High Schools in Newton County

Newton County, Georgia is home to three public high schools—Newton High School, Alcovy High School, and Eastside High School—serving grades 9 through 12 within the Newton County school district, which currently ranks in the bottom 20% of Georgia districts.

Eastside High School is the clear standout in this group, ranking in the 40th percentile statewide (2 stars) compared to Newton High School (17th percentile, 1 star) and Alcovy High School (9th percentile, 0 stars). Eastside outperforms its peers in every academic subject, with 25.4% proficiency in Algebra I, 38.2% in Biology, and 32.2% in U.S. History—all well above the district averages. It also boasts the highest graduation rate (93.5%), the lowest dropout rate (1.1%), and a chronic absenteeism rate (20.4%) that is far closer to the state average than its peers. Newton High School sits in the middle, with a solid 91.8% graduation rate and modest test scores, while Alcovy High School trails significantly, showing a dramatic 14-point drop in Algebra I proficiency (from 23.9% to 9.4%) and the highest dropout rate (3.1%) in the county.

All three schools face challenges, particularly with chronic absenteeism—Newton (34.3%) and Alcovy (34.5%) are nearly double the state average—and all fall below state proficiency averages in core subjects. However, Eastside’s success, despite the district’s overall struggles, suggests effective school-level strategies worth noting. Interestingly, Eastside also has the highest per-student spending ($13,952) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (18.9), which may contribute to its edge. For parents, the takeaway is clear: Eastside offers the strongest academic outcomes and attendance record, while Newton provides a reliable graduation pathway, and Alcovy may warrant closer scrutiny given its recent declines.