Massachusetts public high school

Norwell High School

Norwell school district

A-

overall grade

Ranks #31 of 335 Massachusetts high schools — top 10%.

Overall rank

#31

of 335 schools

Average SAT

1144

MA average 1091

Graduation rate

99%

MA average 92%

Plan on college

94%+22 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.

Norwell is an affluent suburban town on Massachusetts' South Shore, about 20 miles southeast of Boston. Originally part of Scituate until its incorporation in 1888, the town is known for its rural character, with tree-lined roads, conservation land, and a strong sense of community. Norwell maintains its historic New England charm while serving as a residential community with easy access to both Boston and the coastal areas of the South Shore.

How it compares

What stands out

Strongest area: Math MCAS, in the top 4% statewide. 85% of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in 2026, vs 44% statewide.
Trend: Chronic absence has fallen from 19% in 2022 to 9.1% in 2025.
Trend: The average SAT score is down 32 points since 2022 (1176 to 1144).

Where it stands among 335 Massachusetts high schools

Bottom of MATop of MA

Overall

Excellenttop 10% · #31

SAT

Above averagetop 34% · #112

ELA MCAS

Excellenttop 5% · #14

Math MCAS

Excellenttop 4% · #11

AP results

Above averagetop 21% · #64

Graduation

Excellenttop 7% · #20

College plans

Excellenttop 9% · #27

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 score1144in 2025 · MA avg 1091

53 points above the MA avg

By section (out of 800)

Reading & writingBetter than average

This school

588

MA avg

556

MathBetter than average

This school

556

MA avg

535

224 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 Arts82%in 2026 · state 45%

37 points above the state

Math85%in 2026 · state 44%

41 points above the state

Biologyhigh school science, 2026Better than average

This school

61%

State

38%

Detailed scores

Average scaled score, ELA · Math · Science (500+ = meeting expectations)519 · 518 · 508

Achievement percentile vs. MA schools (ELA · Math)96th · 93rd

Student growth percentile, ELA · Math (50 = typical growth)56 · 54

AP & advanced courses

AP exams scored 3+85%in 2025 · MA avg 66%

19 points above the MA avg

Score breakdown

Score 5: 20%Score 4: 37%Score 3: 28%Score 2: 13%Score 1: 2%

251 students took 429 AP exams. A 3 or higher can earn college credit.

Completed an advanced coursegrades 11–12Better than average

This school

97.3%

MA avg

71.4%

9th graders passing all coursesBetter than average

This school

100%

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

0.7%

MA avg

4.3%

Plan to attend college94%in 2025 · state 72%

22 points above the state

Graduates' plans · 149 graduates

4-year private college

53%

4-year public college

37.6%

2-year public college

3.4%

Work

2.7%

Apprenticeship

1.3%

Students

Who attends

White

91.3%

Multi-Race

3.7%

Asian

2.7%

Hispanic/Latino

1.7%

Black/African American

0.5%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%

47.6% female · 52.4% male

Student needs

High needslow income, English learner, or disabilityLower than average

This school

19%

MA avg

50.7%

Low incomeLower than average

This school

6.7%

MA avg

39%

English learnersLower than average

This school

0.5%

MA avg

8.6%

Teachers

Licensed teachersAbout average

This school

100%

MA avg

95.9%

Experienced teachersBetter than average

This school

96.1%

MA avg

73.4%

Teaching in their fieldBetter than average

This school

98.1%

MA avg

84.6%

Students per teacher

11.7MA avg 11.8

51.5 full-time-equivalent teachers

Attendance & safety

Attendance rateBetter than average

This school

95%

MA avg

92.3%

Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysBetter than average

This school

9.1%

MA avg

22.3%

8.9 days absent per student (MA avg 13.2) · Suspensions: 1.8% out-of-school, 0.5% in-school (MA high school avg 4% / 2.2%)

About Norwell

Plymouth County · South Shore

Avg single-family home value$1.07MMA median $588K

Avg property tax bill$13,675MA median $6,814

Tax rate$12.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40

Income per person$116,707MA median $47,872

Local kids in public school91.5%

Town bond ratingAAA

Free cash reserves7.4% of budget

Norwell 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.

Medfield Senior High

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Cohasset High School

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Duxbury High

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#50 in MASAT 1185Graduation 99%94% match

Littleton High School

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#40 in MASAT 1161Graduation 98%92% match