Massachusetts public high school

Needham High School

Needham school district

A+

overall grade

Ranks #4 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 2%.

Overall rank

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1270+179 vs MA

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

99%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

95%+23 vs MA

MA average 72%

SAT is the average total score of test takers. Graduation is the four-year rate. College is the share of graduates who report plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college.

Needham is an affluent suburban town located approximately 12 miles southwest of Boston. Known for its highly-rated schools and family-oriented character, the town features a mix of residential neighborhoods, local businesses along Great Plain Avenue and Highland Avenue, and several parks and conservation areas. Needham was originally incorporated in 1711 and developed from an agricultural community into one of the Boston area's most sought-after residential suburbs.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: Math MCAS, in the top 1% statewide. 91% of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in 2026, vs 44% statewide.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 31.8% in 2022 to 7.2% in 2025.

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Excellenttop 2% · #4

SAT

Excellenttop 6% · #20

ELA MCAS

Excellenttop 2% · #4

Math MCAS

Excellenttop 1% · #2

AP results

Excellenttop 3% · #8

Graduation

Excellenttop 6% · #19

College plans

Excellenttop 6% · #18

The overall rank weighs SAT (30%), MCAS (25%), AP results (20%), and graduates' college plans (25%). Categories rank only the schools with data for them. How we rank

SAT

Average total score1270in 2025 · MA avg 1091

179 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

634

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

636

MA avg

535

459 students took the SAT.

"MA avg" is the average of the 335 high schools we rank. Only students who choose to take the SAT are counted.

MCAS (10th grade)

Share of 10th graders meeting or exceeding expectations. Statewide results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement. There was no test in 2020.

English Language Arts88%in 2026 · state 45%

43 points above the state

Math91%in 2026 · state 44%

47 points above the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Better than average

This school

74%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)523 · 524 · 514

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)98th · 97th

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)58 · 56

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+96%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

29 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 43%Score 4: 34%Score 3: 19%Score 2: 4%Score 1: 0%

502 students took 1,076 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Better than average

This school

94.6%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesBetter than average

This school

99.3%

MA avg

82.6%

After high school

Four-year graduation rate99%in 2024 · MA avg 92%

8 points above the MA avg

Dropped outof the four-year classBetter than average

This school

0.2%

MA avg

4.3%

0.5% of the class were still in school after four years.

Plan to attend college95%in 2025 · state 72%

23 points above the state

Graduates' plans · 408 graduates

4-year private college

53.4%

4-year public college

40.4%

Other / unknown

2.2%

2-year public college

1.5%

Students

Who attends

White

74.7%

Asian

9.4%

Hispanic/Latino

8.3%

Multi-Race

4.9%

Black/African American

2.6%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%

51.4% female · 48.1% male · 0.6% nonbinary

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityLower than average

This school

21.4%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeLower than average

This school

6.5%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

0.8%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

100%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersBetter than average

This school

83.9%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldBetter than average

This school

98%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

11.9MA avg 11.8

137.4 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

95.7%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average

This school

7.2%

MA avg

22.3%

7.6 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 0.5% out-of-school, 0.9% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Needham

Norfolk County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95

Avg single-family home value$1.54MMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$16,690MA median $6,814

Tax rate$10.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$147,409MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school81.6%

Town bond ratingAAA

Needham district profile · What could you afford here? · All towns A–Z

Town figures are FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices. "MA median" is the median of the state's 351 towns.

Similar schools elsewhere

Schools with similar test results, demographics, and college plans.

Dover-Sherborn Regional High

Dover-Sherborn

A+

#3 in MASAT 1283Graduation 100%97% match

Hopkinton High

Hopkinton

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#7 in MASAT 1272Graduation 99%96% match

Westwood High

Westwood

#16 in MASAT 1269Graduation 100%95% match

Wellesley Sr High

Wellesley

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#9 in MASAT 1299Graduation 98%94% match