The Principal of Newton South High School serves as the instructional and operational leader of a comprehensive high school (grades 9–12), responsible for ensuring high levels of academic achievement, equitable access to rigorous learning, and a safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive school environment.
Grounded in the district's mission “Every student, every day, nurtured, challenged and empowered,” while fostering integrity, civic responsibility, and respect for all, the Principal leads continuous improvement aligned with Massachusetts DESE Standards I–IV.
The Principal uses data-driven decision-making to sustain strong outcomes (e.g., high MCAS performance and graduation rates) while addressing persistent opportunity gaps across student groups.
The Principal will be expected to lead improvement efforts focused on the following key areas identified in the school’s data:
- Access to advanced coursework is improving, but subgroup gaps remain. Overall, advanced coursework completion increased significantly to 80.4% . However, participation remains lower among students with disabilities ( 42.4% ), low-income students ( 52.0% ), Hispanic/Latino students ( 59.1% ), and English Learners/former English Learners ( 66.0% ), despite strong year-over-year growth for each subgroup.
- Graduation outcomes are exceptionally strong overall and across most subgroups: The overall four-year graduation rate is 98.7% , with Hispanic/Latino students at 97.4% , English Learners at 95.5% , and students with disabilities at 96.6% .
- Grade 9 and student success indicators are generally strong, though some opportunity gaps persist: Accountability data shows strong academic growth and achievement overall, but lower outcomes continue for some high-needs populations, particularly students with disabilities and low-income students in areas such as chronic absenteeism and achievement growth. Students with disabilities had a chronic absenteeism rate of 25.1% , compared to 12.3% overall.
- Accountability performance remains high overall: Newton South is performing at a very high academic level, with a 97th-percentile accountability rating . However, DESE identified the district/school for targeted support related to participation rates among students with disabilities and English Learners/former English Learners. Continued focus is needed on equitable access, subgroup participation, and reducing chronic absenteeism among high-needs student groups.
The Principal will lead targeted strategies to ensure equitable access, opportunity, and outcomes for all student groups, consistent with district and DESE priorities.
