Newtown High School is an accredited public high school in Newtown, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2018–2019 school year, the school serves 1,571 students in grades 9–12 and employs 141 faculty members. It is the only high school of the Newtown Public Schools. Newtown High has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges since 1948 and was awarded the Blue Ribbon Award for Schools of Excellence in 2000. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Newtown High School 21st out of all public high schools in Connecticut. Newtown was also ranked 1,219th in the country, out of almost 24,000 public high schools nationwide. History Renovations In 1996 the school underwent a major reconstruction, including the addition of a addition to the eastern side of the school. A new track and football field were also constructed, and extra seating was installed in the stadium. The reconstruction was complete by January 1998 and the school fully re-opened. Renovations began in 2008 on a addition. The main building of the expansion was scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, but instead was completed in early 2012. The expansion project included adding a full new wing of three floors, including new classrooms and teachers' offices and a cafetorium (auditorium and cafeteria); renovating the gymnasium; and building a new greenhouse. In addition, the football field and track were renovated and much more parking was added. The expansion was fully completed in January 2010. With the expansion, the school's area is . MRSA scare On October 17, 2007, two cases of MRSA-strain staph infections were reported at Newtown High School. The school put precautions in place to protect students from this potentially fatal bacterial infection. Interfaith prayer service On the evening of December 16, 2012, Newtown High School was the scene of a prayer service commemorating the twenty children and six adults killed by Adam Lanza during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012. Lanza had previously attended Newtown High School through the tenth grade. President Barack Obama delivered a reflection at the end of the service. Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy offered some thoughts prior to the President's remarks. The entire service was broadcast nationwide on CNN. Extracurricular activities and athletics The Newtown High School mascot and athletic emblem is the Nighthawk with blue and gold as the school colors. Athletics The Newtown Nighthawks compete in