Newton South High School

In the 2007-8 school year Newton South had 1,781 students, its largest enrollment ever. It was only about 100 students smaller than Newton North. The gap in enrollment between the two has closed considerably in recent years. In 1972, North had 2,976 students, compared to 1,462 at South. But beginning in 2002, the renovation and expansion of South has allowed a more balanced distribution.

Newton South students come from Brown and Oak Hill middle schools, which sit side-by-side on a neighboring property.

The building

Newton South was built in 1960 when the city's post-World War II growth spurt overwhelmed the existing single high school.

The South High student body is divided into four administration units known as houses. Students stay in their house for all four years. The houses are Goldrick, Wheeler, Cutler, and Goodwin.

The school is made up of several interconnected "buildings." Building 1 is Goldrick House, which contains the History and Social Sciences Department and a nursery school. Building 2 is Wheeler House, which contains the English Department and some math and science rooms; Building 3 is the science wing. Building 4 is Cutler House, which also contains the Math and Science departments. Building 5 is the field house and associated classrooms. Building 6 is Goodwin House, along with the World Language department. Building 7 houses the cafeteria and the college and career resource room, Building 8 is the administrative section, and Building 9 is the arts wing and the Van Seasholes Auditorium.

Rooms at Newton South follow a simple code: the first digit tells the building number, the second digit tells the floor, and the last two digits are the room number.

The new Newton South

Newton South was extensively renovated beginning in the year 2000, at a cost of $59.9 million, at least $2 million over budget. A new wing was added and almost all of the old school rebuilt. In addition to new classrooms, a field house was added containing an indoor track. The project suffered a host of problems that delayed the finish from the initial completion date of June 2004 until 2008. The delays were exacerbated by legal battles after the city fired Peabody Construction of Braintree for shoddy work in 2006.

Some work not included in the original project, like rebuilding the school's playing fields and outdoor track, remains unfinished.

The renovation included a number of "green" features aimed at energy efficiency and water conservation. A 60 kW solar array was installed on the field house roof and on a south-facing field house awning, sensors dim lights when adequate daylight is present, and occupancy sensors turn lights off when rooms are not in use. There is also a collection system that recycles rainwater for toilet flushing. Officials say the enhancements are expected to save more than $200,000 a year.

In June 2008 a flood caused by a broken temperature control damaged 12 renovated classrooms in Goodwin House.

Student body

In the 2007-8 school year Newton South had 1,781 students in grades 9-12. Boys outnumber girls 51% to 49%, and the student body is about 30% minority.

Here is the breakdown:

Newton South has a dropout rate of less than one student in 100, well below the state average of 3.8 per 100. On an average day 5% of students are absent, and the typical student misses 8.2 school days a year, significantly below the state average of 9.3 absences a year.

The graduation rate of 98% is significantly above the state average of 80.9%.

Some 87% of Newton South students attend college after graduating. Here are the latest figures on post high-school plans of Newton South graduates:

Academics

The Newton South Speech Team has had many finalists and champions at prominent national tournaments in recent years. It was the top-scoring public school in Massachusetts at the State Finals in 2006,and again in 2007. In 2008, it won the State Championship. The Newton South Mock Trial team won the state championship in 2008.

Newton South has one of the strongest performing arts programs in that state. The Jazz Band won a gold medal performing in the lAJE Jazz Festival in both 2006 and 2007. The Newton South Madrigals won a gold medal at the MICCA chorus festival in 2008.

The school's Science Team competes regularly in championships like the National Ocean Science Bowl, the State Olympiad. Newton South's team finished first at a two-person team-based enineering competition sponsored by Boston University in June 2007. The Science Team finished first in the Western Suburban Science League and fourth in the state Science Olympiad for the 2005-2006 season. They then went on to finish third in state during the 2006-2007 season.

South hosts an annual speech competition among sophomores, in which each student must give a five or six minute speech on a topic of his or her choice. The competition starts in individual English classes. Winners at that level must then deliver their speeches to a panel of English teachers. The top six in the second round advance to the finals, where they deliver their speech to the entire grade, as well as teachers, administrators, and parents.

Newton South consistently ranks among the top in the state and the nation on the SATs and other standardized tests. In 2006 Newton South's combined SAT score ranked it in the top 10 among the 349 public high schools statewide.

Students also do significantly better than the state average on the annual MCAS statewide assessment tests given to sophomores. Here are the most recent scores:

Athletics

Newton South offers 30 varsity sports in three season, Fall, Winter, and Spring. Many sports field varsity and junior varsity teams, and some also field a freshman team. Most sports compete in the Dual County League.

Here are the sports:

Fall sports

Football (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Boys Soccer (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls Soccer (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls Field Hockey Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls Volleyball (Varsity, Junior Varsity)
Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country
Golf
Dance Team

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls Basketball (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls Gymnastics
Boys Ice Hockey
Girls Ice Hockey
Boys Indoor Track
Girls Indoor Track
Skiing, Nordic
Skiing, Alpine
Boys Swimming
Girls Swimming
Boys Wrestling

Spring Sports

Boys' Baseball (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls' Softball (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Boys' Lacrosse (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Girls' Lacrosse (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman)
Boys' Tennis (Varsity, Junior Varsity)
Girls' Tennis (Varsity, Junior Varsity)
Boys' Volleyball (Varsity, Junior Varsity)
Boys' Outdoor Track
Girls' Outdoor Track

The Department is headed by Athletic Director Scott Perrin, and Secretary Barbara Castoldi.

Newton South's Cross Country and Track and Field teams have enjoyed enormous success since Steven McChesney took control of the programs. The teams are now coached by Newton South and Boston College Alumni Matt Capstick and by McChesney, an All-American in high school and at Oregon State. The girls cross country team won the 2008 state championship, and were the top-ranked team in New England and in the top 10 nationwide. The girls track team won the outdoor Dual County League, Massachusetts Division I, and All-State titles. They finished second in MIAA Division 1 indoor championship.

The football team plays rival Lincoln-Sudbury in the traditional Thanksgiving Day Game.

During the mid and late 1990s, the boys tennis team, lead by Coach Dr. Edward "Doc" Jackson, appeared in three consecutive state finals, winning the state championship in 1997. From 1995 to 1998 10 players from these teams were named Boston Globe All-Scholastics or Boston Herald All-Stars, or both.

The boys basketball team, led by Coach Joe Killilea, reached the Division 1 South final during the 2001-2002 season, posting one of the best seasons in school history.

In 2006, the gymnastics team was a Cinderella story, reaching the state finals and placing well. The team was featured in the Boston Globe for their unprecedented success.