Newsome High School in Lithia | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education, and using 2025 Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education.
College Readiness	9/10	The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using 2019 Average SAT score data from Florida Department of Education, using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from Florida Department of Education, and using 2026 demographic data from Florida Department of Education.
Student Growth	7/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Florida Department of Education.

Posted: August 18, 2026

Newsome Highschool has terrible support for children with disabilities and learning struggles. They are only concerned with the top tier students with weighted GPAs of 6 and above. Yes, you heard me correctly. Very high averages but not because of the staff or admin. The high achieving students start in middle school taking accelerated classes and this is the reason for such high GPA. Newsome principal and admin focus on these high achievers and do very little for the average student. If your student is below average, they will be ignored or worse.
The staff is constantly revolving. Teachers and counselors have a very high turnover rate. Many teachers have voiced their concerns about the overcrowding which is an enormous problem the school likes to hide. Very large class rooms, major problems with parking and safety.
Bullying from teachers and admin is another problem the school struggles with, yet hides from public and likes to sweep under the rug. However, parents talk and so do former board members.
This school does not have your childs best interest at heart. Look
elsewhere. There are plenty of other options in the area.

Posted: December 29, 2024

I sent my kids to newsome and its supposed to be a great school !! They favor to the kids in sports to the point where they dont get punished !! One of the assistant principals stared at my daughter outside at lunch so she moved inside and he followed her inside and watched her daily .I'm very disappointed i wanted my kids to be at the best school and my daughter graduated and I took my son out of newsome for this terrible behavior from the assistant principles !!!

Posted: January 11, 2024

We moved here to have our kids attend this great school however time and time again the staff has proven to have flawed procedures. The bathrooms have been closed on and off for years because there is a vaping/drug problem in this school, the school is so over populated that kids just get stuck in any class and then told there are NO options to change classes, all the while still allowing out of county kids in taking over. Counselors wont or cant help kids have somewhat of an enjoyable high school experience with class options or guidance. It is very disappointing that this is what we pay such property high taxes.

Posted: October 29, 2023

Excellent HS that provides exceptional education to our teenagers. We are very pleased with the kind staff and student body who welcomes warmly newcomers and allowed easy transition. We are on the outskirts of the school zone so depend on the school bus system, which had been overall very good.

Posted: August 24, 2023

My daughter so far has spent the very first 2 weeks of her freshmen year here at Newsome, she's told me that the school is amazing, and she loves it! She says it is so much better than middle school and that most of the time she looks forward to going to school now. Last year her 8th grade year, she always used to ask me to skip school every single day, so far, my daughter has spent her first two weeks not even mentioning skipping school. I'm so glad that she finally found a nice school. Her grades a perfect so far, and normally she's a C and B girl, but so far, she's a A and B girl. My daughter does have extreme social anxiety and I told her to make sure her teachers knew that before any presentations, so far, her teachers are supportive of her and make sure that she is comfortable in class. Amazing school!

Posted: October 26, 2021

Before I start is says our school has no officer on duty but we do have a resource officer on location everyday during the entire school day.
We lost students during the year to accidents and suicides and they offered grief counseling during school to anyone who needed it.
I recently graduated from Newsome in the top 2% of my class as well as with my associates degree prior to graduation. I could not have gotten any of that without Newsome and the dual enrollment program that they offer. It is much better than taking an AP class at school as those classes are way harder in work load and you must pass the AP test to even receive credit for college.
Newsome offers tons of clubs and sports for everyone. It was a great way for me to meet some of my favorite people and make memories Ill have forever.
The one complaint I have about Newsome is that its overcrowded which is not as much an issue during class as it is during passing times, pep rallys, and lunch. We had over 3,000 kids in for a pep rally in our gym so you can imagine how hot it can get. (Prior to covid). Lunch was also a find your spot the first day or you might be sitting on the floor outside.
I loved most of my teachers. I never had one that I hated. You can tell which ones truly love their job and it shows in how they interact with their students. I liked all of our APs during my time there as well as my guidance counselor. As for the APs they were slightly annoying when we tried to plan things for the school like spirit week etc because certain ideas were not allowed. We were still able to make the best of it and they helped us have a great senior year even though covid kind of took it all away.
As for parking, our school is overcrowded so currently there arent enough spots for all jr and sr. How it works is seniors get first pick of passes and then what is left is first come first serve to the juniors. I got a pass both years with no problem. If you have an ojt class or a dual enrollment reason that you leave school early and you didnt get a pass, the school works with you to get one.
Guidance sends out tons of information on volunteer and scholarship opportunities through canvas.
I really enjoyed my time at Newsome and all of the people I met. The experience is different for everyone but its mostly a positive one. Most of my friends got into UF first choice and so did a ton of others in our class. Tons of free tutoring offered by the school and great tutors outside of it.

