Excellent
#161 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 9% in state
Needham High
High School · Needham · Needham, MA
A high school in Needham, MA where students score 25 points above what's typical for similar communities.
609 Webster Street, Needham, MA 02494
- Math 85% vs MA 46% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs MA 52% (2025)
- 99%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Needham High score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 MCAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 8 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 86% recently.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 91% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 92% (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 44 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 Needham High 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 62Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 59Bikeable
- 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.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 9–12 | 1.3 mi | 4 | Compare → |
| Fusion Academy NewtonPrivate · tuition | 5.3private | 6–12 | 1.6 mi | 61 | Compare → |
| Wellesley SR HighEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | 9–12 | 2.7 mi | 1,358 | Compare → |
| Noble and Greenough SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | 7–12 | 2.9 mi | 621 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Needham
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #6 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
Needham High is listed in Needham; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Needham High
Needham High is a public high school in Needham, MA, part of Needham, serving approximately 1,622 students in grades 9th-12th with a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #161 of 1,793 schools in MA. State assessment records 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
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- 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%
- Phone
- (781) 455-0800
- 4-Year Graduation
- 99%+
- 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.
- 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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