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

2026-2027 Counseling Parent/Guardian 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 17th.      Zoom Link 

Standardized Testing         Thursday, October 8th  w/ Compass Education Group Zoom Link 

MEFA Financial Aid Night   Tuesday, October 20th  Zoom Link 

GAP Year Planning Wednesday,  January 6th, (tentative date) 7:00pm*  (in collaboration with Wellesley High School)

Junior Family/Guardian Night    Thursday, January 14th

Grade 8 Curriculum Night Thursday, January 28th (virtual if inclement weather)

Financial Aid Night Thursday, March 18th

News To Know

Last edited: 10/28/26

Pre-ACT Practice Test

Saturday, November 7th, 9:00am

Needham High School and Compass Education have partnered to offer an on-campus, paper/pencil ACT practice test at no cost. This test is the new, shorter format; the Science Test section is included.​  

For detailed information and answers to FAQs, please visit HERE. Questions, please contact Compass @  tests@compassprep.com 

To register, follow this link. 

Deadline is Saturday, October 31st.

Students can access a copy of their unofficial transcript by following these directions. 

The Peterson School

Westwood Open House & Career Fair

November 5, 2026

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Join us for an Open House & Career Fair at our Westwood location! Come explore our programs, meet our team, learn more about upcoming classes, and connect with employers and career opportunities.

Explore the Trades

Our Woburn and Westwood locations are excited to invite you to their EXPLORE THE TRADES event. Join us as we open our doors to provide introductory classes in some of our most sought-after trades. Prospective students will have the opportunity to review the highlights of hands-on instruction, gaining valuable insight into the skills required to pursue a fulfilling career in their chosen trade. Woburn will be hosting their Explore the Trades event on Thursday, 11/12/26.  Westwood will be hosting their Explore the Trades event on Saturday, 11/21/26. Trades you can choose from: Basic Electricity* Basic Plumbing* HVACR Explore the Trades is complimentary Registration is Open and Required! Click Here to Register for Woburn Today Click Here to Register for Westwood Today

Community Service Arts  Opportunity

We are happy to announce that the Needham Great Hall Concert Series will be starting up again with four wonderful concerts coming to Needham Town Hall this year. 

In order to make the evening a success, we need YOU, NHS students! 

You will have the opportunity to receive community service in the Arts by volunteering for forty hours of community service and becoming an USHER.

USHERING consists of a variety of things from collecting and scanning tickets, handing out programs, selling refreshments, warmly greeting audience members at the doors, helping at the merchandise table, and post-concert cleanup, and anything that will make the evening run smoothly.

And in the meantime, you get to hear 4 great, varied concerts. And sometimes you might get to interact with the performers themselves.

Here are the 4 concert dates for the upcoming year:

*Three concerts left this year... you will receive ~12 hours of credit for the 3 concerts if you do all!!

September 19, 2026

November 21, 2026   

March 13, 2027

May 1, 2027

All the concerts are Saturday evening from roughly 6:30 to 10:00pm at Needham Town Hall.

In one year, you will receive ~14-15 hours of credit. That means in order to receive forty hours, you will need to volunteer for three years. We have had many Ushers volunteer for four years, even after they have received their needed forty hours because it is a fun job.

We would love you to come volunteer, be an usher, and part of our team. 

Any question, for more info or to sign up, contact Margie Brodsky at margiebrodsky@yahoo.com