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Newman Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

43^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 899 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Better than 95% of Massachusetts elementary schools

Summary

Newman Elementary is a PK–5 school in Needham, MA, serving 696 students — the largest enrollment among the nearby Needham elementary schools — and it is part of the Needham district, which ranks 20th of 351 districts statewide. Newman itself has become a top-tier state school: in 2025–2026 it ranked #43 of 899 elementary schools in Massachusetts (95th percentile, 5 stars). That continues a striking decade-long climb from 3-star rankings in the 66th–68th percentile in 2015–2019.

On the 2025–2026 MCAS Next Generation tests, Newman students reached 70.61% proficiency in ELA, 72.38% in Math, and 67.96% in Science — far above statewide rates of roughly 40% in each subject. Within Needham, Newman posts the highest all-grade ELA and Math results among the nearby elementary schools, ahead of William Mitchell, John Eliot, Broadmeadow, and Sunita L. Williams Elementary. Science is the relative soft spot locally, at 4th of those 5 schools. Newman's student/teacher ratio of 12.3 is second-lowest among its Needham peers, and its per-student spending of $21,757 (2020–2021) is above most Needham peers except Sunita L. Williams.

Against nearby Wellesley and Dover schools, Newman is strong but not the very top: its #43 rank is close to Sprague Elementary School (#42) and ahead of Chickering (#47), but behind Wellesley's John D Hardy (#2), Joseph E Fiske (#13), Hunnewell (#31), and Schofield (#37). Subgroup effectiveness is a strength: special education students ranked #10 of 709 statewide (99th percentile), and low-income students improved from the 21st percentile in 2018–2019 to the 86th in 2022–2023. Grade-level results vary, with 4th-grade ELA at 61.46% below 3rd grade (77.39%) and 5th grade (71.57%), and Science has swung year to year (57.89% to 76.19% across recent years).

696

Students ?

12.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,282

Per pupil spending ?

7.8%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students in Massachusetts receive free school meals.

1155 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02492

(781) 455-0416

District: Needham

Students who attend Newman Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	High Rock School
	Pollard Middle
High:	Needham High

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.3%

Asian:

11.8%

Hispanic:

8.5%

See top rated Massachusetts elementary schools

Compare Newman Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 66th percentile in 2016 → 95th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Massachusetts average (71% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of Massachusetts elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg71%

Massachusetts avg41%

43^rd of 899

Massachusetts public elementary schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 29 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to top 5% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Massachusetts Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Elementary Schools in the Needham

20^th of 351Needham among Massachusetts districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	92.7	43 of 899	95.2%	★★★★★
2025	94.1	31 of 906	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	88.3	97 of 916	89.4%	★★★★☆
2023	87.5	107 of 928	88.5%	★★★★☆
2022	87.0	116 of 932	87.6%	★★★★☆
2021	78.9	199 of 936	78.7%	★★★★☆
2019	68.0	302 of 942	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.1	294 of 934	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	66.9	308 of 938	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.7	315 of 932	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	75.4	213 of 914	76.7%	★★★★☆
2014	71.0	272 of 926	70.6%	★★★★☆
2013	73.6	257 of 928	72.3%	★★★★☆
2012	75.9	222 of 930	76.1%	★★★★☆
2011	81.5	159 of 924	82.8%	★★★★☆
2010	83.7	132 of 920	85.7%	★★★★☆
2009	81.7	143 of 909	84.3%	★★★★☆
2008	80.9	154 of 908	83.0%	★★★★☆
2007	84.6	109 of 911	88.0%	★★★★☆
2006	83.0	141 of 911	84.5%	★★★★☆
2005	78.5	193 of 887	78.2%	★★★★☆
2004	83.5	131 of 882	85.1%	★★★★☆
2003	82.8	137 of 884	84.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	43.5	99 of 149	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.5	50 of 142	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.4	92 of 152	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	82.0	13 of 145	91.0%	★★★★★
2019	30.3	119 of 155	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2022	82.5	63 of 672	90.6%	★★★★★
2021	82.3	69 of 632	89.1%	★★★★☆
2019	61.0	201 of 665	69.8%	★★★★☆
2018	60.6	201 of 656	69.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	75 of 869	91.4%	★★★★★
2025	91.8	43 of 869	95.1%	★★★★★
2024	84.9	119 of 886	86.6%	★★★★☆
2023	86.9	111 of 887	87.5%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	118 of 901	86.9%	★★★★☆
2021	77.6	186 of 898	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	68.2	273 of 902	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.0	232 of 893	74.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2025	98.1	6 of 458	98.7%	★★★★★
2019	72.7	68 of 398	82.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2023	75.5	108 of 757	85.7%	★★★★☆
2019	29.0	554 of 700	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	93.5	29 of 879	96.7%	★★★★★
2025	94.1	19 of 884	97.9%	★★★★★
2024	88.8	72 of 891	91.9%	★★★★★
2023	84.4	120 of 896	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	84.8	113 of 908	87.6%	★★★★☆
2021	77.4	200 of 904	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	64.1	318 of 907	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.0	351 of 898	60.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	96.2	10 of 709	98.6%	★★★★★
2025	98.1	7 of 717	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	74.6	125 of 731	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	76.7	108 of 703	84.6%	★★★★☆
2022	78.6	129 of 905	85.7%	★★★★☆
2021	78.2	133 of 894	85.1%	★★★★☆
2019	44.3	514 of 896	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	557 of 886	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