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: June 30, 2021

My son had a wonderful academic and athletic experience the past four years. Its a big school, but its also what you make it. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and find a niche. Overall, there were less than a handful of teachers we had an issue with as most did a great job preparing him for college.

Posted: June 30, 2021

Posted: January 29, 2020

Very positive, our son was able to get into the college of his choice and the program of his choice!

Posted: January 29, 2020

Posted: June 26, 2019

Newsome High School is the best. My son loves this school!!

Posted: June 26, 2019

Posted: October 9, 2018

The kids are good kids because of the parents and community. The teachers seem to dislike teaching and it shows.

Posted: October 9, 2018

Good luck every getting to talk to anyone. You can email and message, especially guidance, and you will be lucky to get a call back at all.

Posted: October 9, 2018

ABOSULTELY NOT! Most teachers don't even review the 504 and you cannot get an appointment with guidance. When there is an issue, they change the entire schedule to discourage students from requesting changes instead of trying to make the teachers more effective.

Posted: October 9, 2018

This I'm not sure but highly doubt they do. The school is too big, over crowded and too many students. Students are just a number at this school.

Posted: October 9, 2018

Poor. Too many students. Admin, guidance, teachers, and coaches do not seem to care about the kids or even like them. Parents can never get guidance to return a call or email. If your student isn't a star athlete or scholar, they will have a hard time connecting here. The school is so big they have to have pep rallies by grade level because they cannot accommodate all the students. Students have a hard time joining clubs and sports because there are too many students for the available spots. Students cannot even drive to school until they are seniors, some juniors by lottery, because there are too many students and not enough spaces. Very disappointed. The only reason the school does well academically is because most of the students are in private tutoring.

Posted: October 9, 2018

Too much homework in many classes. The administration knows who the teachers are that give too much work and they do nothing about it.

Posted: October 9, 2018

Lucky to get 1-2 good teachers a year if any. Coaches are awful and seem to hate their job and the kids. Teachers do not care about the kids.

Posted: June 7, 2018

Lots of bullies in this school and the cattiness amongst the girls is unreal. Not only are there bullies with the students there are bullies within the staff. The Deputy being the biggest bully of them all. When a child is falsely accused of something they are the victim no the criminal the deputy would try you as such.

Posted: June 7, 2018

my daughter has a 504 plan and I would have to remind her teachers constantly that she was on a plan and to allow her more time. Dr Charnock did not adhere to these plan refusing to accommodate my daughter

Posted: June 7, 2018

My daughter was harassed by a male student when both parts were questioned the male AP took the side of the other student even though there was evidence to rebut that.

Posted: June 7, 2018

Didn't see much homework come home. I would ask every night if she had homework she would say no or she finished it in another class.

Posted: June 7, 2018

Biggest issue I have with the teachers at Newsome is lack of communication. I would send email via Edsby and Dr. Charnock would reply some of the time. Teachers really would only call parents if there was an issue but when it comes down to it communication is horrible with teachers at this school. You'll find out your student may not pass a class the last 2 weeks where they have not change to even try to make up or improve.

Posted: June 7, 2018

negative 10 not a good experience what so ever.

Posted: May 18, 2018

The teachers bully students...so that is what kids learn is normal.

Posted: May 18, 2018

Sure. Every bad and good experience builds character. This school is chock full of bad experiences for my student...not because of the students but because of the administration.

