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: 10/1/25

College Admissions Testing: Your Roadmap to the ACT and Digital SAT

Thursday, October 9, 2025

6:30 - 7:45 pm EST

link to register for the webinar:  https://guidewelleducation.onecanoe.com/summit/registration/create?event_code=SAT0151

Summit Educational Group is pleased to partner with Needham High School to provide this informational webinar about the college testing landscape. In this webinar, Summit's Drew Heilpern will share the latest information about these standardized tests, talk about what's on the tests and how and when to prepare for them.

Session topics include:

• SAT vs. ACT, how they differ and how to choose

• Components of a good Test Prep Plan

• The digital adaptive PSAT and SAT

• Preparing for these tests

• The role of standardized tests in the college admission process

The goals of this session are simple: to reduce anxiety, increase clarity, and impart confidence to families about the college admissions testing process. To learn more about Summit, visit mytutor.com

Please note: If you cannot make it on this date, register anyway and we'll send a link to the webinar recording.

Attention Seniors

The Education Collaborative College Fair

 Tuesday, October 7 from 6-8 pm.  

Open to the public. 

Here's the list of schools attending

Waltham High School

554 Lexington St,  Waltham

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

For 11th and 10th graders:

-The PSAT will be offered at Needham High School on Saturday, October 18th.

-For juniors, the results are used for National Merit (NMSQT) Scholarship eligibility (non-juniors are not considered for NMSQT eligibility).

-For all students it is a PRACTICE test (not an official SAT, hence the 'P'). If you have a conflict on the 18th, you can still 'practice' with full length tests on your own schedule using the Bluebook testing app (info to access Bluebook below).

-Payment (which also serves as registration) is made through MySchoolBucks (MSB). The payment window in MSB runs from Sept 2nd - October 3rd. If requesting a Fee Waiver do not use MSB (see below).

-Cost $31

-For any issues paying through MSB or requests for Fee Waivers, please see Mr. Grannan in the Counseling Office or email will_grannan@needham.k12.ma.us.

-If requesting a Fee Waiver you will register directly with Mr Grannan (not through MSB)

-The PSAT is DIGITAL. Learn more about the Digital PSAT from the College Board @ https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparing.

-PSAT uses the Bluebook testing application through CollegeBoard; you can test with a PC, Mac, or school issue Chromebook (you can't test with a personal Chromebook). If testing using a school issued Chromebook, the Bluebook testing app is located in the app section of the login page (don't try to download the app, you already have it). If testing using a PC or Mac, you must download Bluebook on your device.

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.