Very Good
#399 of 1,793 schools in MA
Top 22% in state
Sunita L. Williams Elementary
Elementary School · Needham · Needham, MA
A Needham elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
585 Central Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
- Math 70% vs MA 42% (2025)
- Reading 71% vs MA 41% (2025)
- 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Sunita L. Williams Elementary score 70% 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 9 points since 2022, reaching 71% in 2025.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 70% (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 Sunita L. Williams Elementary 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 22Car-Dependent
- Transit 24Minimal Transit
- Bike 28Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John EliotEnrollment path unverified | 9.3 | K–5 | 0.6 mi | 402 | Compare → |
| Joseph E FiskeEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | K–5 | 0.9 mi | 316 | Compare → |
| Newman ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.6 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 698 | Compare → |
| St Joseph SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.7private | PK–8 | 1.3 mi | 446 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
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
- #8 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
Sunita L. Williams Elementary is listed in Needham; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sunita L. Williams Elementary
Sunita L. Williams Elementary is a public elementary school in Needham, MA, part of Needham, serving approximately 531 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #399 of 1,793 schools in MA.
State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sunita L. Williams Elementary
What grades does Sunita L. Williams Elementary serve?
Sunita L. Williams Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Sunita L. Williams Elementary?
Sunita L. Williams Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 531 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunita L. Williams Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunita L. Williams Elementary is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sunita L. Williams Elementary rank in MA?
Sunita L. Williams Elementary ranks #399 of 1,793 schools in MA.
What is Sunita L. Williams Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Sunita L. Williams Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Sunita L. Williams Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sunita L. Williams Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Sunita L. Williams Elementary a charter school?
No, Sunita L. Williams Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sunita L. Williams Elementary a Title I school?
No, Sunita L. Williams Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 531
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Norfolk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.5%
- Phone
- (781) 455-0461
- Area population (ZIP 02494)
- 10,578
- Area average commute
- 27.5 min
- Area median age
- 43.5
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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