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Public high school · Needham · Needham, Massachusetts

Needham High

Needham High rates 8.8, right at the middle of Needham's high schools, whose rated median is 8.8.

High schools, 1 to 10This campus against public high schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
8.8this school

8.8 on a one-to-ten scale; the Needham median is 8.8.

#142 of 1,793 schools in Massachusetts · Needham: 1 high schools rated, median 8.8

The brief

A high school in Needham, MA where students score 90 points above what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 142 of 1,793 schools in Massachusetts and 5 of 8 in Needham.

Needham High is listed in Needham, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math91%46 points above the Massachusetts average of 45%Grade 10 · 412 students tested · 2026 MCAS
Reading88%41 points above the Massachusetts average of 47%Grade 10 · 413 students tested · 2026 MCAS
Proficiency has held near 90% across the 8-year record (2019–2026).2026 MCAS; 47 test records from MA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
9.2
25% of the rating
Academics
10.0
25% of the rating
College Readiness
9.2
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
6.2
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2026

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, an estimate, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named here.

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 91% (multi-year average, 2009-2026) · reading/ELA 92% (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

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 · 2026 MCAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2026 MCAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2026 MCAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2026 MCAS. A newer release may be available.
  • 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.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2026; directory SY 2023–24

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Needham High and the 20 nearest high schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

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%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 02494; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
62
Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
28
Some Transit
Bike Score
59
Bikeable
City reported crime
675/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 residents, from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for Needham. This is a city-level reported-crime measure, not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · city context (Needham), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2025. Freshness not available.

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

AP and IB
2 AP courses
31.9% participation · state average 2.9 AP courses · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM courses
5 of 5
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. 9.1Compare →
  2. 8.9Compare →
  3. Needham Highthis school
    8.8
  4. 8.6Compare →
  5. 8.6Compare →
Four grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and two rate higher than Needham High.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

The public record

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

Questions families ask

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 #142 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Needham High's MySchoolScout rating?

Needham High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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, 2009-2026) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

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.

School facts

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,622
Student-teacher ratio
12.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
129
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Norfolk County
4-year graduation
99%+
Class of 2023
Rank in district
#5 of 8
Schools in district
8
District spending per student
$24,189
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
1.9%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 02494)
10,578
Area average commute
27.5 min
Area median age
43.5

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

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.