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 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 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 5% of public schools in Massachusetts.
ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools in Needham School District have an average math proficiency score of 73% (versus the Massachusetts public school average of 43%), 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
Student By Grade
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 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#19 out of 395 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
73%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
44%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)98%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.47
0.65
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
12%
7%
% Hispanic
7%
25%
% Black
3%
10%
% White
72%
53%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
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 ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Needham High School
(Math: 90% | 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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,622 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: 7-8 | 880 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #33.
High Rock School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
77 Ferndale Road
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0400
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0400
Gr: 6 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #44.
Broadmeadow
(Math: 70% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
120 Broadmeadow Rd
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0448
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0448
Gr: K-5 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #55.
William Mitchell
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
187 Brookline Street
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0466
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0466
Gr: K-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #66.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #77.
John Eliot
(Math: 63% | 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
Gr: K-5 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #88.
Sunita L. Williams Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
585 Central Avenue
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0461
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0461
Gr: K-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
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 #20 out of 393 school districts in Massachusetts (top 10%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 5%), Highest math proficiency (Top 5%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%), Highest science proficiency (Top 10%) 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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