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Jacobs Farmhouse, 2017, Norwell MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0
A
Schools in Norwell · Norwell School District

Norwell’s public schools outscore 90% of Massachusetts districts

Math proficiency in Norwell’s districts is 67%, above the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Norwell, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

#25of 283 Massachusetts townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
65%
▲ 21 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
67%
▲ 26 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 6–11 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.5K
▼ 23% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.0
MA 11.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
2,194 students on the public path
In brief

Norwell’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 115 Massachusetts towns with household incomes within a quarter of Norwell’s, its schools beat 72%, lower than their 90% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 65% and math 67% in spring 2022, against 44% and 41% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,543 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Norwell Middle School, then Norwell High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

South Shore Charter Public School and The Accord School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Norwell’s grade

A Test scoresB+ Graduation

A: better than 90% of Massachusetts school districts, #25 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Massachusetts average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 90%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (115)Better than 72%
Towns in Plymouth County (25)Better than 92%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,163 test results and a graduating class of 153 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Norwell’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,163 in math, 1,163 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Norwell, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA−
6–8Norwell Middle SchoolNorwell School DistrictA−
9–12Norwell HighNorwell School DistrictA+

Norwell’s public schools are run by Norwell School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Norwell School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,194 students · 13.0 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$20,543MA $26,530 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading65%
State average 43.7% · 1163 students tested
Math67%
State average 40.7% · 1163 students tested

Norwell vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Norwell’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
NorwellANorwell
HanoverA−Hanover
MarshfieldB+Marshfield
PembrokeB+Pembroke
ScituateAScituate
HinghamAHingham
RocklandC+Rockland

Every school in Norwell

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Norwellby address
William G Vinal
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
556 students15:1Rate it →
Grace Farrar Cole
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
528 students15:1Rate it →
Norwell Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
509 students12:1Rate it →
Norwell High
High · Grades 9–12
A+
601 students12:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
South Shore Charter Public School
Grades K–12
C+
Charter
1,057 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Accord School
Elementary · Grades 5–8
Private · Nonsectarian
19 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Norwell’s schools

Are Norwell’s schools good?

By Massachusetts’s own tests, yes: the public schools Norwell children attend outscore 90% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #25 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Norwell in?

Norwell School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,194 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Norwell kids go to high school?

Norwell High, with 601 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Norwell’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Norwell School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Norwell spend per student?

$20,543 in Norwell School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Norwell?

Yes: The Accord School (nonsectarian, grades 5–8, 19 students). Norwell also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Norwell families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Norwell → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.