Needham School District

1330 Highland Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(District boundaries shown in map)
10/
10
Top 10%

Top Rankings

Needham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 3,039 students in Needham School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public elementary schools in Massachusetts.
Elementary Schools in Needham School District have an average math proficiency score of 67% (versus the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 66% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 49% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
8 Schools
1,360 Schools
# Students
5,541 Students
605,604 Students
# Teachers
450 Teachers
51,596 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Needham School District, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 393 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MA)
#24 out of 397 school districts
(Top 10%)
71%
41%
70%
44%
70%
44%
98%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.47
0.66
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
12%
8%
% Hispanic
7%
26%
% Black
3%
10%
% White
72%
51%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $26,050 is higher than the state median of $23,845. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $24,635 is higher than the state median of $24,602. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MA)
Total Revenue
$144 MM
$21,850 MM
Spending
$137 MM
$22,544 MM
Revenue / Student
$26,050
$23,845
Spending / Student
$24,635
$24,602

Best Needham School District Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
High Rock School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
77 Ferndale Road
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0400
Grades: 6
| 447 students
Rank: #22.
Broadmeadow
(Math: 67% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
120 Broadmeadow Rd
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0448
Grades: K-5
| 522 students
Rank: #33.
Newman Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1155 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0416
Grades: PK-5
| 698 students
Rank: #44.
William Mitchell
(Math: 63% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
187 Brookline Street
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0466
Grades: K-5
| 439 students
Rank: #55.
Sunita L. Williams Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
585 Central Avenue
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0461
Grades: K-5
| 531 students
Rank: #66.
John Eliot
(Math: 56% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
135 Wellesley Avenue
Needham Heights, MA 02494
(781) 455-0452
Grades: K-5
| 402 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,541 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 29%
  • : 98% (Top 5% in MA)
  • : Top 10%
  • : 71% (Top 10%)
  • : 70% (Top 10%)
  • : 70% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

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