Summary:
ZIP code 02494 covers two elementary schools, both serving grades K–5 in the Needham Public Schools district in Massachusetts: Sunita L. Williams Elementary and John Eliot. Families here are choosing within a district ranked 20th of 351 statewide — 94th percentile, 5 stars — so both schools sit inside an unusually strong system.
Sunita L. Williams Elementary is the larger school (533 students) and the stronger overall performer. It ranks 70th of 899 schools in 2025–2026 (92nd percentile, 5 stars) and was 68th the year before, a big jump up from 127th in 2023–2024. Its all-grade 2025–2026 proficiency is 70.57 in ELA, 67.79 in Math, and 71.88 in Science — above the Massachusetts average by roughly 27 to 31 points, and above the Needham district average in ELA and Science. John Eliot enrolls 397 students, ranks 127th of 899 (86th percentile, 4 stars), and has a lower student-to-teacher ratio (11.7 vs 13.1). It scores below the district average in all three subjects, but its standout result is 3rd-grade Math at 75.00 — above the district (66.74) and far above Sunita (52.81).
The two schools move in opposite directions by grade in Math: Sunita rises from 52.81 in 3rd grade to 78.05 in 4th, while John Eliot falls from 75.00 to 59.09 by 5th grade. Upper-grade ELA separates them most — about 16 points in both 4th and 5th grade. Even so, both schools are far above the state average (roughly 40–41% proficiency). Note that free/reduced lunch data is not provided for either school in 2024–2025, and spending figures are from 2020–2021 only.
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