Tested In Person

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	77.3	201 of 925	78.3%	★★★★☆

Tested Remotely

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2021	84.4	65 of 399	83.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Massachusetts percentile	Rating
2026	87.2	52 of 734	92.9%	★★★★★
2025	89.8	39 of 737	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	84.1	79 of 753	89.5%	★★★★☆
2023	82.7	98 of 762	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	81.9	104 of 764	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	69.7	205 of 765	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	65.1	257 of 780	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.3	314 of 772	59.3%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)99th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)99th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)97th percentile~ school

White (2026)93rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)91st percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)86th percentile-3 vs school

Tested Remotely (2021)84th percentile+5 vs school

Tested In Person (2021)78th percentile~ school

Asian (2026)34th percentile-62 vs school

By subject vs Massachusetts (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics72%+31 vs state

English Language Arts71%+31 vs state

Science68%+27 vs state

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, November 17, 2014

Son came from private school and Newman has exceeded all expectations. Close Quote

Schools Near Newman Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts (2026)				MCAS Next Generation Mathematics (2026)				MCAS Next Generation Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation English Language Arts All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Mathematics All Grades	MCAS Next Generation Science 5th Grade	MCAS Next Generation Science All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Newman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1155 Central Avenue	Needham	02492	Norfolk County	Needham	No	No	No	No	(781) 455-0416	696	56	12.3	7.8%	496 (71.3%)	19 (2.7%)	59 (8.5%)	82 (11.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.6%)	92.7	43^rd of 899 public elementary schools	95.2%		94.1	31^st of 906 public elementary schools	96.6%	12	77.4	61.5	71.6	70.6	72.4	77.1	68.0	72.4	68.0	68.0			$27,282
Sunita L. Williams Elementary	Public	K-5	585 Central Avenue	Needham	02494	Norfolk County	Needham	No	No	No	No	(781) 455-0461	533	41	13.1	6.8%	376 (70.5%)	23 (4.3%)	30 (5.6%)	59 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (8.3%)	90.3	70^th of 899 public elementary schools	92.2%		90.1	68^th of 906 public elementary schools	92.5%	2	68.2	69.5	73.7	70.6	52.8	78.1	72.9	67.8	71.9	71.9	98%	1%	$25,904
William Mitchell	Public	K-5	187 Brookline Street	Needham	02492	Norfolk County	Needham	No	No	No	No	(781) 455-0466	424	34	12.5	3.1%	323 (76.2%)	14 (3.3%)	19 (4.5%)	42 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.1%)	86.2	118^th of 899 public elementary schools	86.9%		92.1	47^th of 906 public elementary schools	94.8%	71	54.8	63.5	61.8	59.6	61.9	65.1	76.3	67.7	69.7	69.7	99%	1%	$25,261
John Eliot	Public	K-5	135 Wellesley Avenue	Needham	02494	Norfolk County	Needham	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 455-0452	397	34	11.7	12.8%	221 (55.7%)	21 (5.3%)	35 (8.8%)	84 (21.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.1%)	84.8	127^th of 899 public elementary schools	85.9%		87	106^th of 906 public elementary schools	88.3%	21	65.3	53.3	57.6	58.7	75.0	64.0	59.1	66.2	62.1	62.1	98%	2%	$26,190
