Johnston Middle School is a safe, caring, and respectful learning community where each person is challenged to succeed in life.

Johnston Middle School's namesake was Civil War General Albert Sidney Johnston, a graduate of West Point and an officer in the United States Army. Johnston served in the Mexican War of 1846, returning at the conclusion of that war to Fort McKavett on the Texas frontier where he served as paymaster. In 1860, he was stationed at an army post in San Francisco.  When the Civil War began in 1861, Jefferson Davis appointed him to a generalship in the Confederate Army. Johnston was mortally wounded at the battle of Shiloh on April 6, 1862.

The early twentieth century saw the rapid change in Houston from a sleepy antebellum town to a thriving, bustling port city. By the 1920's, Houston had become the nation's leading exporter of cotton. Along with this growth came increased population and greater demand for schools. In 1926, the first Johnston Junior High opened on a ten acre wooded block of land. Initially 652 pupils were taught by 20 faculty members in 32 classrooms. The first principal was Mr. Moreland, who would later become Superintendent of Schools for all of Houston. Population pressures developed during post World War II "baby boom" which led to the construction of more schools, primarily in the outlying suburbs.

A new Johnston Middle School opened on September 1959 to service the Meyerland/Westbury area of southwest Houston. "Old" Johnston became Miller Junior High and the new building took the former's name, school song, colors and mascot.

As was the case in "Old" Johnston, a reputation of winning followed the other "New" Johnston. Some of Johnston's greatest successes have been in the Fine Arts. Music has always been an integral part of the school and can still be heard throughout the building.

In 1985, Johnston became a magnet school for the performing arts. Magnet courses include beginning, intermediate and advanced art, theatre arts, dance, band, jazz band, choral music, orchestra, guitar, harp, piano, mariachi and handbells. All the groups have won city state and national honors.

In 1991 Johnston Middle School was chosen by Governor Ann Richards as a school of excellence. To qualify, Johnston students had to score in the top five percent in standardized tests given to all Texas middle school students. Students continue to build upon this legacy of success.