Excellent
#54 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 3% in state
John Eliot
Elementary School · Needham · Needham, MA
A Needham elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
135 Wellesley Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
- Math 70% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 64% vs MA 41% (2025)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at John Eliot score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2022, reaching 67% in 2025.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 82 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where John Eliot sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Boston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 28Car-Dependent
- Transit 22Minimal Transit
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated702/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Needham), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$173,750
Median home value
$1,052,400
Median rent
$2,452/mo
College educated
74.6%
Homeownership
72.7%
Poverty rate
2.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02494; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph E FiskeEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | K–5 | 0.6 mi | 316 | Compare → |
| Sunita L. Williams ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | K–5 | 0.6 mi | 531 | Compare → |
| SchofieldEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 299 | Compare → |
| A E AngierEnrollment path unverified | 9.8 | K–5 | 1.5 mi | 384 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Needham
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #2 of 8
- District spending per student
- $24,189NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 1.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
John Eliot is listed in Needham; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About John Eliot
John Eliot is a public elementary school in Needham, MA, part of Needham, serving approximately 402 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #54 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about John Eliot
What grades does John Eliot serve?
John Eliot serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend John Eliot?
John Eliot has an enrollment of approximately 402 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Eliot?
The student-teacher ratio at John Eliot is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does John Eliot rank in MA?
John Eliot ranks #54 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is John Eliot's MySchoolScout rating?
John Eliot has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 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 John Eliot?
Based on loaded state assessment records, John Eliot has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is John Eliot a charter school?
No, John Eliot is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John Eliot a Title I school?
No, John Eliot is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 402
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Norfolk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.2%
- Phone
- (781) 455-0452
- Area population (ZIP 02494)
- 10,578
- Area average commute
- 27.5 min
- Area median age
- 43.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 02494; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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