Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Mississippi rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Newton County High School

Q: Is Newton County High School a good school?

Newton County High School ranks 59 th of 224 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-12

59^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 224 Mississippi High Schools

Better than 74% of Mississippi high schools

Summary

Newton County High School in Decatur, MS, is a public school serving 768 students in grades 7–12 — the largest school in its local comparison group — and belongs to the Newton County School District, a 5-star district ranked 12th of 134 districts in Mississippi. The school itself ranks 59th of 224 high schools statewide (74th percentile, 4 stars), a significant jump from 95th the prior year, and posts a graduation rate of 93.8%, above the state average of 89.2%. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9% is the lowest among nearby schools, including West Lauderdale High School at 36.8% and Lake High School at 54.8%.

Mathematics is NCHS's clear signature strength. Eighth-grade math proficiency is 84.9% versus 51.4% statewide, and Algebra I proficiency is 85.4% versus 66.0% statewide, trailing only Union High School (86.7%) among nearby schools. Eighth-grade science is similarly strong at 85.8% versus 57.8% statewide, and U.S. History posts 85.4% proficiency. Eighth-grade ELA is solid at 65.1% versus 40.9% statewide, though 7th-grade ELA (32.3%) trails the state average, and English II (52.0%) barely exceeds the state's 49.3%.

The biggest opportunities for growth are English II and Biology. NCHS's English II proficiency of 52.0% trails West Lauderdale (71.1%) and Union (59.4%), while Biology at 68.7% is below Union (78.1%), West Lauderdale (74.7%), and Lake (74.0%). With the lowest chronic absenteeism in the group, a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.7:1, and steady graduation-rate improvement from 86.2% in 2020–21 to 93.8% today, NCHS has strong foundations to build on. Closing the literacy gap and strengthening high-school biology would position this school to join the upper echelon of Mississippi high schools.

768

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,761

Per pupil spending ?

48%

Free/discounted lunch ?

16255 Hwy 503
Decatur, MS 39327

(601) 635-4261

District: Newton County School District

Feeder schools for Newton County High School:

Elementary:

Newton County Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.8%

African American:

21.0%

American Indian:

7.0%

See top rated Mississippi high schools

Compare Newton County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 68th percentile in 2016 → 74th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Mississippi average (66% vs 52% meeting standards)

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the Mississippi average (89%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg66%

Mississippi avg52%

Middle school

42^nd of 260

Mississippi public middle schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

59^th of 224

Mississippi public high schools ?

Top 26%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to top 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 134Newton County School District among Mississippi districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	80.3	42 of 260	83.8%	★★★★☆
2025	86.9	20 of 266	92.5%	★★★★★
2024	81.8	39 of 264	85.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.5	69 of 243	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	66.1	93 of 257	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.5	102 of 257	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.2	64 of 264	75.8%	★★★★☆
2018	80.3	45 of 252	82.1%	★★★★☆
2017	79.9	46 of 272	83.1%	★★★★☆
2016	71.1	70 of 260	73.1%	★★★★☆
2015	64.7	77 of 266	71.1%	★★★★☆
2014	60.7	100 of 264	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	76.7	58 of 269	78.4%	★★★★☆
2012	76.3	51 of 270	81.1%	★★★★☆
2011	75.9	51 of 264	80.7%	★★★★☆
2010	67.1	79 of 255	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.2	82 of 247	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	73.5	55 of 244	77.5%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	71.2	59 of 224	73.7%	★★★★☆
2025	61.9	95 of 232	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.1	86 of 228	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.2	60 of 226	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	63.9	79 of 228	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.3	52 of 231	77.5%	★★★★☆
2019	65.8	68 of 233	70.8%	★★★★☆
2018	62.4	85 of 233	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.8	93 of 237	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.2	74 of 231	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.2	77 of 226	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	44.4	132 of 236	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	70.2	62 of 238	73.9%	★★★★☆
2012	70.0	58 of 241	75.9%	★★★★☆
2011	58.2	106 of 244	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.8	126 of 235	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	65.7	82 of 235	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.7	60 of 235	74.5%	★★★★☆
2007	69.2	67 of 232	71.1%	★★★★☆
2006	67.1	75 of 232	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	73.5	39 of 232	83.2%	★★★★☆
2004	70.1	51 of 232	78.0%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Mississippi (2025-2026) ?

