NEWTON · SCHOOL RECORDS APOSTILLE
Newton Public Schools Records Apostille
Moving abroad with children in Newton Public Schools? Whether your child is at an elementary school, a middle school, Newton North or Newton South, the new school will want records, and often an apostille. Here’s how Newton releases records and how we prepare them for any country.
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NEWTON · PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary through Newton North and Newton South
Report cards, transcripts, diplomas and letters, ready for any country
- Report cards and transcripts
- Enrollment and withdrawal letters
- Diplomas
- Translations if needed
Which Newton records you can request
| Record | Who issues it | How to request |
|---|---|---|
| Newton North transcripts and records (current students) | Newton North records office | “Current Student Records or Transcript Request” form, using the student’s NPS login |
| Newton North transcripts (graduates) | NNHS Records Office, 457 Walnut St, Newtonville | Online form. Free within 5 years of graduation; otherwise $5 by check to Newton Public Schools |
| Newton South transcripts | Newton South office, 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton Centre | Official or unofficial transcript request form |
| Verification of enrollment or graduation | Newton South | Verification Letter Request form, for current and former students |
| Enrollment and elementary or middle school records | NPS Family Welcome Center, 100 Walnut St, Room 204 | Contact the Welcome Center or your child’s school |
| Immunization records | School nurse (City of Newton School Health Services) | Ask the school nurse |
Offices and procedures change. Confirm with the school before you order, or let us confirm it for you.
How the Newton process works
Newton’s two high schools each run their own records process. Newton North has a request form for current students that covers every records request except college applications, and a separate form for graduates handled by the NNHS Records Office. Newton South has forms for official and unofficial transcripts and a Verification Letter Request form that current and former students can use to prove enrollment or graduation.
One detail matters for families going abroad: Newton North sends official transcripts only to institutions, not to the former student. Unofficial copies can go to the student. That means the notarization usually has to be arranged with the records office itself: a Newton official certifies the record in front of a notary. That’s also the format countries like Spain prefer, so it works in your favor.
For elementary and middle school students, start with your child’s school or the NPS Family Welcome Center at 100 Walnut Street.
What to request by grade level
| Grade level | What schools abroad usually want |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten to grade 5 | The last one or two report cards, a letter confirming the last grade completed, and immunization records. Formal recognition is rarely needed at this age, but some countries and schools still ask for apostilled copies. |
| Grades 6 to 8 | Report cards for the last two or three years, an enrollment or withdrawal letter, and any testing or placement information. Some ministries compare middle school years to place a child in the right grade. |
| Grades 9 to 12 | An official transcript, course descriptions for the courses taken, and the diploma for graduates. Many countries run a formal recognition process for these years, and they’re the ones most likely to need an apostille and a translation. |
| Students with an IEP or 504 plan | A copy of the plan and recent evaluations, so the new school can plan support. These usually don’t need an apostille. |
Ask Newton for everything at once. A single request, made before your child’s last day, is far easier for the office than several requests after you’ve left the country.
How your Newton record gets notarized
Massachusetts will apostille a document notarized with any of its four notarial acts. What decides the right route is the country or school receiving it.
School official acknowledgment
A Newton official, such as the principal, registrar or guidance director, signs the record before our notary, confirming it’s the school’s official record.
School official affidavit
The official signs a sworn statement confirming enrollment or graduation and that the attached records match the school’s files. This is what Spain’s Ministry of Education asks for. See our Spain guide.
Certified copy, only if your recipient accepts it
You present the original record and our notary certifies the copy. Massachusetts will apostille it, but some countries reject it for school records.
Prepared right the first time
We prepare the notarial wording with what your country asks for: the official’s name, position and school.
Things Newton families should know
- Newton North releases official transcripts only to institutions. Plan for the records office to certify the record before our notary.
- Newton South’s verification letter is useful when a school abroad wants proof of enrollment or the last grade completed.
- Plan around the school calendar. Office staff, counselors and principals who sign records are often unavailable in July and August, and end-of-year weeks are the busiest time for records offices. If you’re moving in summer, request everything in April or May.
- School nurses in Newton are City of Newton Health and Human Services staff, so immunization records come through the nurse, not the records office.
How we handle it
- 1
Tell us the country and deadline
Send us any instructions from the new school or ministry. We confirm which records each child needs and how they must be notarized.
- 2
We coordinate with Newton
We contact the right office, request the records, and prepare the notarial wording.
- 3
Notarization
Our notary meets the school official. With your letter of authorization, you don’t need to be there.
- 4
Massachusetts apostille
We file in person with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- 5
Translation and delivery
We add translations if needed and ship worldwide with tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Newton North won’t send me an official transcript. How do I get it apostilled?
Newton North sends official transcripts only to institutions. We coordinate with the records office so a school official certifies the record before our notary, which Massachusetts can then apostille.
Is there a fee for Newton North transcripts?
Newton North says requests are free if the student graduated less than five years ago; otherwise the fee is $5 by check payable to Newton Public Schools.
Will the school sign before a notary for an apostille?
Most school offices will, once they understand what the receiving country needs. We contact Newton for you, explain the notarization, and prepare the wording so the official only has to review and sign.
Do I have to be there?
No. With a signed letter of authorization, we can pick up records and meet the school official without you. Many families are already abroad when the records are ready.
Is a certified copy enough?
Massachusetts will apostille a certified copy that you, as the parent or student, present to the notary. Some countries and schools don’t accept it for school records, so we only use that route once you’ve confirmed your recipient accepts it.
Can you add translations?
Yes. We arrange certified or sworn translations into the language your new school or ministry needs, in the same order.
How quickly must a public school give us copies?
Under 603 CMR 23.07, a Massachusetts public school must give a parent access to the student record within 10 days of the request, and copies on request. In practice, give the office as much notice as you can, especially near the end of the school year.
Need Newton records for a move abroad?
Tell us the country, your children’s grades and your move date. We’ll handle the rest.