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Newton-Main-St-ncPhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
B
Schools in Newton · Catawba County Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools

Newton’s public schools outscore 61% of North Carolina districts

In Newton, 58% of tested students are proficient in math, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Newton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#109of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 1 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
58%
▲ 8 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 0 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.8K
▼ 10% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024 · Catawba County Schools
Students per teacher
17.3
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
5,146 students on the public path
In brief

Newton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 336 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Newton’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 61% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 58% across both districts in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Catawba County Schools spends $11,777 per student and Newton-Conover City Schools $13,217, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Newton’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 61% of North Carolina school districts, #109 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 61%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (336)Better than 72%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,276 test results and a graduating class of 1,283 could put Newton anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Newton’s students in the tested grades sat them (8,818 in math, 9,734 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Newton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+
7–86 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A+

Newton runs its own schools through grade 12 (Catawba County Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Newton-Conover City Schools, shared with Conover. Its middle school is in Hickory. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Newton

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Catawba County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 28 schools · 16,003 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$11,777NC $13,045 · FY2024
B
Newton-Conover City SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,654 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 15.0 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$13,217NC $13,045 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Catawba County Schools51%
State average 49.9% · 8246 students tested
Math · PK–12, Catawba County Schools59%
State average 50.8% · 7451 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Newton-Conover City Schools48%
State average 49.9% · 1488 students tested
Math · PK–12, Newton-Conover City Schools55%
State average 50.8% · 1367 students tested

Newton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Newton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
NewtonBCatawba County Schools PK–12 · Newton-Conover City Schools PK–12
ConoverBNewton-Conover City Schools PK–12 · Catawba County Schools PK–12
HickoryBHickory City Schools PK–12 · Catawba County Schools PK–12

All 2 neighbors share Catawba County Schools with Newton for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Newton

11 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Newtonby address
Startown Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B+
540 students16:1Rate it →
South Newton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
328 students15:1Rate it →
North Newton Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
388 students14:1Rate it →
Newton-Conover High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
724 students17:1Rate it →
Discovery High School
High · Grades 9–12
A+
146 students22:1Rate it →
Also serving Newtonin other towns
Newton-Conover Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Conover
B−
559 students15:1Rate it →
Harry M Arndt Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Hickory
B
601 students17:1Rate it →
Jacobs Fork Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8
A−
482 students16:1Rate it →
Mill Creek Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Claremont
B+
477 students16:1Rate it →
Maiden Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Maiden
B
451 students16:1Rate it →
River Bend Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Claremont
B−
450 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Newton’s schools

Are Newton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Newton children attend outscore 61% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #109 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Newton in?

Two districts: Catawba County Schools runs grades PK–12, and Newton-Conover City Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Conover.

Where do Newton kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Newton-Conover High and Discovery High School.

What is Newton’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Catawba County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Newton spend per student?

$11,777 in Catawba County Schools and $13,217 in Newton-Conover City Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Newton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Newton → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.