Public schools in Needham, MA
8 open public schools with an address in Needham, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,493
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.1:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Needham public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Needham, MA: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,493 students, an average of 687 per school. The largest campus is Needham High (1,633 students), and the largest elementary school is Newman Elementary (696).
Every listed school belongs to Needham. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.1:1, similar to the statewide school median of 11.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School districts and agencies serving Needham
Elementary schools in Needham
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadmeadow Needham | KG–05 | 502 | 14:1 | |
| John Eliot Needham | KG–05 | 397 | 11.7:1 | |
| Newman Elementary Needham | PK–05 | 696 | 12.3:1 | |
| Sunita L. Williams Elementary Needham | KG–05 | 533 | 13.1:1 | |
| William Mitchell Needham | KG–05 | 424 | 12.6:1 |
Middle schools in Needham
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Rock School Needham | 06–06 | 441 | 11.8:1 | |
| Pollard Middle Needham | 07–08 | 867 | 11:1 |
High schools in Needham
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needham High Needham | 09–12 | 1,633 | 11.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White71.2%
- Hispanic7.1%
- Black3.2%
- Asian11.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Needham schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,493 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Needham
How many public schools are in Needham, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Needham: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 5,493 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Needham?
All listed public schools with an address in Needham belong to Needham. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Needham?
Needham High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Needham, with 1,633 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Needham?
No school with an address in Needham is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Massachusetts.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Needham schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Needham public schools is 12.1:1, similar to the Massachusetts school median of 11.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Needham guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Massachusetts cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Massachusetts cities