
Author
Logan Johnson
Founder & Data Editor
Builder and data editor of the ByCounty Network. I publish county-level data sourced exclusively from federal agencies — and I am personally accountable for every methodology decision on this site.
Logan Johnson is the founder and data editor of the ByCounty Network — a family of independent data-journalism sites that publish county-level statistics from primary U.S. government sources: U.S. Census ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, USDA, and USASpending.gov.
His role is the data-editor role, not the subject-matter-expert role. He designs the data pipelines that pull each dataset, sets the methodology behind every composite score and ranking, spot-checks AI-generated narratives against the underlying statistics before publication, and signs off on every methodology change. He is not a CPA, physician, criminologist, real-estate broker, or other domain-credentialed professional. The site is a transparent data utility, not a professional advisory service.
When a feature genuinely requires domain expertise — a public-health analyst weighing in on CDC measure choice, a CPA reviewing a property-tax explainer — Logan recruits a named co-byline reviewer rather than fabricating credentials. The reviewer commitment for each site is documented on that site's editorial-standards page, including the recruit status when no domain reviewer is currently in place.
Outside the network, Logan has spent the last several years building data infrastructure for logistics and operations teams — work that translates directly into the pipeline discipline applied here: every statistic on the site is traceable to a primary source, every methodology decision is documented, and every page lists a "Last reviewed" date.
Coverage areas
- NCES Common Core of Data
- per-pupil spending analysis
- graduation-rate methodology
- Census ACS educational-attainment data
- individual-school profile data attribution
Articles by Logan on Schools By County
How to Evaluate School Quality by County: A Data-Driven Guide
A practical guide to evaluating school quality using per-pupil spending, graduation rates, student-teacher ratios, and educational attainment data. Learn what each metric reveals and how to use them for relocation decisions.
Understanding Per-Pupil Spending Across America
Analysis of per-pupil education spending across all US counties. Examines geographic patterns, the relationship between spending and outcomes, funding equity, and what the data means for families evaluating school districts.
Best Counties for Families: A School-Focused Guide
A comprehensive guide combining school quality data with safety, affordability, and health metrics to identify the best US counties for families. Regional analysis, five key questions, and the remote work advantage.
Counties with the Best Schools in America
The 25 US counties with the highest School Scores, ranked by a composite of graduation rate, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, and educational attainment.
Counties with the Highest Graduation Rates
The 25 US counties where students are most likely to graduate high school within four years. Data-driven ranking using NCES adjusted cohort graduation rates.
Best-Funded School Districts by County
The 25 US counties with the highest per-pupil education spending. Where school districts invest the most in each student according to NCES data.
Most Educated Counties in America
The 25 US counties with the highest percentage of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Educational attainment as a window into community culture and long-term prosperity.
Counties with the Worst School Scores
The 25 US counties with the lowest School Scores. An honest look at where school systems face the greatest challenges on graduation, funding, and attainment metrics.
Counties with the Lowest Graduation Rates
The 25 US counties where high school graduation is least likely. Understanding the communities where students face the greatest barriers to completion.
Lowest-Funded School Districts by County
The 25 US counties with the lowest per-pupil education spending. Where school funding falls furthest below the national average and what it means for students.
Best Counties for College-Bound Students
The 25 US counties that best prepare students for college, ranked by a composite of graduation rate and educational attainment. Where high school completion leads to bachelor's degrees.
School Spending vs Graduation Rates: Does Money Matter?
A data-driven comparison of the highest-spending and lowest-spending US counties and their graduation outcomes. What the relationship between funding and results really looks like.