Our Guiding Philosophy

• • Find Balance - high school can bring a lot of excitement as well as stress, so it is important to take care of yourself and build in time for fun and the things in your life that bring you joy

  • Academic Success - NHS is full of wonderful people and resources! Take advantage of them, and be sure to put your best effort forward

  • Self-Advocacy - developing relationships with your teachers each year is crucial to a positive high school experience. Your teachers want to know you and help you, so get to know them and let them get to know you!

  • Extracurricular Involvement (in and/or outside of school) - think about how you can get involved and find opportunities to explore your interests, skills, and leadership!

  • Personal Growth - adjust study skills as needed, challenge yourself, learn to be a good self-advocate, grow your independence.

  • Plan for the Future - thinking about life after high school can be both scary and exciting. Work with your counselors to take the necessary steps in exploring and creating a picture of what you'd like to do after you graduate. Each of you are on a unique path, and we will help you develop a plan. 

Mark Your Calendars

2025-2026 Counseling Parent Evenings

All evening events are conducted 6:30-8:00pm, via Zoom unless indicated. Link provided in advance of the evening.

    Recordings and slide decks, when available, are in the Recorded Presentations/Slide Decks drop down menu.

Senior Parent/Guardian Night Thursday, September 18th

Standardized Testing         Thursday, October 9th 2024

GAP Year Planning Wednesday, January 7th, 7:00pm  (in collaboration with Wellesley High School, see information and link to register below) 

Junior Family/Guardian Night    Thursday, January 15th

Grade 8 Curriculum Night Thursday, January 29th (virtual if inclement weather)

College Planning for Students w/ Learning Difference Thursday, March 5th, 9:00 am @ NHS Cafe Ext

Financial Aid Night Thursday, March 19th

News to Know

Refer to the NHS Counseling Department website to remain up to

date with all the department has to offer!

Last edited: 10/10/25

Seniors & Families

The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is offering FREE, drop-in assistance through a virtual workspace on Wednesday, October 22 from 4:00- 6:00 PM. Families can log in at any time during that time frame to get personalized, individual help from a FAFSA expert. This link also includes information on what documents you need to complete the FAFSA so I encourage you to preview that so you can be fully prepared for the session. 

MEFA  exists to help students and families best address the cost of college and offers other workshops and support as well, so take a look and see what can be helpful. 

Needham Veterans of Foreign Wars 2025 Student Essay Contest.

Students in Needham High School and Middle Schools can now participate in the contest, can win cash prizes from the Post, and may be eligible to win even more at the State or National Level contests.  The high school contest is named "The Voice of Democracy,"  and the middle school contest is named "Patriots Pen."

Information for both grades are on this link: https://vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships. Applications may be picked up at the VFW Post on 20 Junction Street as well. 

 All submissions should be sent to VFW Post 2498, ATTN Tom Keating, 20 Junction Street, Needham MA 02494 by October 31st.  CONTACT: TOM KEATING, VFW POST 2498

508-472-1377 with questions.

PSAT at Needham High: Registration/Payment

APExamPayment

-Students planning to take AP exams in May 2026 can begin making payment through MySchoolBucks on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. There will be no in-person payment.

-The payment window in MSB runs from Sept 2nd - October 31st. If requesting a Fee Waiver do not use MSB, email Mr Grannan (will_grannan@needham.k12.ma.us) directly with the request

-Cost $114 per exam

-In addition to paying for the exam (or requesting a fee waiver) every AP exam taker must join AP Classroom (join code provided by AP teacher) and must change their exam status from 'undecided' to 'yes' before November. If a student does not take this step an exam can't be ordered.

-All late exam orders, after the initial order is placed in November, will incur a $40 late fee.

 Seniors: interested in attending a United States Service Academy? 

Service Academy Nomination application for Congressman Jake Auchincloss’ office is open until Sunday, November 2nd, 2025. Please share this information with current seniors in your school who are interested in attending a United States Service Academy. This information is only applicable for students who reside in the Massachusetts 4th Congressional district.

Students hoping to attend a United States Service Academy (U.S. Military Academy at West Point; U.S. Naval Academy; U.S. Air Force Academy; U.S. Merchant Marine Academy) are required to obtain a nomination from their Member of Congress or other sources if they wish to receive an appointment to the Academy. Please note that the United States Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination.

Please see below the list of documents students must submit to our office to be considered for a nomination to one of the U.S. Service Academies. The deadline to submit these documents is November 2nd, 2025. No late submissions will be accepted.

• Signed application form

• Personal Statement

• Official High School Transcript

• SAT and/or ACT Scores

• Resume

• 3 letters of recommendation

The application and documents can be submitted on our website HERE. If preferred, students may also mail the application and supporting materials to our Newton District Office located at 29 Crafts St Suite 375, Newton, MA 02458.

Any questions about our application process.? Reach out via email at Catarina.Pereira@mail.house.gov or by phone at (617) 332-3333.