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Excellent

#119 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 7% in state

High Rock School

Middle School · Needham

77 Ferndale Road, Needham, MA 02492

Enrollment

447

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

8.9

Grades

6th – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#119 of 1,793

In Needham

#4 of 8

public schools

In district

#4 of 8

Needham

Equity

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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High Rock School

8.9/10

Middle School in Needham · grades 6th – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Joseph School

4.7/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Newman Elementary

9.6/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About High Rock School

High Rock School is a public middle school in Needham, MA, part of Needham. High Rock School serves approximately 447 students, and covers grades 6th-6th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. High Rock School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #119 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for High Rock School show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.8
  • MA avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.0Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.78 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency79% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency76% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+36.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+33.1 pts
Overall Proficiency78% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+17.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment9.3Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,189
Chronic Absenteeism7.4%

High Rock School — Students at High Rock School score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 76.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.2% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 79.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.2% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 56 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
79%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
84%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
83%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
84%
ELA
90%
2014
Math
84%
ELA
88%
2015
Math
88%
ELA
92%
2016
Math
85%
ELA
81%
2017
Math
79%
ELA
79%
2018
Math
79%
ELA
80.7%
2019
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2020*
Math
61%
ELA
73%
2021*
Math
61%
ELA
73%
2022
Math
80%
ELA
74%
2023
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2024
Math
70%
ELA
71%
2025
Math
79%
ELA
76%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.0/10.

How High Rock School Compares

See how High Rock School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
93th percentile in MA
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
8.0/10
Excellent
Environment
9.3/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.4%

Location

77 Ferndale Road, Needham, MA 02492

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering High Rock School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Newman Elementary (rated 9.6/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is John Eliot (rated 9.3/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, William Mitchell (rated 9.1/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Needham, see our Needham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Needham 0.7 mi 4.7
Newman Elementary Needham 0.8 mi 9.6
Pollard Middle Needham 0.9 mi 8.7
Needham High Needham 1.1 mi 8.7
Sunita L. Williams Elementary Needham 1.7 mi 7.8
William Mitchell Needham 1.5 mi 9.1
WALKER SCHOOL Needham 1.7 mi 8.6
John Eliot Needham 2.2 mi 9.3
Broadmeadow Needham 1.8 mi 8.5
Chickering Dover 2.1 mi 6.7
RIVERSIDE SCHOOL Needham 2.3 mi
Joseph E Fiske Wellesley 2.6 mi 9.0
Preschool at Wellesley Schools Wellesley 2.7 mi 6.8
HAPPY CHILD PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE CENTER Newton 2.6 mi
FUSION ACADEMY NEWTON Newton 2.7 mi 5.3
Wellesley Sr High Wellesley 2.6 mi 8.9
TENACRE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Wellesley 2.4 mi 7.7
MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL OF WELLESLEY HILLS Wellesley Hls 2.8 mi
CHARLES RIVER SCHOOL Dover 2.7 mi 7.0
THE RASHI SCHOOL Dedham 2.4 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02492 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$222,063

Median Home Value

$1,177,300

Median Rent

$2,256/mo

Population

21,481

College Educated

84.1%

Homeownership

90.7%

Avg Commute

29.2 min

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Median Age

42.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Gibbs School Arlington, MA 8.8
Bigelow Middle Newton, MA 9.1
Andover West Middle Andover, MA 9.2
John Glenn Middle Bedford, MA 9.2
North Reading Middle North Reading, MA 9.2
Putnam Avenue Upper School Cambridge, MA 9.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about High Rock School

What grades does High Rock School serve?

High Rock School serves students in grades 6th through 6th.

How many students attend High Rock School?

High Rock School has an enrollment of approximately 447 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at High Rock School?

The student-teacher ratio at High Rock School is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does High Rock School rank in MA?

High Rock School ranks #119 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is High Rock School's MySchoolScout rating?

High Rock School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at High Rock School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, High Rock School has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is High Rock School a charter school?

No, High Rock School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is High Rock School a Title I school?

No, High Rock School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
44 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
28 Some Transit
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 6th
Enrollment
447
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Norfolk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.4%

District

Needham
District Enrollment
5,541
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,189
District Rank
#4 of 8

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.

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