of 167 public elementary schools	16.2%	1	17.7	18.8	14.9	15.1	16.1	32.2	20.0	10.5	19.9	$14,049	$2,339	$11,709
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	466	27	17.2	69.7%	25 (5.4%)	88 (18.9%)	334 (71.7%)	9 (1.9%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	35.6	96^th of 166 public elementary schools	42.2%		22.7	129^th of 167 public elementary schools	22.8%	33		31.2	25.0		28.0	30.1	34.7		32.4	$12,207	$1,969	$10,237

Frequently Asked Questions about Sarah Dyer Barnes School

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

Is Sarah Dyer Barnes School a good school?

Sarah Dyer Barnes School ranks 117^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 67% White, 19% Hispanic, 10% African American, 2% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Sarah Dyer Barnes School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 284 students attended Sarah Dyer Barnes School.

What district is Sarah Dyer Barnes School in?

Johnston

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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.