Broadmeadow leads Needham elementary schools in U.S. News rankings

Broadmeadow Elementary in Needham ranked 98th out of 956 Massachusetts elementary schools in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best K-8 Schools rankings, the highest finish among Needham and Dedham schools.

The K-5 school at 120 Broadmeadow Rd. scored 89.84 out of 100, according to its U.S. News profile. Seventy-two percent of Broadmeadow students scored at or above the proficient level in math, and 69% reached that mark in reading. Both figures topped the Needham district averages of 70% in math and 64% in reading.

William Mitchell Elementary, also in Needham, finished close behind at No. 100 with a score of 89.63. Mitchell students posted 73% math proficiency and 66% reading proficiency. John Eliot placed 125th, Newman Elementary 152nd and Sunita L. Williams Elementary 253rd.

All five Needham elementary schools landed in the top half of the state's 956 ranked schools.

In Dedham, Greenlodge Elementary earned the top local spot at No. 230 with a score of 75.81. Sixty-seven percent of Greenlodge students scored proficient or above in math, and 56% did so in reading. Both numbers exceeded the Dedham district averages of 49% in math and 44% in reading.

Dedham's other ranked elementary schools were Oakdale at No. 399, Riverdale at No. 424 and Avery in the 717–956 range.

As we reported Oct. 28, Needham also earned a top K-12 district ranking from U.S. News this year.

How the rankings work

U.S. News ranked nearly 47,000 elementary schools and more than 24,000 middle schools nationwide. The rankings weigh four factors equally at 25% each: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half the formula assessed raw scores. The other half factored in socioeconomic demographics.

Only public schools are included because they participate in common statewide assessments that allow direct comparison. The rankings draw on state assessment data from the 2023-2024 school year.