Newton Public School District

The Newton Public School District in New Jersey operates three schools serving grades K-12: Newton High School, Merriam Avenue School, and Halsted Middle School. While the district as a whole has room for improvement, the data reveals some standout schools and notable differences in performance across the grade levels.

Newton High School stands out with relatively high proficiency on English Language Arts tests, a strong graduation rate, and a low dropout rate. In contrast, Merriam Avenue School and Halsted Middle School have more mixed academic performance, with some grades exceeding district and state averages while others fall behind. Notably, Merriam Avenue School has the highest chronic absenteeism rate, which may be contributing to its lower academic outcomes.

Socioeconomic factors also appear to play a role, as Merriam Avenue School and Halsted Middle School have a higher percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch compared to Newton High School. Additionally, the variation in per-student spending across the schools may be a factor in the differences in academic performance, though further analysis would be needed to establish a clear relationship.