Hunnewell	Public	K-5	28 Cameron Street	Wellesley	02482	Norfolk County	Wellesley	No	No	No	No	(781) 446-6275	294	28	10.5	7.5%	207 (70.4%)	7 (2.4%)	20 (6.8%)	32 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.5%)	94	31^st of 899 public elementary schools	96.6%		91.2	56^th of 906 public elementary schools	93.8%	25	74.4	68.4	72.9	71.5	82.1	63.8	77.1	73.1	85.4	85.4	98%	0%	$32,049
Joseph E Fiske	Public	K-5	45 Hastings Street	Wellesley	02481	Norfolk County	Wellesley	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 446-6265	278	24	11.3	11.5%	152 (54.7%)	14 (5.0%)	23 (8.3%)	77 (27.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.3%)	96.1	13^th of 899 public elementary schools	98.6%		96.3	11^th of 906 public elementary schools	98.8%	2	79.2	92.1	82.9	84.3	68.8	84.2	74.3	75.2	80.0	80.0	100%	0%	$27,071
Chickering	Public	PK, KG-5	29 Cross Street	Dover	02030	Norfolk County	Dover	No	No	No	Yes	(508) 785-0480	492	45	11.0	4.7%	361 (73.4%)	10 (2.0%)	27 (5.5%)	63 (12.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.3%)	92.3	47^th of 899 public elementary schools	94.8%		92	50^th of 906 public elementary schools	94.5%	3	60.5	72.7	73.9	68.9	62.2	80.9	92.7	77.8	75.0	75.0	92%	6%	$25,034
Broadmeadow	Public	K-5	120 Broadmeadow Rd	Needham	02492	Norfolk County	Needham	No	No	No	No	(781) 455-0448	502	36	14.0	6.8%	351 (69.9%)	6 (1.2%)	29 (5.8%)	70 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (9.2%)	90.3	71^st of 899 public elementary schools	92.1%		92.1	48^th of 906 public elementary schools	94.7%	23	78.5	59.1	62.4	66.3	74.7	64.4	68.2	68.9	70.6	70.6	100%	0%	$25,203
Sprague Elementary School	Public	K-5	401 School Street	Wellesley	02482	Norfolk County	Wellesley	No	No	No	Yes	(781) 263-1965	289	25	11.7	11.1%	160 (55.4%)	11 (3.8%)	32 (11.1%)	58 (20.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.7%)	92.8	42^nd of 899 public elementary schools	95.3%		91.6	53^rd of 906 public elementary schools	94.2%	11	85.0	72.7	75.6	77.5	73.2	86.1	68.9	76.0	56.8	56.8	100%	0%	$29,048
Schofield	Public	K-5	27 Cedar Street	Wellesley	02481	Norfolk County	Wellesley	No	No	No	No	(781) 446-6280	291	27	10.9	10.0%	190 (65.3%)	8 (2.7%)	29 (10.0%)	45 (15.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (6.2%)	93.6	37^th of 899 public elementary schools	95.9%		90.6	61^st of 906 public elementary schools	93.3%	24	68.1	76.4	74.6	73.3	74.5	75.9	71.2	73.8	67.8	67.8	100%	0%	$28,170

Frequently Asked Questions about Newman Elementary

What district is Newman Elementary in?

Needham

Is Newman Elementary a good school?

Yes! Newman Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 43^rd of 899 Massachusetts elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Newman Elementary?

Students at Newman Elementary are 71% White, 12% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American.

What schools do graduates of Newman Elementary attend?

Students who attend Newman Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : High Rock School
Middle : Pollard Middle
High : Needham High

How many students attend Newman Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 696 students attended Newman Elementary.

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Latest Massachusetts data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2023–24 through 2024–25 teacher salary dataNewNov 1, 2026

2020–21 through 2022–23 teacher salary data (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.