Newton County School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Decatur, Mississippi - 2 schools

An equity score of 45/100 ranks Newton County School District #88 of 146 districts in Mississippi (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,887 per pupil, Newton County School District ranks #92 of 148 Mississippi districts by per-pupil spending (Mississippi districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,688
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,887
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Newton County School District operates 2 public schools serving 1,688 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Mississippi. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Newton County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,887 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 148 Mississippi districts by per-pupil spending. See how Mississippi compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 23.6% local, 50.1% state, and 26.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 45/100, ranked #88 of 146 in Mississippi against a state average of 51, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 825:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 31.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 67.9% White, 22.1% African American, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Newton County Elementary School, enrolling 882 students (53% of the district's total enrollment).

Newton County Elementary School accounts for 52.3% of all Newton County School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Newton County School District a distant remainder — means Newton County School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Newton County School District reports 52.6% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Newton County School District student-counselor ratio is 825:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Newton County School District chronic absenteeism rate is 31.8% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

26.3%
Federal
50.1%
State
23.6%
Local

Funding Equity

45
Equity Score
88 / 146
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Newton County School District.

White 67.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%
African American 22.1%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 1.3%
Other 4.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

825:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Newton County School District

School Enrollment
Newton County Elementary School
882
Newton County High School
768

How Newton County School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Mississippi districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Walthall Co School Dist Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lawrence Co School Dist Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Tunica County School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Senatobia Municipal School Dist Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Newton County School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Mississippi

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Desoto Co School Dist
35,003 students · 42 schools · $9,525/pupil
Compare vs Newton County School District →
Rankin Co School Dist
18,720 students · 28 schools · $11,323/pupil
Compare vs Newton County School District →
Jackson Public School District
18,710 students · 54 schools · $13,713/pupil
Compare vs Newton County School District →
Harrison Co School Dist
14,355 students · 24 schools · $11,305/pupil
Compare vs Newton County School District →
Madison Co School Dist
13,162 students · 23 schools · $12,248/pupil
Compare vs Newton County School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Newton County School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Desoto Co School Dist →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Newton County School District?

Newton County School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 1,688 students.

How much does Newton County School District spend per student?

Newton County School District spends $11,887 per student. The district has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #88 in Mississippi.

What is the demographic composition of Newton County School District?

Newton County School District students are 67.9% White, 22.1% African American, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Newton County School District?

Newton County School District has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #88 out of 146 districts in Mississippi.