Newton Independent School District (Isd)

The Newton Independent School District (Isd) serves 934 students across three schools—Newton Elementary, Newton Middle, and Newton High School—in a rural Texas area where a high percentage of students (over 72%) are economically disadvantaged, and the district ranks in the 18th percentile statewide.

Among the three schools, Newton High School stands out for its remarkable stability and outcomes, boasting a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate despite the high poverty levels. Its state ranking has remained consistent between the 21st and 25th percentile over three years, and it shows the strongest relative performance in Biology and English II. In contrast, Newton Middle is the most volatile school: its 8th graders have outperformed the state average in math for two consecutive years (53.85% proficient vs. 47.24% state), yet 6th and 7th grade math proficiency plummets to as low as 9.09%. Newton Elementary faces the biggest challenges, with the lowest test scores in the district and a declining star rating, as students enter middle school already significantly behind.

Key metrics reveal a district investing heavily in students—with low student-teacher ratios (as low as 9.1:1 at the high school) and above-average per-student spending (up to $17,529 at the high school)—yet test scores remain below state averages, especially in math. The most compelling takeaway is the "8th Grade Math Miracle" at the middle school, which proves the district can achieve math proficiency and offers a potential model for improvement. Meanwhile, the high school's perfect graduation rate serves as a beacon of hope, showing that despite academic deficits entering high school, students are supported to completion. The district's biggest opportunity lies in replicating the middle school's 8th-grade math success across all grade levels.