Massachusetts public high school

Newton South High School

Newton school district

overall grade

Ranks #22 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 7%.

Overall rank

#22

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1303+212 vs MA

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

99%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

92%+19 vs MA

MA average 72%

SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.

Newton is an affluent suburban city located immediately west of Boston, known for its tree-lined neighborhoods and strong emphasis on education. The city is divided into thirteen distinct villages, each with its own character, and is home to Boston College's main campus. Newton has long been recognized as one of the most desirable communities in the Boston area, with a highly educated population and a rich history dating back to its founding in 1688.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: SAT scores, in the top 2% statewide. The average SAT score is 1303, vs 1091 at the typical MA high school.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 18% in 2022 to 12.3% in 2025.
Trend: ELA MCAS is down 10 points since 2023 (83% to 73%); statewide it fell 13 points.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Excellenttop 7% · #22

SAT

Excellenttop 2% · #6

ELA MCAS

Above averagetop 12% · #37

Math MCAS

Excellenttop 8% · #23

AP results

Above averagetop 11% · #32

Graduation

Above averagetop 11% · #35

College plans

Above averagetop 15% · #47

The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank

SAT

Average total score1303in 2025 · MA avg 1091

212 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

646

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

657

MA avg

535

542 students took the SAT.

"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.

MCAS (10th grade)

Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts73%in 2026 · state 45%

28 points above the state

Math81%in 2026 · state 44%

37 points above the state

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)516 · 522 · —

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)91st · 96th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)53 · 59

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+91%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

25 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 39%Score 4: 36%Score 3: 17%Score 2: 7%Score 1: 2%

660 students took 1,512 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Better than average

This school

80.4%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesBetter than average

This school

96.8%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate99%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

7 points above the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classBetter than average

This school

0.2%

MA avg

4.3%

0.9% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college92%in 2025 · state 72%

19 points above the state

Graduates' plans · 464 graduates

4-year private college

54.1%

4-year public college

33.8%

Other / unknown

4.1%

2-year public college

Work

2.2%

Students

Who attends

White

55.7%

Asian

25.2%

Hispanic/Latino

Multi-Race

6.2%

Black/African American

3.8%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%

48.8% female · 50.6% male · 0.6% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityLower than average

This school

29%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeLower than average

This school

11.3%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

2.7%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

96.4%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersBetter than average

This school

81.4%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldAbout average

This school

86%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

11.6MA avg 11.8

163 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

94.7%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average

This school

12.3%

MA avg

22.3%

9.4 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 0.6% out-of-school, 0.4% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Newton

Middlesex County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95

Avg single-family home value$1.76MMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$17,077MA median $6,814

Tax rate$9.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$172,729MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school77.1%

Town bond ratingAAA

Free cash reserves3.3% of budget

Newton district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.