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Excellent

#41 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 2% in state

Newton South High

High School · Newton

140 Brandeis Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Enrollment

1,861

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

9.4

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#41 of 1,793

In Newton Centre

#3 of 7

public schools

In district

#4 of 22

Newton

Equity

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Newton South High

9.4/10

High School in Newton Centre · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Oak Hill Middle

8.6/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Charles E Brown Middle

9.4/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Newton South High

Newton South High is a public high school in Newton Centre, MA, part of Newton. Newton South High serves approximately 1,861 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Newton South High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #41 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Newton South High show 89% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Newton South High

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Newton South High School is led by Principal Tamara Stras 1 . The school operates within the Newton Public Schools district, which utilizes a "Portrait of a Learner" framework emphasizing adaptability, communication, critical thinking, empathy, and a learner's mindset 1 . The district is governed by a nine-member School Committee, comprising one elected representative from each of Newton's eight wards and the Mayor as an ex-officio member 1 . Parent involvement is coordinated through the Newton Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Council, an umbrella group for all 22 PTOs in the city 1 . The Newton Schools Foundation supports the district by funding classroom innovations, teacher professional development, and equity programs 1 . Additionally, Newton Community Education offers self-sustaining learning and enrichment opportunities 1 . The district is currently engaged in facilities renovation and renewal, with four projects recently completed and four others in design or construction 1 . A Facilities and Enrollment Planning Study is also underway to guide future building projects 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. nshs.newton.k12.ma.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 9.1
  • MA avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.2Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change+0.12 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.8Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency84% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency79% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+38.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+27 pts
Overall Proficiency82% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+26.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile98th
College Readiness9.1Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate99%+
AP Participation29.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,226
Chronic Absenteeism12.3%

Newton South High — Students at Newton South High score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 89.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.0% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)
ELA Proficiency 88.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.6% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)

Based on 44 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
95%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
96%
2012
Math
95%
ELA
99.5%
2013
Math
93%
ELA
96%
2014
Math
96%
ELA
97%
2015
Math
94%
ELA
98%
2016
Math
95%
ELA
97%
2017
Math
96%
ELA
99.5%
2018
Math
85%
ELA
79%
2019
Math
85%
ELA
79%
2020*
Math
87%
ELA
88%
2021*
Math
87%
ELA
88%
2022
Math
80%
ELA
79%
2023
Math
86%
ELA
83%
2024
Math
85%
ELA
86%
2025
Math
84%
ELA
79%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.2/10.

How Newton South High Compares

See how Newton South High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.4/10
98th percentile in MA
Academic
9.8/10
Excellent
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.9
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
150 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.3%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
29.9% participation·State avg: 2.9 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

140 Brandeis Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Newton South High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Chestnut Hill), a more accessible option. Another option is NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Newton), a more accessible option. Additionally, MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Newton), a more accessible option. For more schools in Newton Centre, see our Newton Centre schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Oak Hill Middle Newton Centre 0.4 mi 8.6
Charles E Brown Middle Newton Centre 0.4 mi 9.4
Bowen Newton Centre 0.5 mi 7.3
Memorial Spaulding Newton Centre 1.0 mi 9.5
Countryside Newton Highlands 0.8 mi 8.2
WELLAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Newton 1.1 mi 8.1
BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.1 mi 7.9
Mason-Rice Newton Centre 1.4 mi 8.6
SOLOMON SCHECHTEE DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.6 mi 6.1
SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.7 mi 7.1
THE CHESTNUT HILLSCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.5 mi 8.4
B C CAMPUS SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.6 mi
John Ward Newton Centre 1.9 mi 9.0
BRIMMER & MAY SCHOOL Chestnut Hill 1.5 mi 7.6
MOUNT ALVERNIA ACADEMY Chestnut Hill 1.8 mi 5.8
MT ALVERNIA HIGH SCHOOL Newton 2.1 mi 7.1
FUSION ACADEMY NEWTON Newton 1.6 mi 5.3
Edith C Baker Chestnut Hill 1.6 mi 8.1
NEWTON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newton 2.2 mi 7.7
YESHIVA OHR YISRAEL HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS Chestnut Hill 1.9 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02459 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$214,941

Median Home Value

$1,336,200

Median Rent

$2,308/mo

Population

18,604

College Educated

84.3%

Homeownership

83.3%

Avg Commute

28.3 min

Poverty Rate

3.4%

Median Age

45.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Lexington High Lexington, MA 9.3
Brookline High Brookline, MA 9.1
Algonquin Regional High Northborough, MA 9.0
Concord Carlisle High Concord, MA 9.0
Arlington High Arlington, MA 8.9
Wellesley Sr High Wellesley, MA 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Newton South High

What grades does Newton South High serve?

Newton South High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Newton South High?

Newton South High has an enrollment of approximately 1,861 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Newton South High?

The student-teacher ratio at Newton South High is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Newton South High rank in MA?

Newton South High ranks #41 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Newton South High's MySchoolScout rating?

Newton South High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Newton South High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Newton South High has 89% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Newton South High a charter school?

No, Newton South High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Newton South High a Title I school?

No, Newton South High is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
37 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,861
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
150
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.3%
4-Year Graduation
99%+

District

Newton
District Enrollment
11,752
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,226
District Rank
#4 of 22

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