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Public high school · Newton · Newton Centre, Massachusetts

Newton South High

Newton South High rates 9.1, right at the middle of Newton's high schools, whose rated median is 8.8.

High schools, 1 to 10This campus against public high schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
9.1this school

9.1 on a one-to-ten scale; the Newton median is 8.8.

#81 of 1,793 schools in Massachusetts · Newton: 2 high schools rated, median 8.8

The brief

A high school in Newton Centre, MA where students score 77 points above what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 81 of 1,793 schools in Massachusetts and 8 of 22 in Newton.

Newton South High is listed in Newton, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math81%36 points above the Massachusetts average of 45%Grade 10 · 441 students tested · 2026 MCAS
Reading73%26 points above the Massachusetts average of 47%Grade 10 · 444 students tested · 2026 MCAS
Proficiency has fallen 8 points since 2023, to 77% in 2026, across a 8-year record (2019–2026).2026 MCAS; 47 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
8.4
25% of the rating
Academics
9.8
25% of the rating
College Readiness
9.0
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
9.4
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2026

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, an estimate, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named here.

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 89% (multi-year average, 2009-2026) · reading/ELA 88% (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2026 MCAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2026 MCAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2026 MCAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2026 MCAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 02459; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2026; directory SY 2023–24

About our dataHow we calculate scores

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Newton South High and the 20 nearest high schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

Open the Boston school map to see school quality against home prices across the metro.

The area

Median income
$214,941
Median home value
$1,336,200
Median rent
$2,308/mo
College educated
84.3%
Homeownership
83.3%
Poverty rate
3.4%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02459; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
37
Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27
Some Transit
Bike Score
29
Somewhat Bikeable
County reported crime
1,110/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 county residents, counting every city police department, sheriff's office and county police department that reported a full year to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program. Shown only where those agencies cover at least 80% of the county's residents. Not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

AP and IB
3 AP courses
29.9% participation · state average 2.9 AP courses · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM courses
5 of 5
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. Newton South Highthis school
    9.1
  2. Needham High3.0 mi
    8.8Compare →
  3. Newton North High2.4 mi
    8.6Compare →
  4. Lyon High School2.9 mi
    4.8Compare →
Three grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and none rates higher than Newton South High.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

The public record

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

Questions families ask

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 #81 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Newton South High's MySchoolScout rating?

Newton South High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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, 2009-2026) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

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.

School facts

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,861
Student-teacher ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
150
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Small City
County
Middlesex County
Phone
(617) 559-6700
4-year graduation
99%+
Class of 2023
Rank in district
#8 of 22
Schools in district
22
District spending per student
$27,226
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
3.9%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 02459)
18,604
Area average commute
28.3 min
Area median age
45.9

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Sources and official links

Keep exploring

Related reading

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.