Quality of Public Schools in Needham (inc SP-ED programs) (Boston: houses, buyers)

[hmtb]

Hello! My husband and I have been looking at houses in Needham and Newton for some time now and recently have been more seriously searching for houses in Needham. We are expecting our first child this coming winter and have family who live close to this town who are going to help a lot with childcare if we move to the town. Aside from that, we are interested in the town in general (it seems to have a great 'soul', better schools, and like a place where people respect their properties, and hopefully their neighbors etc. All of which are things we are looking for (and do not have where we live now).

We have been primarily looking at houses in the Mitchell, Elliot, and Broadmeadow school districts but as we get further along in pregnancy, I am starting to consider other factors that may come up and have realized I really don't know as much as I'd like to about the quality of the schools. I have been trying to find information (other than the Boston Magazine, niche, and greatschools rankings) on the quality of the schools in Needham (especially the elementary schools) including the quality of the special education programs and really have had little luck. I am hoping some of you who live in the town and have experience with the schools can speak to these topics and help provide some insight. We would be moving for us (we are not happy in the town we are in now) but also greatly because we want to be in a town with better schools so we can utilize public schools. I would hate to have us move to a much more expensive house/town to then find that the public schools (and possibly special education programs if needed) are not ones we can benefit from and need to also pay for private school. I know we can't prepare for everything (at all) but I'd at least like to try to educate myself on what we might expect with the schools (and SP-ED programs if needed). If we stay where we are (which we really do not want to do) we would feel the need to utilize private schools starting in elementary school.

Sorry if this is long winded! Hopefully I have explained what I am looking for but please let me know if more info will be helpful. I'd prefer not to say here which town we are in now due to the fact that we are still living here and would prefer not to have neighbors (or potential buyers of our house if it goes on the market soon) see this.

[MikePRU]

Received your PM and replied back.