Posted: May 18, 2018

This school has rules for the sake of having rules. So many unnecessary rules. For example: No outside food (i.e. from McDonalds) can be brought into the school for lunch...even if a parent brings it. The principle says it competing with the lunchroom.

Posted: May 18, 2018

I have no idea. I don't have a student with a learning disability.

Posted: May 18, 2018

I regret ever bringing my student to this school. I would never ever brought them to this school if great schools didn't have them listed as an above average school in Hillsborough County. Stats are NOT everything. I wish I had a tour of the school before I enrolled my kids but the school did not allow it. Plus, there is NO communication between the school and the parents. None. Consider yourself warned.

Posted: May 18, 2018

My student doesn't have an issue with amount of homework but the lack of instruction to know the concepts enough to do the homework independently is poor at this school.

Posted: December 17, 2017

lots of reports of bullying and political posturing by students

Posted: December 17, 2017

many policies are in place that are not in the best interest of the students. Students are expected to leave campus if they have an open period in their schedule due to taking dual enrollment courses with the local community college; there is no dedicated space the students can go to study. This wastes time during the day where the students have to leave campus and then come back for their later classes. It is a terrible waste of time that the students could spend doing homework or studying.

Posted: December 17, 2017

very large school, students have to be self reliant. One example is the counselors meet with seniors in the fall of their senior year to tell them if they are on track with graduation. If they are not on track there is not much time left to correct. This should be done in the spring of their junior year so they can take classes over the summer or adjust their schedule their senior year if needed.

Posted: December 17, 2017

multiple complaints of students being bullied and the school not responding. I am aware of at least one family who situation was so bad they had to remove their student from the school

Posted: December 17, 2017

Not at all pleased. Most students are succeeding because of their own motivation or parents providing outside tutoring or other support. My students have heard teachers make reference to the students being spoiled rich kids and there is a level of resentment toward the students as if they don't deserve a quality education.

Posted: December 17, 2017

many students are getting outside tutoring to make up for the ineffective teaching. my students often report being testing on material never covered in class. Students also have teachers that express their political opinions in class and favor students who share their views.

Posted: October 9, 2017

There are so many students...there is no character building. You will see this cross into the community on some days.

Posted: October 9, 2017

Principal is shielded by the APs...you will have little involvement with admin. Principal is out in the hallways talking to students but she sticks closely to those she knows. APs treat your child and you as a number.

Posted: October 9, 2017

We had several teachers we loved but as always there is a couple of bad apples that should not be teaching....the admin knows about these teachers and turns a blind eye....

Posted: October 9, 2017

My child always ends up with 4-6 hours of homework every night. Our child is organized and stays current with classes. Needless to say...with sports, jobs, and extracurriculars it is insane the pressures on our kids.

Posted: October 9, 2017

Our experience has been a rough road. We have a bright, 4.0 student, that gets high recommendations from her teachers. However, the guidance dept including guidance counselors and the college/career are horrible. If you are a transfer student in from other schools(military, relocations) you will have to fight for Algebra 1 EOC to be counted for diploma, they will not help your student if they want to go to a college outside of Florida, and the guidance counselors have the same speech for all of the students not matter your students individuality. If medical issues, the nurses will basically drill your students for the necessity to be there even if your students has a IEP or 504 in place.The size of the school is losing the fun high school atmosphere. Pep Rally are limited to 9th and 10th grade in 1 session and 11th and 12th in another. There are only 3 pep rally each year that celebrate all the sports. Homecoming only includes dress up days, dance, and a "golf cart" parade (only decorated by SGA). Parking is limited (proposed in the next year to only be parking for seniors) It is so sad to see what is being given up/lost bc of size. We have had 3 high schools to compare due to military relocations and this by far has been the worse. It is an A rated school and the academic rigor is there....but it is lacking in community, fun, friendly, atmosphere. To be a true 10/10 school they need the academic rigor along with the community pride.

