Top Rankings
Needham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 8 public schools serving 5,541 students in Needham School District. This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public schools in Massachusetts.
Public Schools in Needham School District have an average math proficiency score of 72% (versus the Massachusetts public school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 71% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the Massachusetts public school average of 47% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
8 Schools
1,837 Schools
# Students
5,541 Students
916,334 Students
# Teachers
450 Teachers
77,716 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Needham School District, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 393 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#24 out of 397 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
41%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
44%
Graduation Rate
98%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.47
0.65
# American Indian Students
1 Student
2,192 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
646 Students
67,818 Students
% Asian Students
12%
7%
# Hispanic Students
389 Students
230,769 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
25%
# Black Students
180 Students
88,074 Students
% Black Students
3%
10%
# White Students
3,955 Students
483,656 Students
% White Students
72%
53%
# Hawaiian Students
4 Students
785 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
351 Students
41,339 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
80
32,288
# Students in K Grade:
376
62,105
# Students in 1st Grade:
443
64,458
# Students in 2nd Grade:
403
66,664
# Students in 3rd Grade:
425
64,731
# Students in 4th Grade:
422
65,978
# Students in 5th Grade:
443
67,142
# Students in 6th Grade:
447
67,086
# Students in 7th Grade:
437
68,011
# Students in 8th Grade:
443
68,221
# Students in 9th Grade:
373
73,757
# Students in 10th Grade:
414
73,439
# Students in 11th Grade:
417
71,886
# Students in 12th Grade:
418
68,770
# Ungraded Students:
-
1,798
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $26,050 is higher than the state median of $23,845. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $24,635 is higher than the state median of $24,602. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$144 MM
$21,850 MM
Spending
$137 MM
$22,544 MM
Revenue / Student
$26,050
$23,845
Spending / Student
$24,635
$24,602
Best Needham School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Needham High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
609 Webster Street
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0800
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,622 students
Rank: #22.
High Rock School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
77 Ferndale Road
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0400
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0400
Grades: 6
| 447 students
Rank: #33.
Pollard Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
200 Harris Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0480
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0480
Grades: 7-8
| 880 students
Rank: #44.
Broadmeadow
(Math: 67% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
120 Broadmeadow Rd
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0448
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0448
Grades: K-5
| 522 students
Rank: #55.
Newman Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1155 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0416
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0416
Grades: PK-5
| 698 students
Rank: #66.
William Mitchell
(Math: 63% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
187 Brookline Street
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0466
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0466
Grades: K-5
| 439 students
Rank: #77.
Sunita L. Williams Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
585 Central Avenue
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0461
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0461
Grades: K-5
| 531 students
Rank: #88.
John Eliot
(Math: 56% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
135 Wellesley Avenue
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0452
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0452
Grades: K-5
| 402 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Needham School District?
Needham School District manages 8 public schools serving 5,541 students.
What is the rank of Needham School District?
Needham School District is ranked #22 out of 393 school districts in Massachusetts (top 10%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 10%), Highest math proficiency (Top 10%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%), Highest science proficiency (Top 10%), Highest graduation rate (Top 5%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Needham School District?
72% of Needham School District students are White, 12% of students are Asian, 7% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Needham School District?
Needham School District has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is equal to the Massachusetts state average of 12:1.
What is Needham School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $24,635 is higher than the state median of $24,602. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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