Science86%+28 vs state

Algebra I85%+19 vs state

Mathematics69%+15 vs state

Biology69%+6 vs state

English Language Arts53%+11 vs state

English II52%+3 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Newton County High School and help other families decide.

Rate Newton County High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Newton County High School

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MAAP English Language Arts (2026)			MAAP Mathematics (2026)			MAAP Algebra I (2026)	MAAP English II (2026)	MAAP Science (2026)	MAAP Biology (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAAP Algebra I End of Course	MAAP English II End of Course	MAAP Science 8th Grade	MAAP Biology End of Course	Total
Newton County High School	Public	6-12	16255 Hwy 503	Decatur	39327	Newton County	Newton County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 635-4261	768	65	11.7	48.0%	521 (67.8%)	161 (21.0%)	18 (2.3%)	6 (0.8%)	54 (7.0%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.9%)	71.2	59^th of 224 public high schools	73.7%		61.9	95^th of 232 public high schools	59.1%	36	60.7	32.3	65.1	60.7	59.4	84.9	85.4	52.0	85.8	68.7	$11,761
Newton County Vocational Complex	Public	8-12	15935 Highway 15 North	Decatur	39327	Newton County	Newton County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 635-4138	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Newton High School	Public	9-12	201 W. First Street	Newton	39345	Newton County	Newton Municipal School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 683-2232	237	24	9.8	79.3%	4 (1.7%)	219 (92.4%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.8%)	48.8	117^th of 224 public high schools	47.8%		21.2	179^th of 232 public high schools	22.8%	62							77.3	37.0		61.7	$14,802
Newton Municipal Career Center	Public	8-12	203 W. First Street	Newton	39345	Newton County	Newton Municipal School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 683-6338	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Union High School	Public	9-12	101 Forest Street	Union	39365	Neshoba County	Union Public School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 774-8257	280	30	9.2	98.9%	205 (73.2%)	65 (23.2%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	82.8	24^th of 224 public high schools	89.3%		84.2	24^th of 232 public high schools	89.7%								86.7	59.4		78.1	$14,479
Lake High School	Public	9-12	24442 Hwy 80	Lake	39092	Scott County	Scott County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 775-3248	231	11	20.8	98.7%	107 (46.3%)	101 (43.7%)	7 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.5%)	71.9	54^th of 224 public high schools	75.9%		58.8	106^th of 232 public high schools	54.3%	52							71.7	56.1		74.0	$13,946
West Lauderdale High School	Public	9-12	9916 West Lauderdale Road	Collinsville	39325	Lauderdale County	Lauderdale County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 737-2277	535	40	13.3	36.8%	387 (72.3%)	101 (18.9%)	17 (3.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.9%)	79	31^st of 224 public high schools	86.2%		80.3	40^th of 232 public high schools	82.8%	9							73.2	71.1		74.7	$10,519

Frequently Asked Questions about Newton County High School

What schools feed into Newton County High School?

Newton County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Newton County Elementary School

How many students attend Newton County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 768 students attended Newton County High School.

Is Newton County High School a good school?

Newton County High School ranks 59^th of 224 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Newton County High School?

Students at Newton County High School are 68% White, 21% African American, 7% American Indian, 2% Hispanic.

What district is Newton County High School in?

Newton County School District

Rate Newton County High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MSMississippi High School Rankings

MSMississippi District Rankings

Schools in Decatur, MS

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Newton County High School!

Latest Mississippi data All new data »

2025–26 MAAP test scoresNewAug 21, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataSep 26, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 26, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesSep 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.