The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Math. The lowest is 57% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Countryside
Countryside is a regular public elementary school in Newton Highlands serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Newton district, which is one of the larger and more established systems in the Boston metro area. The school occupies a historic Hyde School building at the eastern edge of the Newton Highlands Historic District, a walkable village center with commercial businesses, the Newton Congregational Church, and two MBTA Green Line stations nearby.
The most recent state assessment results show that a majority of Countryside students met or exceeded proficiency standards in math and English language arts. In science, which is tested only at the elementary level, a modest majority of students performed at or above the proficient level. Across all tested subjects together, Countryside’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint when compared with districts across Middlesex County, placing it among the stronger-performing elementary schools in a region known for solid public education. Looking at multi-year trends, math and ELA proficiency have fluctuated from year to year, with a dip during the 2022–23 school year followed by a recovery in the most recent results. Families considering Countryside may want to discuss the school’s approach to supporting consistent achievement with the principal or teaching staff, particularly given that year-to-year swings are more noticeable at small elementary schools than at larger ones.
The student body is diverse in background. White students make up roughly half of enrollment, Asian students about a quarter, and the remainder includes students who are Black, Hispanic, or of two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not reported. Similarly, special education and English learner counts were not available in the data provided; a parent interested in those supports should ask the school directly. The school has no charter or magnet status, and Title I status was not reported. Enrollment size is modest for an elementary school, with a grade-level structure that keeps class groups relatively small.
Newton Highlands itself is an old commuter village that grew rapidly in the 1870s after train service to Boston became reliable. The neighborhood is residential with a small commercial core. It has historic Victorian architecture, a local Village Day festival, and an active village enhancement project aimed at improving sidewalks, streetscape, and public gathering spaces. Major employers are not concentrated in the village; residents typically commute. Housing values are well above national and state averages, and rents are high, consistent with the wider Newton market. The area is served by the Newton public school system, which recently did not have any parent-facing district changes of lasting impact publicly reported.
Because Countryside is a regular elementary school, there is no graduation rate, no data on chronic absenteeism, and no high school course access or discipline records to review. Those metrics simply do not apply at this grade band. What is available shows a school with solid academic results in a desirable commuter suburb with high housing costs. A family that values a walkable village setting, transit access, and a stable district with a history of strong outcomes will find Countryside worth a close look, while families concerned about year-to-year variability in test performance may want to ask how the school addresses continuity in instruction.
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