Needham schools

Needham's public schools consistently rank among the best in the state, as measured by standardized test scores.

Swelling enrollments in recent years have led to a number of building projects to ease overcrowding. Finishing touches are being put on renovations and expansions at Needham High School. The town is renovating and expanding the former High Rock School into a 6th grade center to relieve congestion at Pollard Middle School, which would serve only 7th and 8th grades. The construction plan calls for High Rock to be completed and ready for occupancy in September 2009.

Public schools

Elementary schools

Broadmeadow Elementary?, grades K-5, 120 Broadmeadow Road

John Eliot Elementary?, grades K-5, 135 Wellesley Ave.

Hillside Elementary?, grades K-5, 28 Glen Gary Road

William Mitchell Elementary?, grades K-5, 187 Brookline St.

Newman Elementary?, grades PK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1155 Central Ave.

Middle Schools

Pollard Middle School?, grades 6-8, 200 Harris Ave.

High Schools

Needham High School?, grades 9, 10, 11, 12, 609 Webster St.

Private schools

Charles River Center?, 59 East Militia Heights, is a private, nonprofit human service agency providing programs for children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

Monsignor Haddad Middle School?, 110 May St., is a Catholic middle school serving 200 students in grades 6-8, affiliated with St. Joseph Parish.

St. Joseph Elementary?, 90 Pickering St., is a Catholic elementary school serving more than 440 students in grades K-5, affiliated with St. Joseph Parish.

St. Sebastian Country Day?, 1191 Greendale Ave., is an independent Catholic day school with 350 students in grades 7 to 12.

Walker Home and School?, 1968 Central Ave., provides intensive services for emotionally, behaviorally, and learning disabled students and their families.

Colleges and universities

Olin College of Engineering? was founded by the F.W. Olin Foundation in 1997 an alternative to traditional engineering schools. It admitted its first class in 2002. The campus features five building designed in postmodern style by architects Perry Dean Rogers & Partners. The school shares facilities and services with neighboring Babson College.