Posted: July 9, 2017

My daughter just graduated Newsome with a 6.8 GPA. It was an amazing experience for her. My initial concern was that the school isn't diverse. None the less she fit in perfectly from day one after transferring from Plant High School in Tampa, (she was there for 1 week and hated it). The teachers are FABULOUS and the students leave Newsome prepared! The only negative is that Newsome has a HORRIBLE guidance department. It needs a complete overhaul from the overhaul it just had. One counselor for all of the seniors attending college and 1 regular counselor assigned by student's last name who seems to do nothing more than assist with class schedules twice a year. I had several phone calls that were never returned and concerns that were never addressed. Despite the guidance department, I highly recommend the school.

Posted: June 21, 2017

I have a sophomore, a junior and a rising freshman attending Newsome. Our family's experience has been excellent with respect to the quality of education, leadership, extracurricular opportunities and community involvement.

Posted: June 21, 2017

Posted: March 12, 2017

As a parent and fellow educator, I know that Newsome ranks at the top in my book when it comes to caring teachers, academic expectations, course selections, athletic participation, and safety. Two of my own children attended Newsome and both had great experiences there. Not all schools are perfect, but Newsome comes pretty close.

Posted: March 12, 2017

Posted: December 15, 2013

Awesome school! My son just graduated and he is so intelligent he is getting offers from the top 3 schools in the world! I owe it all to Newsome! If I could Id give it 17 stars!

Posted: June 26, 2013

I don't really care about these reviews, they are just a lot of fun to read. If you are considering Newsome remember that all of these reviews are from people at either end of the crazy spectrum, and to find out what it's really like you must speak to someone who actually went here. Speaking as a grad who went to two other high schools, Newsome was the best, not perfect, but the best you will find aorund here.

Posted: September 3, 2012

Overall, a great school, but their front office staff (Christina) is not very helpful. Rather, than answering my questions, she simply said, "Here's the website that will answer your questions." The administration should probably review the quality of service that is being provided.

Posted: August 1, 2012

Newsome High School is in a great community with families that are committed to education. I commend the high rate of students that go on to college! The parts of Newsome that need improvement are the Guidance Department and extracurricular opportunities. The Guidance Department seems overwhelmed with the number of students that depend on them. I have heard of so many complaints of the guidance counselors giving little attention to what is best in individual students interests when putting together schedules. My Daughter and I specifically made an appointment with Guidance before she began at Newsome to discuss her last two years of high school. She could not have been put in worse classes for her future pursuits and academic level. It was if they chose the opposite of what had been discussed and changing a schedule is not easy, even when it is the fault of their department. Extra curricular activities and clubs are not encouraged at Newsome like they should be and are at other schools. With the difficulty of making a sports team at Newsome, clubs and groups should be more available BEFORE and AFTER school for the general student body to get involved.

Posted: September 29, 2011

I'll admit that it has many clubs,but you HAVE to pay at least $16 for every club you sign up for. Also the guidance is frustrating. I was still changing my schedule three weeks into the school year and had to change it seven times. It was my senior year so I needed my classes for graduating and for college applications. Half of the teachers do not know what they are teaching so you have to teach yourself and most are too stubborn to admit they were wrong or put a curve on the test. I have been to TEN school and this has been by far the WORST.

Posted: September 6, 2011

At first I thought this school was going to a OK, I was wrong. Teachers are poor, students are stuck up. Also it is an outdoor school. Then they changed my favorite class and when I asked to switch back they came up with all of these fake excuses. It is all just so unorganized, I'm just going to switch highschools.

Posted: July 15, 2011

Last year I was a freshman, (sophomore next year). I believed the rumors that Newsome was a preppy/"Sweet Valley High School". But they're wrong. There are some stuck up people but that is expected. People are nice. I came from a small school and I only knew maybe 4 people. I leave Freshman year with tons of new friends. I have met people I want to spent the rest of my life with. There's no drama, as long as you don't make any. Classes are great. Teachers actually want you to pass and they care about you. Many of my friends get straight A's or close to it! You get to be independent, while the school provides many opprtunities.

