Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 106 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 115 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 130 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 48 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 56 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 80 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Drivers\Memcached\Item::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Core/Item/ItemExtendedTrait.php on line 438 Needham School District (2026) - Needham, MA
Public School Review - Established 2003

Needham School District

1330 Highland Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
10/
10
Top 5%
Tel: (781) 455-0400
www.needham.k12.ma.us

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 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public preschool serving 696 students in Needham School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public pre schools in Massachusetts.
Public Preschool in Needham School District have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the Massachusetts public pre school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 37% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the Massachusetts public preschool average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
8 Schools
568 Schools
# Students
5,493 Students
205,107 Students
# Teachers
454 Teachers
17,560 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
Pre-K6777
Kind11283
19778
211972
39663
410056
510547
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District Rank

Needham School District, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 391 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (MA)
#19 out of 395 school districts
(Top 5%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearNeedham School District
2023#19
2022#24
2021#27
2019#26
2018#50
2017#47
2016#48
2015#56
2014#57
2013#68
2012#70
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73%
42%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
202373%42%
202271%41%
202165%37%
201975%51%
201875%52%
201777%53%
201683%64%
201582%61%
201480%61%
201381%61%
201278%59%
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70%
44%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
202270%44%
202174%49%
201978%54%
201875%56%
201776%54%
201687%71%
201586%69%
201486%69%
201385%69%
201285%69%
201186%70%
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70%
44%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
202270%44%
202162%42%
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(21-22)
98%
90%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
202298%90%
202197%87%
202099%88%
201997%88%
201897%87%
201798%87%
201697%87%
201598%87%
201498%86%
201396%85%
201295%84%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.47
0.68

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
20240.470.65
20230.460.64
20220.440.62
20210.420.62
20200.390.60
20190.390.60
20180.370.58
20170.370.58
20160.350.56
20150.330.55
20140.330.54
20130.310.53
20120.300.52
20110.290.51
20100.280.50
20090.270.51
20080.250.47
20070.240.46
20060.230.45
20050.220.43
20040.210.43
20030.210.42
20020.200.41
20010.200.40
20000.200.39
19990.190.39
19980.190.38
19970.190.38
19960.180.36
19950.180.36
19940.180.35
19930.170.35
19920.180.34
19910.180.33
19900.170.31
19890.160.30
19880.170.28
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
12%
6%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
202413%7%
202312%7%
202211%7%
202110%7%
20209%7%
20199%7%
20189%8%
20179%8%
20169%6%
20158%6%
20148%6%
20138%6%
20127%6%
20117%7%
20107%6%
20096%6%
20087%6%
20076%6%
20066%6%
20056%5%
20046%5%
20035%5%
20025%5%
20015%4%
20005%4%
19994%4%
19984%4%
19975%4%
19964%4%
19954%4%
19944%4%
19934%4%
19924%4%
19913%3%
19904%3%
19894%3%
19884%3%
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% Hispanic
7%
31%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
20247%25%
20237%24%
20227%23%
20216%22%
20206%21%
20196%21%
20185%19%
20175%19%
20165%19%
20155%18%
20145%17%
20134%16%
20124%16%
20113%15%
20103%15%
20093%14%
20084%15%
20074%14%
20063%13%
20053%12%
20042%12%
20032%11%
20022%11%
20012%11%
20002%10%
19992%10%
19982%10%
19971%10%
19962%9%
19952%9%
19942%9%
19931%9%
19921%8%
19911%8%
19901%7%
19891%7%
19881%6%
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% Black
3%
13%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
20243%10%
20233%10%
20223%10%
20213%10%
20203%9%
20193%9%
20182%9%
20172%9%
20162%9%
20152%9%
20143%9%
20133%9%
20123%8%
20113%8%
20103%8%
20093%8%
20083%8%
20073%8%
20063%8%
20053%9%
20044%9%
20034%9%
20024%9%
20014%9%
20004%9%
19994%9%
19984%8%
19974%8%
19964%8%
19954%8%
19944%7%
19934%7%
19924%7%
19915%8%
19904%8%
19894%7%
19884%7%
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% White
71%
45%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
202471%53%
202372%54%
202273%56%
202175%57%
202077%59%
201977%59%
201879%61%
201779%61%
201680%63%
201582%64%
201481%65%
201382%66%
201284%67%
201184%68%
201084%69%
200985%70%
200886%71%
200787%72%
200688%73%
200588%74%
200488%74%
200389%75%
200289%75%
200189%76%
200089%77%
199990%77%
199890%78%
199790%78%
199690%79%
199590%79%
199490%80%
199391%80%
199291%81%
199191%81%
199091%82%
198991%83%
198891%84%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2010-2024)

