Needham operates 8 public schools serving 5,594 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Massachusetts. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 5,493 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Norfolk County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $28,303 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 75.6% local, 20.3% state, and 4.1% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $142,246 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 29/100, ranked #264 of 362 in Massachusetts against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (16 AP courses district-wide), a 216.3:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 11.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 70.1% White, 12.7% Asian, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.
Needham High accounts for 29.7% of all Needham student enrollment
That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Needham-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Needham school enrollment varies 4.1× across entities
Needham school enrollment ranges from 397 students (lowest) to 1,633 students (highest), a spread of 1,236 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Needham student-counselor ratio is 216:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.
Needham chronic absenteeism rate is 11.9% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.
Needham has 8 schools, including 1 high, 2 middle, 1 other, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 5,594 students.
How much does Needham spend per student?
Needham spends $28,303 per student. The district has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #264 in Massachusetts.
What is the average teacher salary in Needham?
The average teacher salary in Needham is $142,246 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near Needham?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Norfolk County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of Needham?
Needham students are 70.1% White, 12.7% Asian, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.3% African American, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Needham?
Needham has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #264 out of 362 districts in Massachusetts. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.