Posted: June 1, 2011

I graduated from Newsome in 2008, and I absolutely loved my experience there, even as someone who wasn't a part of the "in crowd". Academically, Newsome is great, but I think there is too much emphasis on AP classes, even for those who can't keep up. I'm graduating from a good college now with honors, and AP classes didn't really do too much for me. If someone is worried about the social aspects of the school, I would be aware that there seems to be an increased amount of students feeling entitled to do what they want and are spoiled, but that's just what I think as someone who stays connected to the school. My word of advice would be to pick an extracurricular and stick with it. Activities at Newsome are great and there are a lot to choose from.

Posted: February 23, 2011

My daughter is currently a senior and loves Newsome's academics and athletics, which she participates in. The AP classes offered are excellent and there is a wide variety of elective classes to choose from. The teachers are wonderful, only one or two over the past 4 years that weren't very good. The only downfall I've seen is the lack of tolerance by the student body. They need to learn not to judge and harass people who aren't part of the "in crowd". I've met so many wonderful students (who aren't popular) and are happy with who they are rather than concern themselves with popularity. That's the sign of a well rounded student.

Posted: February 15, 2011

I attended Newsome High School from 2006 to 2010. It has an expansive course catalog, including numerous Advanced Placement and Honors classes. Many of my Advanced Placement teachers were outstanding and very experienced with teaching the content and engaging the students. The administration often took the "path of least resistance." They made decisions based on whatever allowed them to do the least work. Several advisors were very helpful; however, some were unable to handle the responsibilities of being a guidance counselor. Many of my friends found it difficult to meet with advisors and receive the help necessary for success. If you are a parent, I would send your student to Newsome over other schools in the area. However, if your student needs something from the guidance office you may need to contact them in order to get things done. Also, the harder your student works and the better grades that he or she earns will mean more attention from advisors. If your son or daughter thinks that they could excel in Honors or Advanced Placement courses then do not let administration force them into Regular classes. I heard of this happening to some of my most intelligent friends.

Posted: November 14, 2010

My Grandson attends Newsome and is in his Senior Year and in his time at Nerwsome I have seen him develop acadamically and socially. He is in the JROTC and Wolves Football Team and his' stats' are excellent. To those who complain your children will be rewarded for their efforts and as parents you will reap those rewards by supporting the school and your kids, seeing them develop their potential and mature into adulthood.

Posted: November 14, 2010

I have two children at this school and as a military family, we have seen many schools. Most of the school is decent, with a few really good teachers. Yet the bullying and harrassment that I have witnessed first hand, with no help from administration has left me feeling that this school is the worst my children have attended. Everytime we move, I try to find the best school, at least on paper, to send my children to, but Newsome has failed miserably. The administration and counselors are never around and always to busy to deal with the problems. The kids run the school and the bullies are allowed to hurt kids and harass kids without worrying that the school will interfere. No leadership from the top has left this school in chaos. If I had to choose a school again, it would not be Newsome. There are plenty of other wonderful schools in the area.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Fish Hawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	0.8 mi
2	FishHawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	0.9 mi
3	Fishhawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	1.8 mi
4	Panther Trace	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Riverview	FL	7.2 mi
5	Avelar Creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Riverview	FL	8.9 mi
6	Harbour Isles	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Apollo Beach	FL	15.2 mi
7	Hyde Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tampa	FL	17.5 mi
8	The Pavillions	Apartment Complex	Tampa	FL	17.5 mi
9	Westchase	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tampa	FL	27.5 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Fishhawk Ranch /Lithia FL	Lithia	FL	1.3 mi
2	South of Gandy (SOG)	Tampa	FL	18.2 mi
3	South Tampa	Tampa	FL	18.7 mi

Base	Distance
MacDill AFB	17.2 mi.
Coast Guard Clearwater	30.1 mi.

Newsome High School

Lithia, FL 33547

School Ratings

Refine Search

National Ad

Newsome High School

Lithia, FL 33547

School Ratings

Refine Search

National Ad

Email Address *

*We take your personal information very seriously and will never give it to a 3rd party. If you don't enjoy the email series, you can always unsubscribe at anytime.*

We take your personal information very seriously and will never give it to a 3rd party. If you don't enjoy the email series, you can always unsubscribe at anytime.