Countryside

ABOUT COUNTRYSIDE
Address: 191 Dedham St.,
Newton Highlands, MA 02461-1314
Phone: 617-559-9450
Fax: 617-552-5583
Grades: K to 5
Principal: Emily Ostrower
Secretary: Karen Hutton
Total students: 447
Total faculty: 34.3
Student/teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Web links: Official site
Countryside PTO

Countryside School is the largest of Newton's 15 elementary schools. It serves Newton Upper Falls and a portion of Newton Highlands.

After 5th grade, Countryside students go to Brown Middle School, and then to Newton South High School.

Countryside was built in 1953, and added onto in 1958 and 1988. Modular classrooms were added as part of renovations in 1991 and 1999. The three-story building has 65,000 square feet.

According to a 2007 report to the School Committee, Countryside is overcrowded by 49 students. The study projected Countryside will grow by 128 students in the next five years, putting its total enrollment over the School Department's self-imposed cap of 500 students for an elementary school.

Countryside is one of the most diverse of Newton schools. It is 60% white, 27% Asian, 5% African-American, and 4% Hispanic. The district average is 70% white and 14% Asian.