Needham High School
- Public
- NEEDHAM, MA
Public School
Needham High School
- grade A+Overall Grade
- Public
- 9-12
- NEEDHAM, MA
- Rating 3.81 out of 5 263 reviews
Report Card
- Academicsgrade A+
- Diversitygrade B minus
- Teachersgrade A+
- College Prepgrade A+
- Clubs & Activitiesgrade A
- Administrationgrade B+
- Sportsgrade A+
- Foodgrade B
- Resources & Facilitiesgrade B+
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Needham High School Rankings
Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.
Academics
Percent Proficient - Reading
85%
Percent Proficient - Math
89%
Average Graduation Rate
98%
Average SAT
1320
675 responses
Average ACT
30
158 responses
AP Enrollment
32%
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- Cost of Livinggrade C+
- Good for Familiesgrade A+
- Housinggrade B minus
Median Household Income
$182,813
National
$69,021Median Rent
$1,826
National
$1,163Median Home Value
$939,800
National
$244,900Culture & Safety
Poll
91%
of students agree that they feel safe at their school. 22 responsesPoll
77%
of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there. 22 responsesStudents
Diversity
grade B minus
Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
Students
1,670
Free or Reduced Lunch
6%
91%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive. 23 responses78%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy. 23 responses87%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic. 23 responsesTeachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
National
17:1Average Teacher Salary
$87,627
Teachers in First/Second Year
13.6%
78%
of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons. 36 responses81%
of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students. 36 responses75%
of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom. 36 responsesClubs & Activities
Clubs & Activities
grade A
Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.
Girls Athletic Participation
Very High
Boys Athletic Participation
Very High
Expenses Per Student
$19,737 / year
National
$12,23986%
of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in. 43 responses44%
of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need. 43 responses81%
of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations. 43 responsesSimilar Schools
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- 9-12
- Rating 3.93 out of 5 281 reviews
Needham High School Reviews
Rating 3.81 out of 5 263 reviews
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Overall, my experience at NHS has been a relatively good one! I've never had significant problems with my teachers, although some are definitely better at teaching than others. However, that can be said about most schools. I'm incredibly grateful for the open-campus policy as it gives students more freedom to choose a place they are able to better focus or accommodate their needs. That said, Needham, which can be labeled as a "liberal" town, still has its fair share to do in combating racism and other forms of discrimination. While being a white-dominated school itself does not warrant any problems, I have personally witnessed the more covert prejudice that runs within the student population. It's subtle, but it's there. Luckily, from what I've heard from friends, the school offers many great guidance counselors. Students can go there to discuss future plans or anything that's bothering their minds, and I think the school does an adequate job of providing mental health resources.
Overall, I really liked my general experience at Needham High School. I thought the teachers were very passionate in their teachings and they demonstrated prospective learning to all students. On the social aspect of Needham High School, I made a lot of friends and interacted with a lot of people through sports, clubs, and school events which was great for my liking. One thing I would love to see Needham High School improve is by combating social issues such as racial and gender inequality. Being a predominantly white school, I think it is best for students to learn about the struggles minorities and lgbt+ communities go through. By incorporating these important topics into our academic curriculum, students will be more educated and well-rounded.
My thoughts on NHS are complicated. It's undeniable that academics are strong and prepare you very well for college. Most of the teachers are great and care about their students. However, the school's culture is... not great, and those deficits appear to be fairly irreparable due to greater issues of diversity, suburban generational pressures, social climate, and drug culture. If you are a minority to any degree, you will be harassed. This is a fact. If you want to have a happy, typical HS experience complete with cigars at graduation and big parties, you have to either be a pretty white girl or a hyper-aggressive white boy. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule; most people at NHS find their own niche friend group by junior year, and these groups have their own upsides and downsides. However, if you are not from the "in" groups and dare to engage with people from these groups through sports or clubs, chances are you will find yourself the subject of gossip and exclusion.