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Excellent

#160 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 9% in state

Pollard Middle

Middle School · Needham

200 Harris Avenue, Needham, MA 02492

Enrollment

880

Student-Teacher

11:1

Score

8.7

Grades

7th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#160 of 1,793

In Needham

#5 of 8

public schools

In district

#5 of 8

Needham

Equity

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Pollard Middle

8.7/10

Middle School in Needham · grades 7th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Joseph School

4.7/10

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

Needham High

8.7/10

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

About Pollard Middle

Pollard Middle is a public middle school in Needham, MA, part of Needham. Pollard Middle serves approximately 880 students, and covers grades 7th-8th, and has a 11:1 student-teacher ratio. Pollard Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #160 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Pollard Middle show 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.8
  • MA avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.01 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.6Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency78.3% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency76.3% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+38.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+33.8 pts
Overall Proficiency77% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment9.5Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,189
Chronic Absenteeism6.8%

Pollard Middle — Students at Pollard Middle score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 78.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
41.7% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 79.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.3% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 82 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
83%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
80%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
80%
ELA
93%
2012
Math
84%
ELA
94%
2013
Math
78%
ELA
92%
2014
Math
79%
ELA
90%
2015
Math
81%
ELA
92%
2016
Math
81%
ELA
78%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
82.5%
ELA
82%
2019
Math
85.3%
ELA
82.3%
2020*
Math
71%
ELA
71%
2021*
Math
71%
ELA
71%
2022
Math
75.8%
ELA
73.5%
2023
Math
76%
ELA
70.7%
2024
Math
79.3%
ELA
74%
2025
Math
78.3%
ELA
76.3%

* 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: 7.5/10.

How Pollard Middle Compares

See how Pollard Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
91th percentile in MA
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
9.5/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
80 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
6.8%

Location

200 Harris Avenue, Needham, MA 02492

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pollard Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Newman Elementary (rated 9.6/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is John Eliot (rated 9.3/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, William Mitchell (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Needham, see our Needham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Needham 0.6 mi 4.7
Needham High Needham 0.7 mi 8.7
William Mitchell Needham 0.9 mi 9.1
High Rock School Needham 0.9 mi 8.9
Broadmeadow Needham 0.9 mi 8.5
RIVERSIDE SCHOOL Needham 1.9 mi
Newman Elementary Needham 1.5 mi 9.6
THE RASHI SCHOOL Dedham 1.6 mi 6.4
Sunita L. Williams Elementary Needham 1.9 mi 7.8
FUSION ACADEMY NEWTON Newton 2.2 mi 5.3
John Eliot Needham 2.1 mi 9.3
HAPPY CHILD PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE CENTER Newton 2.2 mi
SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL Newton 1.9 mi 7.1
SOLOMON SCHECHTEE DAY SCHOOL Newton 2.2 mi 6.1
Joseph E Fiske Wellesley 2.7 mi 9.0
Preschool at Wellesley Schools Wellesley 2.8 mi 6.8
Countryside Newton Highlands 2.8 mi 8.2
NOBLE AND GREENOUGH SCHOOL Dedham 2.4 mi 6.8
Early Childhood Center Dedham 2.7 mi 7.3
WALKER SCHOOL Needham 2.5 mi 8.6

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
John F Kennedy Middle Waltham, MA 8.7
Marshall Simonds Middle Burlington, MA 8.7
Wm Diamond Middle Lexington, MA 8.7
Galvin Middle School Wakefield, MA 8.6
Hingham Middle School Hingham, MA 8.6
Oak Hill Middle Newton Centre, MA 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pollard Middle

What grades does Pollard Middle serve?

Pollard Middle serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Pollard Middle?

Pollard Middle has an enrollment of approximately 880 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pollard Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Pollard Middle is 11:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pollard Middle rank in MA?

Pollard Middle ranks #160 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Pollard Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Pollard Middle 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 Pollard Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Pollard Middle has 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Pollard Middle a charter school?

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

Is Pollard Middle a Title I school?

No, Pollard Middle is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
32 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
26 Some Transit
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
880
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
Teachers (FTE)
80
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Norfolk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
6.8%

District

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