The beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the scenic coastal beaches attract tourists and year round residents to Newport, a city of over 10,000. Newport is situated in the central regions of Lincoln County and acts as the business center and county seat. The Yaquina River and Bay provide for productive fishing and other port related businesses. The community prides itself on having these first class facilities: Visual Arts Center, Performing Arts Center, Senior Center, Public Library, Oregon Coast Community College, Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Fleet office.

Lincoln County School District is separated into four areas: North, South, East and West. The West area of Newport consists of Yaquina View Elementary (Grades K-2) Sam Case Elementary (Grades 3-5), Newport Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Newport High School (Grades 9-12). Although Newport High School is a small, rural public high school of over 660 students, NHS students have access to the most challenging curriculum with the International Baccalaureate classes. Dual Credit, Professional Technical Education and Honor courses are also available. The school has a strong volunteer group for the ASPIRE Program, Funding Academics Now (FAN) Academic Booster Group, and the Newport Boosters (Athletic Booster Group). Additionally, NHS has many volunteer coaches.

Through the Community Eligibility Provision, NHS offers all students breakfast and lunch at no charge. Students participate in a variety of extra curricular opportunities including a full range of athletic programs and over twenty student run clubs. Newport High has a college and career readiness focus as an AVID School, with the support of a GEAR UP Grant and the Oregon Goes to College Program. NHS school staff and students are committed to making Newport High School a welcoming learning environment for all students.