Newton High School

Newton High School is a large public high school in Covington, Georgia, serving 2,499 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Newton County School District.

Newton High School currently ranks in the bottom quarter of Georgia high schools (379th out of 455), earning a 1-star rating. The school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with 91% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—up sharply from 75.5% just two years prior. The most significant concern is chronic absenteeism: 34.3% of students are chronically absent, nearly double the state average of 17.7% and well above the district's 24.4%. This rate has climbed 62% over three years, from 21.2% in 2022-2023. Academically, Algebra I proficiency sits at just 18.6% versus the state's 48.1%, though Biology (24.5%) and U.S. History (21.9%) are closer to district averages. The school spends $13,131 per student with a student-teacher ratio of 20.2, which is higher than better-performing nearby schools like Walnut Grove High School (15.5 ratio) and Social Circle High School (14.9 ratio).

Despite these academic challenges, Newton High School boasts a remarkable graduation rate of 91.8%—outperforming both the district (90.5%) and the state (87.2%)—and has maintained rates above 91% for five consecutive years. The dropout rate of 1.8% is also better than state and district averages. This graduation-achievement paradox suggests the school effectively supports students through to completion even when test scores lag. Within its district, Newton outperforms Alcovy High School in nearly every metric, though both trail Eastside High School, which serves a less economically disadvantaged population. Compared to nearby schools in other districts, Newton is part of a cluster of underperforming high-poverty schools, including Salem High School and Heritage High School, while more affluent schools like Ola High School achieve proficiency rates three to four times higher. The school's ability to address its attendance crisis while maintaining graduation success will be critical to reversing its downward trajectory.