Needham School District
School District · Needham, Massachusetts
Avg Rating
8.8
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,189
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Avg Rating
8.8
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,189
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Evaluating Needham?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Needham as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Newman Elementary
Needham · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
John Eliot
Needham · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
William Mitchell
Needham · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Massachusetts rank
#5 of 236
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+2.5
above Massachusetts avg
Per-pupil spending
$24,189
+$2,818 vs Massachusetts median
District size
5,541 students
Much larger than Massachusetts median
The short answer
Needham ranks #5 of 236 Massachusetts districts by overall school rating. Needham's schools with real test data average 8.8/10 across 8 schools. Its top-rated schools are Newman Elementary (9.6/10), John Eliot (9.3/10), and William Mitchell (9.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Needham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newman Elementary | 9.6 / 10 |
| 2 | John Eliot | 9.3 / 10 |
| 3 | William Mitchell | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | High Rock School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Needham High | 8.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Pollard Middle | 8.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Broadmeadow | 8.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Sunita L. Williams Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Needham
Needham is a Needham, Massachusetts school district serving 8 schools. The district educates 5,541 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1. The district invests $24,189 per student annually.
With an average rating of 8.8/10, Needham is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Newman Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.6/10.
In standardized testing, Needham students show an average math proficiency of 71.8% and ELA proficiency of 74.5%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Needham, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Needham with test data.
Schools in Needham
8 schools Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Massachusetts
- City
- Needham
- Total Enrollment
- 5,541
- Teachers (FTE)
- 449
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Needham?
Needham has 8 schools in total — 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Needham?
The average composite rating for Needham is 8.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Needham?
Needham spends $24,189 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Needham?
The average student-teacher ratio in Needham is 12.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Needham?
Newman Elementary is the highest-rated school in Needham with a composite score of 9.6/10.
What are the test scores in Needham?
Across schools in Needham with test data, the average math proficiency is 71.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 74.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Needham compare to other districts in Massachusetts?
Needham has an average school rating of 8.8/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Massachusetts by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 8.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 71.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 74.5%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in MA
Compare Needham with neighboring districts in the state.
- Boston (109)
- Springfield (66)
- Worcester (45)
- Lowell (27)
- Lynn (27)
- Lawrence (26)
- Brockton (24)
- New Bedford (24)
- Newton (22)
- Quincy (19)
- Fall River (18)
- Cambridge (17)
- Haverhill (16)
- Chicopee (15)
- Framingham (14)
- Pittsfield (14)
- Brookline (13)
- Leominster (13)
- Plymouth (13)
- Taunton (13)
- Wachusett (13)
- Attleboro (12)
- Westfield (12)
- Arlington (11)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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