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Newton Education

Education has been a significant part of Newton since its beginnings in the 1850s. A host of childcare facilities, several schools in the Newton Community School District, one private parochial school and nearby higher education institutions provide above-quality education to students of the Greater Newton area.

Four childcare centers are located in Newton, offering services for infants through 12 years of age. The facilities include the Kindercare Learning Center (Infants six weeks to 12 years), Peck Child Development Center (21/2 years to six years), YMCA Community Center (Infants six weeks to five years) and the YMCA Child Care Center (Infants six weeks to 12 years).

The Newton Community School District consists of one high school (Newton Senior High School) for grades nine through 12, one middle school (Berg Middle School) for students in the seventh and eighth grades, and five primary schools (Aurora Heights, Berg Elementary, Emerson Hough, Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson) offering education for kindergarten through sixth grade. Also available to high school students grades 10 through 12 is Basics and Beyond Alternative School, an alternative education program for students in Newton, Baxter, Bondurant, Colfax, Lynnville-Sully and Pella.

For parents and students interested in receiving a private education, Newton Christian School offers schooling for grades kindergarten through eighth.

Higher learning can be found within the Newton community, with the esteemed institutions of Des Moines Area Community College and Buena Vista University offering top-rate academic programs to local students.

Students of all ages and academic backgrounds attend the Newton Campus of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) for both day and evening classes. Students study traditional arts and science coursework for college transfer programs designed for individuals seeking employment or looking to improve on current skills. With small class sizes, personalized attention from faculty and staff and a friendly learning environment, the Newton Campus of DMACC makes learning accessible to all.

In August of 2002, the Buena Vista University Newton Center opened its doors on the Newton Polytechnic Campus in partnership with the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Since the Center’s inception, enrollments have increased every year. More and more, local students are taking advantage of the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree without having to travel far from home.

Students in search of post-secondary education are also within reach of a few facilities located between 35 and 75 miles from Newton. Iowa State University, situated in Ames, encompasses more than 26,000 students choosing from over 100 degree programs. Among its many top recognitions, Iowa State University has been ranked in the top 50 in public national universities by U.S. News & World Report, and its learning communities have ranked among the top 25 in the country (2005).

College-bound students also have accessibility to Drake University and the University of Northern Iowa. Drake University is a private institution located on a 150-acre campus 10 miles outside of downtown Des Moines. The university offers more than 70 degree programs and boasts a student to teacher ratio of 14:1. The University of Northern Iowa is situated approximately 70 miles away in Cedar Falls/Waterloo and provides education to approximately 14,000 students.