Newport Senior High School

We recently moved to Newport and have been surprisely pleased at the level of academics and activities available. Most teachers care about their students and the staff that we've encountered have been professional. They have a strong fine arts program, athletics teams aren't the strongest but if you just want to have fun it's perfect. Academics is a stong point of Newport, there's plenty of opportunity for college preparation or other career tracks.
--Submitted by a parent

If you fit into either the 'smart prep/jock' category, or the '5 APs a semester' category, you will excel. If not, well too bad for you. As long as you sign up for APs, they'll like you! I had a girl who is very mentally challenged just switch into my World History class from AP World. I'm not sure why they had her sign up for AP. AP isbn't for the smart kid, it's for the average one. Most people don't really know why they're taking APs, I felt like there was actually some manipulation to try to get us to take 'the AP route'. Newport has a great rep, but honestly, I don't think this can be very balanced. Some very good teachers, but also some very poor. Administration is very concerned with the school's status.
--Submitted by a student

although I know that there will always be good teachers and mediocre teachers, it seems like Newport has lowered its standards in hiring or in monitoring the quality of their teachers. Quite a few of the teachers do not even have any concept of keeping the students interested in the class, let alone engage them to be more interested in learning. I know its a public school, but it is still incumbent upon the teacher to have an open communication line between the student and the parents if there is a need for improvement. We just have not seen this at all. We had very high expectations from NHS, but are now quite disappointed.
--Submitted by a parent

Extremely weak eclectic curriculum and instructional materials, poor presentation, especially in math and science. Teachers don't understand elementary laws and patterns of human learning, let alone any advanced pedagogical techniques. Adherence to discovering/minimum instruction method : no explanations provided, just activities to do from the book, which doesn t have any explanations either. Then teachers just register who managed to get it and who didn t. Horrific failure rates the administration refuses to disclose. Teachers have in their contract a right to not post grades for FIVE WEEKS! They constantly lose submitted assignments and then give students Fs for them. No way to prove that it was not student s fault. No communication to parents about problems except in final grade reports. No graded papers allowed to be taken home come and see them during your work day if you want and can. Unethical behavior of some teachers, insulting and psychologically traumatizing students.
--Submitted by a parent

Our children were B students yet were extremely well prepared for college by Newport. Our son, who graduated with a 2.6, just registered for college and earned an entire semester of credit for his AP work. Nice. Our daughter graduated with a 3.0 and now carries a 3.7 in college. She noticed immediately as a freshman the incredible quality of her preparation compared to her classmates. What students perceive as harsh discipline I would characterize as consistent and objective leadership. The environment is calm and well-managed, and we have not had the problems that other schools have had. Newport has an award-winning PTSA. Its annual Ski Swap has been the best of its kind for over twenty years. Bellevue's other high schools are also excellent. You can find the same curriculum at much smaller neighboring schools, which can be less intimidating and better able to provide a highly personal educational experience.
--Submitted by a parent

Newport High School have great programs in any field of academics a public high school can offer. Students are highly motivated in all areas--sports, arts, music, and academics. There are so many students taking AP classes and still manage to be well-rounded in other areas as well. Teachers are very supportive and almost all of them are willing to help students outside the class hour (the half hour after school). Newport High School is one of few high schools that really pushes all the students to try their best.
--Submitted by a student

Great School! Its pretty big but there is always a lot going on. Not too cliquey, tons of academic, extracurricualr and athletic oppurtunities. K-N-I-G-H-T-S Newport Knighs are the Best!
--Submitted by a student

Of course this school is hard! Its job is to prepare you for the real world. The classes are tough and there's the AP push to improve the school's image. Yet the teachers (most anyways) are extremely supportive and experianced. Both the admin and student ASB leave much to be desired, but the sports program is great. If your self-motivated child would thrive in a highly competative and large student body, Newport is the place for you! Go Knights!
--Submitted by a student

If your student loves music but also wants to focus on academics, go to Newport.
--Submitted by a parent

Newport is best for the arts overall and probably for academics. There is less pressure to be popular and fashionable than at Bellevue, HS. For sports, it depends: Bellevue has football, basketball, but Newport has soccer, gymnastics, baseball, cross-country. Volleyball and swimming depends on the year. There are some incredible teachers and many fine ones who all care deeply about their students and their profession. Unfortunately, the administration leaves a lot to be desired; they have become more autocratic every year, with little regard for student stress levels or individuality. Student culture is not valued; there is a tendency to punish with a heavy hand. AP classes can be dangerous territory for many families: getting out of one when a student is over their head is just about impossible. Any counselor who shows a pattern of sympathy letting kids switch out of AP is shipped out to a lesser school.
--Submitted by a parent