Total enrollment
3,634
+186 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Newton County
Mississippi · Public K-12
On the public-school side, Newton County (Mississippi) totals 12 K-12 schools and roughly 3,634 students. Median household income is around $50,540. The level mix is 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Newton County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
+1 (+13%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Newton County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 64.3% | #16 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,634 | #36 of 73 | #1,642 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 9 | #34 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.4:1 | #14 of 73 | #674 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 75.1% | #44 of 73 | #598 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 61.4% | #14 of 70 | #495 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Newton County school rankings
Residents
21,093
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
12
4 districts
Enrollment
3,634
students · 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
School enrollment
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 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Newton County Elementary School· 69.5%
- Union High School· 63.8%
- Union Elementary School· 55.0%
- Union Middle School· 54.3%
- Newton County High School· 51.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- N H Pilate Middle School· 24.1%
- Newton High School· 31.0%
- Newton Elementary School· 34.5%
- Newton County High School· 51.8%
- Union Middle School· 54.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County Elementary School | Decatur | Elementary | PK-06 | 882 | · |
| Newton County High School | Decatur | High | 07-12 | 768 | · |
| Union Elementary School | Union | Elementary | PK-04 | 410 | · |
| Newton Elementary School | Newton | Elementary | PK-05 | 367 | · |
| Union Middle School | Union | Middle | 05-08 | 286 | · |
| Union High School | Union | High | 09-13 | 280 | · |
| Newton High School | Newton | High | 09-12 | 237 | · |
| Conehatta Elementary School | Conehatta | Elementary | KG-08 | 226 | · |
| N H Pilate Middle School | Newton | Middle | 06-08 | 178 | · |
| EAST CENTRAL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | Decatur | Combined | 03-12 | 0 | · |
| NEWTON COUNTY VOC COMPLEX | Decatur | Combined | PK-12 | 0 | · |
| NEWTON MUNICIPAL CAREER CENTER | Newton | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Newton County
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 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 5%: 3,448 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,634 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Newton County opened 1 school, going from 8 to 9.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data