Excellent
#8 of 388 private schools in MA
Top 2% of private schools
Walker School
School
1968 CENTRAL AVE, Needham, MA 02492
Enrollment
72
Student-Teacher
4.8:1
Score
8.6
Grades
UG – UG
Enrollment
72
Student-Teacher
4.8:1
Score
8.6
Grades
UG – UG
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
Massachusetts private schools
#8 of 388
In Needham
#1 of 2
public schools
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Walker School
School in Needham · grades UG – UG. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Chickering
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Charles River School
1.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Walker School
Walker School is a private school in Needham, MA. Walker School serves approximately 72 students, and covers grades UG-UG, and has a 4.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Walker School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #8 of 388 private schools in MA.
- This school 8.6 · Excellent
- MA avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
At 72 students, Walker School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 4.8:1 students to teachers, Walker School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Walker School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Walker School compares to 8 public schools serving similar grades in Needham, MA
Student Demographics
Nearby Other Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Walker School (this school) | 8.6 |
| High Rock School | 8.9 |
| Newman Elementary | 9.6 |
| Pollard Middle | 8.7 |
| Needham High | 8.7 |
| Sunita L. Williams Elementary | 7.8 |
| William Mitchell | 9.1 |
| Broadmeadow | 8.5 |
| John Eliot | 9.3 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MA.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in MA
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
1968 CENTRAL AVE, Needham, MA 02492
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Walker School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Newman Elementary (rated 9.6/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Wellesley Middle (rated 9.6/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Wellesley), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, John Eliot (rated 9.3/10, 3.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Needham, see our Needham schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Chickering Dover | 0.6 mi | 6.7 |
| CHARLES RIVER SCHOOL Dover | 1.2 mi | 7.0 |
| Newman Elementary Needham | 1.7 mi | 9.6 |
| High Rock School Needham | 1.7 mi | 8.9 |
| TENACRE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Wellesley | 2.1 mi | 7.7 |
| DANA HALL SCHOOL Wellesley | 2.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Hunnewell Wellesley | 2.7 mi | 9.0 |
| ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Needham | 2.4 mi | 4.7 |
| Wellesley Sr High Wellesley | 3.0 mi | 8.9 |
| Sunita L. Williams Elementary Needham | 3.0 mi | 7.8 |
| Pollard Middle Needham | 2.5 mi | 8.7 |
| Needham High Needham | 2.7 mi | 8.7 |
| RIVERBEND SCHOOL Natick | 2.6 mi | 6.8 |
| Wellesley Middle Wellesley | 3.2 mi | 9.6 |
| MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL OF WELLESLEY HILLS Wellesley Hls | 3.4 mi | — |
| Sprague Elementary School Wellesley | 3.4 mi | 7.8 |
| John Eliot Needham | 3.5 mi | 9.3 |
| William Mitchell Needham | 3.1 mi | 9.1 |
| Memorial Natick | 2.9 mi | 7.4 |
| Joseph E Fiske Wellesley | 3.8 mi | 9.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
| MANVILLE SCHOOL Roxbury Crossing, MA | 8.3 |
| CENTER SCHOOL Holyoke, MA | 8.2 |
| BOSTON HIGASHI SCHOOL Randolph, MA | 8.0 |
| CENTER FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL INSTRUCTION SCHOOL Worcester, MA | 7.9 |
| EVERGREEN CENTER Milford, MA | 7.9 |
| KENNEDY DAY SCHOOL Brighton, MA | 7.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Walker School
What grades does Walker School serve?
Walker School serves students in grades UG through UG.
How many students attend Walker School?
Walker School has an enrollment of approximately 72 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walker School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walker School is 4.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Walker School rank in MA?
Walker School ranks #8 of 388 private schools in MA.
What is Walker School's MySchoolScout rating?
Walker School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Walker School a private school?
Yes, Walker School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Walker School a religious school?
No, Walker School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- UG – UG
- Enrollment
- 72
- Gender Split
- 75% M / 25% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 4.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 6.5 hours
- Days Per Year
- 216 days
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Norfolk County
- Phone
- (781) 449-4500
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