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Excellent

#161 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 9% in state

Needham High

High School · Needham

609 Webster Street, Needham, MA 02494

Enrollment

1,622

Student-Teacher

12.6:1

Score

8.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#161 of 1,793

In Needham

#6 of 8

public schools

In district

#6 of 8

Needham

Equity

10.0 / 10

Excellent

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Needham High

8.7/10

High School in Needham · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Joseph School

4.7/10

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

William Mitchell

9.1/10

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

About Needham High

Needham High is a public high school in Needham, MA, part of Needham. Needham High serves approximately 1,622 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Needham High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #161 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Needham High show 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Needham High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Needham High School is a public high school located in Needham, Massachusetts, serving students in grades 9 through 12 2 . As of 2024, the school has an enrollment of 1,622 students and employs over 200 instructional staff members 2 . The curriculum includes a wide variety of courses, with a specific emphasis on offering many Advanced Placement (AP) classes 2 . The school is consistently rated as a top public high school in Massachusetts, currently holding the #19 position according to niche.com 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares2.3 pts above MA schools
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • MA avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.33 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.9Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency85% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency86% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+39.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+34 pts
Overall Proficiency86% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+25.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile98th
College Readiness9.3Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate99%+
AP Participation31.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,189
Chronic Absenteeism26.3%

Needham High — Students at Needham High score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 90.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.0% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)
ELA Proficiency 91.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.6% (multi-year state average, 2019-2025)

Based on 44 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
93%
ELA
93%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
97%
2011
Math
95%
ELA
98%
2012
Math
97%
ELA
99.5%
2013
Math
96%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
96%
ELA
99.5%
2015
Math
94%
ELA
99.5%
2016
Math
95%
ELA
99.5%
2017
Math
94%
ELA
98%
2018
Math
89%
ELA
85%
2019
Math
89%
ELA
85.5%
2020*
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2021*
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2022
Math
83%
ELA
84%
2023
Math
90%
ELA
84%
2024
Math
86%
ELA
86%
2025
Math
85%
ELA
86%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Needham High Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
91th percentile in MA
Academic
9.9/10
Excellent
Growth
8.8/10
Excellent
Environment
6.2/10
Average
AP Courses
2
State avg: 2.9
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
129 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.3%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2 AP courses offered
31.9% participation·State avg: 2.9 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

609 Webster Street, Needham, MA 02494

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Needham High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. A E Angier (rated 9.8/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Waban), which scores notably higher. Another option is Newman Elementary (rated 9.6/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, John Eliot (rated 9.3/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Needham, see our Needham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Needham 0.3 mi 4.7
William Mitchell Needham 0.5 mi 9.1
Pollard Middle Needham 0.7 mi 8.7
High Rock School Needham 1.1 mi 8.9
RIVERSIDE SCHOOL Needham 1.3 mi
Sunita L. Williams Elementary Needham 1.2 mi 7.8
John Eliot Needham 1.4 mi 9.3
Broadmeadow Needham 1.3 mi 8.5
HAPPY CHILD PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE CENTER Newton 1.6 mi
Newman Elementary Needham 1.3 mi 9.6
FUSION ACADEMY NEWTON Newton 1.6 mi 5.3
Joseph E Fiske Wellesley 2.0 mi 9.0
Preschool at Wellesley Schools Wellesley 2.1 mi 6.8
SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.8 mi 7.1
THE RASHI SCHOOL Dedham 2.2 mi 6.4
Countryside Newton Highlands 2.3 mi 8.2
A E Angier Waban 2.8 mi 9.8
Schofield Wellesley 2.6 mi 8.2
SOLOMON SCHECHTEE DAY SCHOOL Newton 2.2 mi 6.1
Zervas Waban 3.0 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02494 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$173,750

Median Home Value

$1,052,400

Median Rent

$2,452/mo

Population

10,578

College Educated

74.6%

Homeownership

72.7%

Avg Commute

27.5 min

Poverty Rate

2.9%

Median Age

43.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Masconomet Regional High School Boxford, MA 8.7
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High Sudbury, MA 8.6
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical Fitchburg, MA 8.6
Sharon High Sharon, MA 8.6
Milton High Milton, MA 8.8
Newton North High Newtonville, MA 8.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Needham High

What grades does Needham High serve?

Needham High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Needham High?

Needham High has an enrollment of approximately 1,622 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Needham High?

The student-teacher ratio at Needham High is 12.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Needham High rank in MA?

Needham High ranks #161 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Needham High's MySchoolScout rating?

Needham High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Needham High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Needham High has 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Needham High a charter school?

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

Is Needham High a Title I school?

No, Needham High is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
62 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
28 Some Transit
Bike Score
59 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,622
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
129
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Norfolk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.3%
4-Year Graduation
99%+

District

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

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