Johnson Traditional Middle School
West Louisville Traditional middle magnet named for Lyman T. Johnson
Traditional magnet · boundary-based eligibility · Jaguars · 1930 building on Wilson Avenue · On the 2026–27 all-enrolled magnet transportation list
- Grades: 6th–8th
- How to get in: Traditional boundary
- School day: 7:30 a.m.–2:10 p.m.
Johnson is one of three JCPS Traditional middle magnets, with Barret and JCTMS. Choices says it serves students inside certain geographical boundaries, so School Finder decides which Traditional middle serves your address. Published scores here are the lowest of the three Traditional middles, and district transportation eligibility is the strongest of the three. Both facts belong in the same conversation. JCPS Insider is not affiliated with Jefferson County Public Schools.
2509 Wilson Avenue · West Louisville · Kentucky
Official starting points
- Johnson Traditional's official JCPS page(opens in a new tab)
- JCPS student assignment(opens in a new tab)
- School Finder(opens in a new tab)
- How to apply(opens in a new tab)
- Current Choices Guide(opens in a new tab)
- KDE School Report Card(opens in a new tab)
School Choice:(502) 485-6250schoolchoice@jefferson.kyschools.us
What this school is
Johnson Traditional is a Traditional middle magnet in a 1930 building at 2509 Wilson Avenue in West Louisville. Choices says LJTMS serves students inside certain geographical boundaries. Traditional here means structure and high expectations; the live mission language is organizational skills, accountability, and resilience.
The school is named for Lyman T. Johnson, the Louisville educator whose lawsuit opened the University of Kentucky. That history is the school's name. It is not a published-score guarantee, and this guide does not pretend otherwise.
Who runs the building
Dr. Rhonda K. Branch
Dr. Rhonda K. Branch has been principal since she was named in August 2023. Janee White is listed for youth services and Jolie Beville as instructional coach. Confirm names on the school site before you write a letter.
School details
- Address
- 2509 Wilson Avenue, Louisville, KY 40210
- Phone
- (502) 485-8277
- Official JCPS site
- jefferson.kyschools.us/o/ljtms(opens in a new tab)
- School day: 7:30 a.m.–2:10 p.m.
- Title I: Yes
- Board district: Tricia Lister · District 1
- Mascot: Jaguars
How families get in
Johnson is address-based. Use School Finder to see which Traditional middle serves your home address. If your child is already in a JCPS Traditional elementary, JCPS automatically enrolls them in the Traditional middle that serves that address — no application. If they are not in a Traditional elementary, apply in the magnet window for the Traditional middle that serves the address.
- Run School Finder. Write down which Traditional middle serves this address.
- Already in a Traditional elementary? JCPS rolls the student to that Traditional middle. No application.
- Not in a Traditional elementary? Apply in the magnet window for the Traditional middle serving the address.
- Tour during the academic day. A 7:30 start means an early visit.
- Watch the response deadline if a seat is offered.
2026–27: enrolled students are transportation eligible
- For 2026–27, Johnson Traditional Middle is on the JCPS list of magnet schools that receive transportation for every enrolled student, subject to completing the transportation process.
- Confirm your child's actual stop on the current Transportation Verification form.
Official 2027–28 application window: November 2, 2026 through December 18, 2026.
Who it tends to fit
A good match when
- Your address is inside the Johnson Traditional boundary.
- You want a West Louisville Traditional campus at a 7:30 a.m. start.
- District transportation eligibility matters to your family.
Think twice when
- You need Barret-level published scores.
- You need an 8:40 day.
- You want an arts or STEM theme campus rather than Traditional structure.
Students
Counts come from the JCPS Oct. 1, 2025 enrollment file: 520 students, with a grade split of 182 sixth, 171 seventh, and 167 eighth, in a building listed at 954 optimal capacity — about 55% of listed seats. Title I: Yes.
Diversity index
49%
Standard racial/ethnic diversity index from the published Oct. 1, 2025 shares. Black students are a clear majority here, which lowers the index. Student numbers are calculated from those shares and the 520-student headcount, so treat them as close approximations.
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Black / African American | 359 | 69% |
| White | 78 | 15% |
| Other / two or more races | 47 | 9% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 31 | 6% |
Gender: Not broken out separately in the source file.
- Headcount 520 · Oct. 1, 2025
- Listed capacity 954 · about 55% of seats
- Grade split 182 / 171 / 167
- Title I: Yes
- School day 7:30 a.m.–2:10 p.m.
Academics
Use the Kentucky School Report Card first. These figures match the official 2024–25 accountability table and the school's own banners.
- Reading: 18% proficient, 3% distinguished — 21% official combined P+D.
- Math: 13% proficient, 2% distinguished — 14% official combined P+D.
- Science: 6% proficient, 1% distinguished — 7% official combined P+D.
- A KDE diagnostic review in the 2025–26 cycle documented uneven grade-level trends and results still below state averages.
- Traditional structure is not a substitute for asking how a sixth-grader who arrives novice gets taught.
Awards and recognition
Named for Lyman T. Johnson
Louisville educator whose lawsuit opened the University of Kentucky
2026–27 magnet transportation
On the JCPS list covering every enrolled student
Location and daily life
2509 Wilson Avenue, 40210 — West Louisville, in a 1930 building. Tour the Wilson Avenue car line at 7:10 before you assume the morning works.
The school holds 520 students against a 954-seat listing. Empty seats can mean smaller classes; they can also mean instability. Ask about both.
Recent news, in context
Johnson is the one Traditional middle on the 2026–27 all-enrolled magnet transportation list, which is a real difference between the three campuses.
A KDE diagnostic review in the 2025–26 cycle documented uneven grade-level trends and results below state averages.
The 2027–28 application window runs November 2 through December 18, 2026.
Compare before you commit
- Barret Traditional Middle SchoolTraditional magnet on Grinstead with the highest published scores of the three.
- Jefferson County Traditional Middle SchoolTraditional magnet on Morton Avenue with a large athletics program.
- W.E.B. DuBois AcademyDistrictwide Afrocentric academy. Application required.
- Meyzeek MiddleMST magnet in Smoketown. Separate application even for resides students.
Questions to ask on a tour
- 1.Is my address currently inside the Johnson Traditional boundary?
- 2.What does a Tuesday morning look like — lining up, homework, conduct marks?
- 3.What is the current dress code?
- 4.How large is the class my child would enter in a half-full building?
- 5.How do you support a sixth-grader who arrives novice in reading or math?
- 6.What is my child's actual stop on the Transportation Verification form?
- 7.How long is the Wilson Avenue car line at 7:10?
- 8.Which Traditional high schools typically follow Johnson — and is that automatic?
- 9.How do I reach the youth-services coordinator and counselor?
- 10.If we decline a seat, what is the deadline?
What to do next
- 1.Run your address in School Finder and write down which Traditional middle serves it.
- 2.If your child is in a Traditional elementary, confirm the automatic roll-up instead of applying.
- 3.If not, apply during the window for the Traditional middle that serves your address.
- 4.Complete the Transportation Verification process and confirm the actual stop.
- 5.Tour early in the day and watch the deadline on any offer letter.