Wellesley High School Drops to No. 35 in State Rankings
Wellesley High School dropped in the newest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, landing at No. 35 in Massachusetts even after posting a 98 percent graduation rate, according to The Swellesley Report.
SCHOOLS
Wellesley Public Schools' website flagged progress on a long-planned air conditioning upgrade for the four district buildings without centralized cooling: Wellesley Middle School and the Bates, Fiske, and Schofield elementary schools. The School Committee voted unanimously in May to move forward with a plan to upgrade electrical systems and install window units in classrooms and libraries, after small-scale pilot installations outperformed expectations. The committee plans to request design funds at the Fall Special Town Meeting.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Wellesley Free Library has filled out its fall calendar beyond this week's programs. New dates posted include "Welcome to the Graveyard!" on September 8, a "Massachusetts: The Library State" talk on September 10, a Charles River Sinfonietta chamber concert on September 13, a "Dante in 75 Minutes" lecture on September 16, and "The American Revolution and the Fate of the World" on September 22, all in the Wakelin Room at the Main Library.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Wellesley High School drops to #35 in latest U.S. News rankings" is the headline from The Swellesley Report, which reports the school posted an overall score of 96.39 percent, with 84 percent science proficiency and a 98 percent graduation rate, even as it fell in the annual rankings (read it at https://theswellesleyreport.com/2026/08/wellesley-high-school-drops-to-35-in-latest-u-s-news-rankings-what-the-numbers-mean-how-the-community-is-reacting/).
"Patch AM: Why did Wellesley High tumble in rankings—and what happens next?" per Wellesley Patch, which previewed the same ranking shift in its Tuesday morning newsletter alongside the day's local calendar (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wellesley/patch-am-why-did-wellesley-high-tumble-rankings-what-hap-nodx-20260825).
COMING UP
At the Wellesley Free Library this week: a Sci-Fi Book Club meets Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Pokemon Club runs Tuesday at 4 p.m.; "Secret Codes & AI Detectives" for tweens and kids repeats Tuesday through Friday mornings; "Modern Communication with Technology" is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., paired with a Fuse Beads craft session that afternoon; Thursday brings Tech Time in Jackie's Room at 10 a.m., "Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead" for kids, and a virtual talk with mystery author Lucy Foley at 2 p.m.; and Friday closes the week with "Taking Great Photos with Your iPhone" at 10 a.m. and an "Off to School Celebration" for kids at 3:30 p.m.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.