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Newton County

Mississippi · Public K-12

On the public-school side, Newton County (Mississippi) totals 12 K-12 campuses and roughly 3,634 students. Median household income is around $50,540. The level mix is 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.

7-year change in Newton County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,634
-115 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
9
+1 (+13%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
51%
was 55%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
34%
was 40%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
12
4 districts
Enrollment
3,634
NCES CCD
Median income
$50,540
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.1%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
4
1,885 students
Middle
2
464 students
High
4
1,285 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
NEWTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,650 students · 4 districts in Newton County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Newton County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
60%
Hispanic
2%
Black
32%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
51%
Hispanic
2%
Black
34%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
8%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.1% under 18

Test scores in Newton County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.

See all 8 schools in Newton County ranked by score →

All schools (12)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Newton County Elementary SchoolDecaturElementaryPK-06882·
Newton County High SchoolDecaturHigh07-12768·
Union Elementary SchoolUnionElementaryPK-04410·
Newton Elementary SchoolNewtonElementaryPK-05367·
Union Middle SchoolUnionMiddle05-08286·
Union High SchoolUnionHigh09-13280·
Newton High SchoolNewtonHigh09-12237·
Conehatta Elementary SchoolConehattaElementaryKG-08226·
N H Pilate Middle SchoolNewtonMiddle06-08178·
EAST CENTRAL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLDecaturCombined03-120·
NEWTON COUNTY VOC COMPLEXDecaturCombinedPK-120·
NEWTON MUNICIPAL CAREER CENTERNewtonHigh09-120·

Cities in Newton County

Decatur4 schoolsNewton4 schoolsUnion2 schoolsConehatta1 schoolUnion1 school

About Newton County

Newton County is a compact county of about 21,093 residents in Mississippi. Its public-school system teaches approximately 3,634 students across 12 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $50,540, roughly 19% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 18%.

For a sense of the school types, Newton County comprises 4 elementary schools (1,885 students), 2 middle schools (464), 4 high schools (1,285), and 2 combined or other schools.

NEWTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,650 students across Newton County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 3%: 3,749 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,634 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Newton County opened 1 school, going from 8 to 9. On the demographic side, Black enrollment moved from 40% to 34% over the same window.

On this page, the community for Newton County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Newton County?
There are 12 public K-12 schools in Newton County, Mississippi, with a combined enrollment of about 3,634.
How many high schools are in Newton County?
Newton County, Mississippi has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,285 students.
How many middle schools are in Newton County?
Newton County, Mississippi has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 464 students.
How many elementary schools are in Newton County?
Newton County, Mississippi has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,885 students.
What is the largest school district in Newton County?
NEWTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Newton County, serving approximately 1,650 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
How many people live in Newton County?
Newton County has roughly 21,093 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Newton County?
Median household income in Newton County is $50,540, above the Mississippi average of $49,977. About 18.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Newton County?
Approximately 19.3% of adults 25 and older in Newton County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Newton County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 75.1% of students in Newton County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Mississippi county average of 82.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Newton County schools?
Across Newton County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.0 to 1.

Newton County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data