Mission Statement, Beliefs, History, & Profile

Mission Statement

It is the mission of Newton High School to focus all of its resources on the
effort to provide every child every chance to succeed.

*****EVERY CHILD - EVERY CHANCE*****

Beliefs

1. Students learn.  What they learn is our concern.

2. Responsible citizenship demands enlightened participation.

3. Quality instruction and high expectations for students' achievement are responsibilities
   of teachers.

4. Education is best pursued in a safe, well-structured, and  stimulating environment.

5. Students should be prepared for lifelong learning.

6. Self-reliance and cooperation are teachable.

7. Educational research should be monitored in the effort to improve instruction.

8. Parents are crucial in the formation of students' attitudes.

9. Every student should have the opportunity for self-improvement.

The History of Newton High School

Newton High School was established in 1949. The original building was located on Newton Dr. where the Newton County Central Office is now located.  At this time, this was the only high school in Newton County.  Due to student growth, Newton County passed a bond referendum and started construction at our present site.  The property that Newton High School rests on was donated by the Bibb Manufacturing Company.  The Board of Education began construction in the school year 1972-73 and the school opened its doors to students in August of 1974-75. The first graduating class from this site was June of 1978.

For 25 years this school served as this county's only high school.  Enrollment at this time was 2300 students. Another bond referendum was passed and Eastside High School opened its doors in August 1994.  As one of two high schools in Newton County, we currently serve sixty percent of the high school students.  Our projected enrollment for the school year 2004-2005 will be approximately 2300 students. Newton County passed another bond referendum and started construction of it's newest high school slated to open in 2006.

Awards for Newton High School 

• Newton High is recognized by the State Department of Education as a State School of Excellence.

• Newton High was recognized by the United States Board of Education as a National School of Excellence in 1987.

• Newton High School is also recognized from the United States Department of Education as a Drug Free School.

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Profile

School Facts:

Type:     Public, four-year comprehensive high school for grades 9-12

Total Enrollment:     2236
Ethnic breakdown for 2006-2007 is 66% African American, 30% Caucasian, 2%  Hispanic, 1% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1% Interracial.

Size of 12th Grade Class:     537

CEEB-ACT Code Number:     110905

Accreditation:     Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar:     Two 90-day semesters

Community:     The school is located southwest of Covington and thirty-two miles  southeast of Atlanta.  It is one of two schools serving high school age students in the county and its municipalities.  The county can be characterized as rural with a population of 62,000.  The area is experiencing a strong surge of growth as the population of Atlanta moves eastward. The 2001-2002 Newton High School population includes young people from China, Columbia, Cuba, Germany, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Thailand, and Ukraine.  Faculty members include teachers born in France, Nevis, India, Paraguay, and Thailand.

Staff:

Principal:  Joe Gheesling
Assistant Principals: Tracey Curtis, Victor Lee, Dr. Carl Skinner, Christina Sneed, & Dr. Hilda McKithen,

Registrar:  Gene Gaillard

Guidance Staff:

Guidance Department Chairperson:......................................................Francene Breakfield
College Admission and Financial Aid Advisor:...............................Dr Shelley Lawyer
9th Grade Student Success Coordinator:........................................Dr. Jacqueline Pennington
Counselors - Rita Hector, Francene Breakfield, Katrina Rucker, and Veronica Bridges
Additional Transcript Information:    Records Secretary - Grades 10-12 - Serafina Sicurella and Grade 9 - Christina Ledford

Marking System and Related Procedures:
Grading Scale:   A = 90-100  B = 80-89  C = 75-79  D = 70-74  NC = No Credit  P/F = Pass Fail

Promotion Policy:     To enter:
                                                10th Grade - 5 Carnegie Units
                                                11th Grade - 11 Carnegie Units
                                                12th Grade - 16 Carnegie Units

Method of Computing GPA:     Non-weighted numerical average of all courses taken with an exception. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the numerical grades in 11th grade Advanced Placement Program (AP) and Post Secondary Options (PSO) courses of the core academic courses will be weighted. Final recorded averages will include a multiplier of 5% added to the grade earned.

Policy on Reporting Class Rank to Colleges:     Rank available upon requests; based upon cumulative GPAs of the entire class.

Graduation Requirements:     In addition to completing required coursework for individual programs of study, a minimum of 22 units are required for a diploma.  Certificates are awarded to pupils who earn 22 units of credit but do not meet all other requirements for the diploma.

Exceptions:     Home school, foreign exchange, and students from non-accredited schools (as defined by local board policy) receive pass/fail grades for transferred work.

Georgia High School Graduation Test:    Writing / Language Arts / Math / Social Studies / Science

Post Secondary Options and Joint Enrollment:    Post secondary options and joint enrollments are offered to juniors and seniors interested in attending college and high school during the same semester.

Academic Highlights -

National Merit, Georgia Scholar and Hope Scholarship Competition:

The Class of 2004-05 included 1 U.S. Senate Youth Program Scholarship, 1 National Merit Special Scholarship. and 1 Georgia Scholar.  Of the 231 graduates, 119 qualified with a "B" core average or better for Georgia's Hope Scholarship to postsecondary institutions.  The Class of 2004 included 1 AP Scholar with Distinction, 2 AP Scholars, 1 National Merit Special Scholarship, 1 Merit Semifinalist, 1 Achievement Semifinalist and 118 of 240 May graduates who were Hope Scholars.  The Class of 2004 included 2 Merit Commended students, 1 Georgia Scholar and 113 of 217 May graduates who were Hope Scholars.

Partial List of Out-of-State Schools Accepting Recent NHS Graduates:

Auburn University, Bard College, Baylor University,  Beloit College, Boston University, Clemson University, The Citadel, Davidson College, Dillard University, Duke University, Florida A&M University, Franklin & Marshall College, Furman University, Grambling State University, Grinnell College, Hampton University, Harvard University, Haverford College, The Johns Hopkins University, Johnson & Wales, Maryville College, Marymount Manhatten, Mt. Holyoke College, New York University, Northwestern University, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State University, Presbyterian College, Princeton University, Rice University, Smith College, Stanford University, Trinity University, Tulane University, Tuskegee University, United States Air Force Academy, United States Naval Academy, University of Alabama, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania, University of Richmond, University of Tennessee, University of Texas-Austin, University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, Wake Forest University, West Point Academy, Woffard College, Xavier College, and Yale University.

Honors Courses and AP Offerings:

Offerings include Advanced, Quest, and Advanced Placement level classes.  Program Quest is a special program for the intellectually gifted.  It is composed of courses in Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science which are taught on an advanced /enriched level and which parallel the regular school curriculum.  Advanced Placement offerings include American Literature, American History, Biology, Calculus, Computer Science, Economics, European History and Latin.

Course Identification System:

The first digits of course numbers indicate the department in which the credit is given

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