Wellesley High School
50 Rice Street • Wellesley Hills • Massachusetts • 02481-6099 • 781-446-6290 • FAX 781-446-6308
Wellesley High School Profile (PDF)
Wellesley High School
Class of 2027
Comprehensive Four-Year
Public High School
Enrollment: 1231
2027 Graduating Class: 293
College Board Code Number: 222285
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
School Year: Two Semesters
Superintendent
David F. Lussier
Principal
Jamie B. Chisum
Assistant Principals
Andrew E. Kelton
Sarah S. Matloff
Collin A. Shattuck
Director of School Counseling
Margaret W. Walendin
Anne E. North, Secretary
Counselors
Annis G. Chwalek
Morgan M. Coakley
Marissa A. Coughlin
William Harrington
John S. Steere
Kristi R. Stone
Julie H. Trask
Receptionist/College Visit Coordinator
Lucretia D. Burns
Community
Wellesley is a suburban town of approximately 31,000 located 13 miles west of Boston. A large proportion of the population is comprised of academic, business, and professional families. The home of three colleges, Wellesley is a community where academic excellence and cultural traditions are highly valued. Wellesley’s reputation for having a superior educational system attracts many families to the town and its schools. The METCO Program and the ABC Program, in addition to students we welcome from more than 20 countries, all add to the diversity of the school population.
Faculty
Wellesley High School has a professional staff of 165. 95% hold a Master’s degree; of that group 21% hold a Master’s degree +30 credits and 38% hold a Master’s degree +60 credits. 8% of our faculty hold a doctoral degree.
Special Features
Students are encouraged to excel academically and to pursue individual interests through a number of special cultural travel experiences, school-sponsored global exchanges, independent study programs, internships, senior projects, community service, and courses at local colleges.
Curriculum & Scheduling
In addition to the standard curricular offerings in English, Math, Science with labs, Social Studies, and World Languages, a vast array of elective courses is available in Art, Family and Consumer Science, Technology, Performing Arts and Fitness and Health. In addition, students may take courses through Virtual High School. Our Program of Studies is available on our website: https://sites.google.com/wellesleyps.org/whsprogramofstudies2026-2027 Master Schedule constraints may preclude WHS from meeting all requests for AP courses as well as students being able to enroll in all requested courses.
Course Levels
H—Honors/Advanced Placement/Intensive curriculum
ACP—Advanced College Preparatory curriculum
CP—College Preparatory curriculum
*Please see GPA Scale on next page for further details.
Seal Of Biliteracy
State legislated award that demonstrates advanced proficiency in both English and at least one additional language. 49 students achieved a Seal of Biliteracy last year in 8 World Languages, 14 with distinction.
Fine Arts
- 40% of the student body participates in an art class each semester
- 25 students received state and national recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Award Competition last year.
Performing Arts
WHS has a highly successful performing arts program that includes 5 choirs, 2 bands, 3 jazz ensembles, 2 orchestras, as well as classes in acting and guitar and many extra-curricular offerings. The Rice Street Singers has received a Gold Medal at the MAJE ( Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators) State Festival for 16 consecutive years. Wind Ensemble received a Gold Medal at the MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association) State Concert Band Festival. Chamber Orchestra received a Gold Medal and Sinfonia Orchestra received a Gold Medal at the MICCA State Orchestra Festival. The Jazz Combo received a Silver Medal at MAJE. The Dramatic Arts Society went on the METG State Finals for the second consecutive year.
Senior Projects
Students are offered an opportunity for independent study in an area of personal or career interest during the fourth term of their senior year. Projects are individually designed and must meet the approval of the Senior Project Committee which is comprised of administrators, faculty, and students. In most cases, the project takes place outside of school.
Extracurricular Activities
The majority of students at Wellesley High School further develop their individual interests through participation in extracurricular activities. Students may choose from over 60 different opportunities in service, academic, student government, and performing arts programs. More than 80% of the student body participates in one or more of the 77 varsity and sub-varsity athletic teams in 38 different sports.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Evolutions is an interdisciplinary academic program that provides an educational environment for students to embrace their curiosity and take ownership of their learning. Through experiential and project-based learning, Evolutions students embrace the rigorous task of building connections across the disciplines of Art, English, Science, and Social Studies. The goal for students is to: synthesize a variety of learning experiences; think critically about the content and themselves; apply objective knowledge to formulate solutions to real-world problems; connect to community; and, communicate their experiences through authentic projects, personal and academic writing and public presentation of their learning.
