Johnston Schools

Congratulations to Johnston Athletics/Activities Director Heather Semelmacher on being named the 2025 Basketball Administrator of the Year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA). She was recognized March 14 at the IGCA Basketball Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony in Cedar Falls, along with 13 other coaches and officials who were inducted as part of the Class of 2026.

Addams Family casts from Johnston and ACGC (Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center) got together to learn from one another!

This year’s National History Day district competition was a huge success, with Johnston students advancing to state in every division we entered. Nineteen Summit, JMS and JHS students presented 14 projects and came home with 16 state qualifiers who will advance to the National History Day state contest, April 27 at Iowa State University. Read more about how each student placed: johnstoncsd.org/news/2026/03/n…

Beautiful night for the first outdoor track meet of 2026! Go Dragons! 🐉 🌞💜💛👟🏃🏻‍♂️💨

JHS senior Harrison Burkhardt had the honor of representing Johnston and Iowa last week at Washington Week of the 64th Annual U.S. @SenateYouth Program, a one-of-a-kind immersion in our federal government. At the event, he learned that his $10,000 scholarship as part of the program will actually be $12,500! Other highlights of the week: 🇺🇸 He attended the 64th Annual United States Senate Youth Senate Reception with 75 U.S. Senators, including Sen. Grassley! 🇺🇸 He toured the White House, visited the Lincoln Memorial, and met with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ketanji Brown Jackson. 🇺🇸 He visited the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and toured the U.S. National Archives as it prepares its celebrations of the nation’s 250th birthday. 🇺🇸 He visited the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dined in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room in the State Department, and attended a luncheon at the Library of Congress. Plus, Harrison made 104 new friends! What an awesome experience. #USSYP2026 Photos by Erin Lubin and Jakub Mosur

What a season for the Dragons! We are beyond proud of the run this team had. Congratulations to the Johnston boys basketball team for a runner-up finish at the IHSAA Class 4A state championship!

How about this incredible start for Johnston? The Dragons took a big lead early in Friday's #iahsbkb state championship game against top-seeded Cedar Falls after Nicare Cavil poured in 17 points on five 3-pointers... in the first quarter!

ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!🏆💜🏀 The Dragons defeated Waukee 57-49 in the IHSAA state basketball semifinal and will advance to the Class 4A Championship game against Cedar Falls, tomorrow at 3 p.m. Show out to cheer on our Dragons as they fight for a state title!🏀 Photos by Kaden Krebs and JCSD Communications

Boys Basketball (Varsity) Score Posted - 4A-State Semifinal - Johnston Dragons defeat Waukee Warriors 57-49. gobound.com/ia/ihsaa/boysb…

Jenica Lewis is the first Dragon to earn the Iowa Miss Basketball Award. Congrats J 👑

With a 48-42 win over #3 ranked Waukee Northwest, your #6 ranked Johnston Dragons boys basketball team beat the odds and is headed to the semifinals of the IHSAA state basketball tournament. Amazing! And we won the wings eating contest, too. Congratulations! 🏀⛹🏽‍♂️💜💛🎉

Time for a victory lap! The school board tonight recognized our amazing Johnston varsity girls basketball team. They not only captured the 2026 state championship last weekend — they made history by going undefeated for three years, winning 79 straight games, and being nationally ranked. Since 2020, the team took us to seven consecutive state championship games — winning five of them in ’20, ’22, ’24, ’25 and ’26, and finishing as state runner up in ’21 and ’23. The seniors on this team have a record of 103-2. Congratulations, Dragons! We're so proud of you! 💜💛 🏆🏆🏆🏀 🎉

Johnston Speech and Debate had its last regular tournament of the year at Simpson College in Indianola and brought home the hardware! 🏆 Congratulations on a great year, Dragons! Up next: national qualifier for Congress, then nationals! See more details at Dragon Drama Boosters on Facebook.

Never wanted this season to end but it couldn’t have been a better ending for our senior class - 3 🏆, 1 🥈, 79 straight wins, & a record of 103-2. I appreciate everything they have done for our program. They might not wear the uni anymore but they are Dragons for life!!

🚨𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄-𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄🚨 THE JOHNSTON DRAGONS WIN #79 IN A ROW. THE QUEST FOR THREE STRAIGHT IS COMPLETE. #iahsbkb Matt Matz Design

Johnston takes down Waukee Northwest, 51-37, and there's no debate, they're a dynasty. It's 78 straight wins, and three straight state championships, for the Dragons. My postgame recap from the Casey's Center. @SoundOFF13

Johnston took 2nd place 🥈 overall last night at the Iowa Academic Decathlon State Competition! We also had two overall individual winners: Alan Qi received the Silver in Honor, while Spencer Jensen won Bronze in Scholastic. Johnston is now waiting on the official invitation to compete at nationals in late April. The JHS team competed in Division I (large school) at the state tournament Thursday and Friday at Saydel High School. Winning individual medals were: 🥇🥈Alan Qi (Honor): Best Speech-Gold, Science-Gold, Essay-Gold, Economics-Silver, Math-Silver 🥇🥉David Shi (Honor): Math-Gold, Economics-Bronze, Science-Bronze, Interview-Bronze 🥈🥈Spencer Jensen (Scholastic): Math-Silver, Science-Silver 🥇🥉Adrienne Dobson (Varsity): Interview-Gold, Speech-Bronze 🥉Ryan Titus (Varsity): Bronze-Social Science

YOUR @IGHSAU 5A GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPION: @JCSD_Girlsbball The Dragons complete the 3-peat, defeating Waukee Northwest, 51-37. It's Johnston's 4th #iahsbkb State Title in 5 years. @JenicaRaine10 & @_ariphillips3 earn All-Tourney Team honors. @weareiowa5news

𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝟓𝐀 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 Presenting your Class 5A All-Tournament Team! Congratulations to each athlete on a standout performance this week! Arianna Phillips, Johnston Romey Croatt, Waukee Northwest Jayla Williams, Ankeny Ellie Muller, Dowling Catholic Vana Bilic, Waukee Northwest Jenica Lewis, Johnston (Captain) 2026 State Basketball Tournament presented by @iowafarmbureau #IGHSAU #IowaGirl #StateBasketball