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
20246%5%
20236%5%
20226%4%
20216%4%
20205%4%
20195%4%
20185%3%
20175%3%
20164%3%
20153%3%
20143%3%
20133%3%
20122%3%
20113%2%
20103%2%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $26,278 is higher than the state median of $23,855. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $24,850 is higher than the state median of $24,613. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (MA)
Total Revenue
$144 MM
$21,850 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
2023$144 MM$33 MM
2022$143 MM$30 MM
2021$144 MM$33 MM
2020$143 MM$30 MM
2019$146 MM$30 MM
2018$123 MM$29 MM
2017$115 MM$28 MM
2016$112 MM$28 MM
2015$84 MM$29 MM
2014$99 MM$25 MM
2012$95 MM$25 MM
2011$92 MM$29 MM
2010$84 MM$29 MM
2009$88 MM$25 MM
2008$78 MM$29 MM
2007$89 MM$30 MM
2006$75 MM$28 MM
2005$62 MM$25 MM
2004$61 MM$23 MM
2003$55 MM$22 MM
2002$61 MM$21 MM
2001$53 MM$20 MM
2000$42 MM$17 MM
1999$40 MM$16 MM
1998$38 MM$15 MM
1997$35 MM$15 MM
1996$33 MM$14 MM
1995$43 MM$14 MM
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Spending
$137 MM
$22,544 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
2023$137 MM$31 MM
2022$137 MM$30 MM
2021$137 MM$31 MM
2020$137 MM$30 MM
2019$158 MM$29 MM
2018$130 MM$27 MM
2017$112 MM$26 MM
2016$104 MM$26 MM
2015$86 MM$28 MM
2014$96 MM$25 MM
2012$107 MM$24 MM
2011$89 MM$28 MM
2010$86 MM$28 MM
2009$102 MM$24 MM
2008$91 MM$27 MM
2007$87 MM$28 MM
2006$63 MM$26 MM
2005$68 MM$23 MM
2004$66 MM$23 MM
2003$53 MM$22 MM
2002$61 MM$22 MM
2001$52 MM$20 MM
2000$42 MM$18 MM
1999$43 MM$16 MM
1998$44 MM$15 MM
1997$35 MM$14 MM
1996$34 MM$14 MM
1995$32 MM$12 MM
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Revenue / Student
$26,278
$23,855

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
2023$26,126$24,728
2022$25,138$21,893
2021$26,326$24,560
2020$25,138$21,893
2019$25,481$22,465
2018$21,758$21,203
2017$20,522$21,707
2016$20,094$20,995
2015$15,268$20,216
2014$17,938$18,426
2012$17,564$17,368
2011$17,104$19,949
2010$15,866$20,216
2009$17,247$17,400
2008$15,598$20,313
2007$17,762$19,874
2006$15,190$18,605
2005$12,725$16,492
2004$12,838$14,710
2003$11,834$14,080
2002$13,544$13,131
2001$12,014$11,945
2000$9,681$10,807
1999$9,202$9,233
1998$8,959$8,168
1997$8,471$8,222
1995$11,036$7,665
1992$6,796$6,378
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Spending / Student
$24,850
$24,613

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearNeedham School DistrictMassachusetts
2023$24,706$23,465
2022$24,022$21,748
2021$24,895$23,307
2020$24,022$21,748
2019$27,686$21,401
2018$23,023$19,776
2017$20,030$20,105
2016$18,555$19,473
2015$15,504$19,181
2014$17,438$18,091
2012$19,867$17,137
2011$16,575$19,427
2010$16,111$19,181
2009$19,875$16,788
2008$18,061$19,196
2007$17,376$18,606
2006$12,828$17,681
2005$13,885$15,640
2004$14,006$14,676
2003$11,424$13,753
2002$13,664$13,695
2001$11,810$12,113
2000$9,654$10,872
1999$10,036$9,235
1998$10,218$8,243
1997$8,444$7,752
1995$8,289$6,904
1992$6,450$5,896
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Best Needham School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Newman Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1155 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 455-0416
Gr: PK-5 | 696 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 29%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,493 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 29%
  • : 98% (Btm 50% in MA)
  • : Top 5%
  • : 73% (Top 5%)
  • : 70% (Top 10%)
  • : 70% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

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