Profile of a Graduate
During the 2017-18 school year, the Wellesley Public Schools set out to consider the question: What is most important for our students to know and be able to do? In Spring 2018, the WPS community adopted its first Profile of a Graduate. Identified competencies: Create and Innovate, Think and Critically Solve Problems, Engage Locally and Globally, Communicate and Collaborate, and Attend to Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health.
Graduation Requirements
- Earn 136 credits in grades 9-12.
- Required Courses:*
English (4 years)
Math** (2 years)
Science*** (2 years)
Social Studies (2.5 years) (1 year must be U.S. History)
Fitness and Health (1 course each year) (Intro to Fitness Gr 9/ Health Gr 10) - Meet Competency Determinations (CD) in Math, Science, and English as approved by Wellesley School Committee.
*A student must fulfill all their graduation requirements prior to the graduation ceremony in order to participate in the ceremony.
**Starting with the Class of 2028, the math requirement will be 3 years.
***All WHS Science courses include a lab component
Grade Point Average
The level of the course and grade attained in the course are the basis for computing the weighted 5.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Computation includes academic and intensive courses completed in grades 9-12 at Wellesley High School. Rank in class is not reported.
| Honors (H) / AP | Advanced College Prep (ACP) | College Prep (CP) |
| A+/A = 5.0 | A+/A = 4.5 | A+/A = 4.0 |
| A- = 4.7 | A- = 4.2 | A- = 3.7 |
| B+ = 4.3 | B+ = 3.8 | B+ = 3.3 |
| B = 4.0 | B = 3.5 | B = 3.0 |
| B- = 3.7 | B- = 3.2 | B- = 2.7 |
| C+ = 3.3 | C+ = 2.8 | C+ = 2.3 |
| C = 3.0 | C = 2.5 | C = 2.0 |
| C- = 2.7 | C- = 2.2 | C- = 1.7 |
| D+ = 2.3 | D+ = 1.8 | D+ = 1.3 |
| D = 2.0 | D = 1.5 | D = 1.0 |
| D- = 1.7 | D- = 1.2 | D- = 0.7 |
| F = 0 | F = 0 | F = 0 |
College Admissions Test Scores
| SAT I (mean) | 2025/26 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
| Number of Tests Taken | 752 | 674 | 490 |
| Math | 668 | 658 | 678 |
| Evidence Based Reading & Writing | 658 | 651 | 666 |
| ACT (mean) | 2026/25 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
| Number of Tests Taken | 101 | 101 | 148 |
| English | 28.1 | 29.0 | 28.5 |
| Math | 27.9 | 27.1 | 27.8 |
| Reading | 29.1 | 28.8 | 29.5 |
| Science | 30.1 | 28.3 | 28.4 |
| Composite | 28.4 | 28.4 | 28.7 |
Post Graduate Plans
Class of 2026
Four-year colleges 93%
Two-year colleges 3%
Post Graduate School 1%
Gap/Alternative/Working 2%
Total Post-Secondary Education 99%
2025-26 AP Courses Offered at Wellesley HS
- Biology
- Business with Personal Finance*
- Calculus AB
- Calculus BC
- Chemistry
- Computer Science A
- Computer Science Principles
- Economics
- Environmental Science
- French Language
- German Language
- Language and Composition
- Physics C: Mechanics
- Psychology
- Research
- Seminar
- Spanish Language
- Statistics
- U.S. History
- World History: Modern
- See https://sites.google.com/wellesleyps.org/whsprogramofstudies2026-27/
- *Denotes a new course offered for the first time this year.
AP 2026 Exam Registrations
| Registered for: | # of Students |
| 4 or more | 110 |
| 3 | 108 |
| 2 | 132 |
| 1 | 200 |
Class of 2026 Advanced Placement Awards
AP Scholars 80 Students
AP Scholars with Honor 53 Students
AP Scholars with Distinction 137 Students
AP Summary Statistics
| Year | #Exam Taken | # Students Tested | % Earned 3 or > | % Earned Score of 4 | % Earned a Score of 5 |
| 2026 | 1,233 | 525 | 98 | 33 | 50 |
| 2025 | 1,241 | 536 | 96 | 34 | 47 |
| 2024 | 997 | 436 | 90 | 32 | 41 |
National Merit Scholarship Results
| Class of | # Students Commended | # of Semi Finalists |
| 2027 | 33 | 9 |
| 2026 | 35 | 7 |
| 2025 | 38 | 8 |