Summary
Newton Elementary is a small PK-4 school in Newton, TX, serving 359 students within the Newton Independent School District (Isd), where about 79% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school stands out for its low student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7:1, which is much better than nearby Kirbyville Elementary (16.2:1) and Parnell Elementary (15.5:1), and it spends $12,355 per student—over $3,500 more than Kirbyville. After several years of low ratings, the school recently jumped to a 2-star rating (30th percentile) in 2025-2026, a notable improvement from its 1-star status, though its history has been volatile.
A key strength is the school’s performance with Gifted and Talented students, who ranked in the 70th percentile statewide—far above the school’s overall 30th percentile. However, this success doesn’t extend to other groups, as students from low-income backgrounds and those in Special Education both scored at the 27th percentile. Academically, the school shows a clear split between subjects: 3rd-grade Reading (51.11% proficient) nearly matches the state average, but 3rd-grade Math (37.78%) lags behind, and by 4th grade, both Reading (39.06%) and Math (31.25%) fall well below state levels.
Despite its resource advantages, Newton Elementary hasn’t yet outperformed its peers. Kirbyville Elementary, with a higher student-teacher ratio and lower spending, consistently achieves better overall rankings (36th percentile) and test scores, like 61.26% proficiency in 3rd-grade Reading. This suggests Newton’s extra investment isn’t fully translating into academic gains yet, though the recent improvement is a promising sign. Parents should watch for sustained progress, especially in math and for all student groups, to see if the school can build on its current momentum.
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