{"id":2410,"date":"2019-04-09T10:48:40","date_gmt":"2019-04-09T14:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellesleyps.org\/whs\/?page_id=2410"},"modified":"2025-09-26T09:56:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:56:34","slug":"school-profile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wellesleyps.org\/whs\/school-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"School Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wellesley High School<\/h3>\n

50 Rice Street \u2022 Wellesley Hills \u2022 Massachusetts \u2022 02481-6099 \u2022 781-446-6290 \u2022 FAX 781-446-6308<\/p>\n

Wellesley High School Profile (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wellesley High School
<\/strong>Class of 2026
Comprehensive Four-Year
Public High School<\/p>\n

Enrollment: 1236
2026 Graduating Class: 329
College Board Code Number: 222285<\/p>\n

Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
School Year: Two Semesters<\/p>\n

wellesleyps.org\/whs<\/a><\/p>\n

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Superintendent<\/strong>
David F. Lussier<\/p>\n

Principal
<\/strong>Jamie B. Chisum<\/p>\n

Assistant Principals<\/strong>
Andrew E. Kelton
Sarah S. Matloff
Collin A. Shattuck<\/p>\n

Director of School Counseling<\/strong>
Margaret W. Walendin
Anne E. North, Secretary<\/p>\n

Counselors<\/strong>
Annis G. Chwalek
Morgan M. Coakley
Marissa A. Coughlin
William Harrington
John S. Steere
Kristi R. Stone
Julie H. Trask<\/p>\n

Receptionist\/College Visit Coordinator
<\/strong>Lucretia D. Burns<\/p>\n

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Community<\/h4>\n

Wellesley is a suburban town of approximately 28,000 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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Faculty<\/h4>\n

Wellesley High School has a professional staff of 165. 94% hold a Master\u2019s degree; of that group 18% hold a Master\u2019s degree +30 credits and 36% hold a Master\u2019s degree +60 credits. 7% of our faculty hold a doctoral degree.<\/p>\n

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Special Features<\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Curriculum & Scheduling<\/h4>\n

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\/whsprogramofstudies2025-2026<\/a>\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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Course Levels<\/h4>\n

H*\u2014Honors\/Advanced Placement\/Intensive curriculum
ACP\u2014Advanced College Preparatory curriculum
CP\u2014College Preparatory curriculum
*Please see GPA Scale on next page for further details.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Seal Of Biliteracy<\/h4>\n

State legislated award that demonstrates high level skills in 2 or more languages.<\/p>\n

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Fine Arts<\/h4>\n
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  • 60% of the student body participates in an art class each semester<\/li>\n
  • 15% of those students receive state and national recognition from the Scholastics Art & Writing Awards Competition<\/li>\n
  • 30% of Art Intensive students pursue art as a major or minor in college<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Performing Arts<\/h4>\n

    More than 40% of students participate in the Performing Arts program. The Rice Street Singers has received a Gold Medal at the MAJE (Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators) State Festival for 15 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 Ensemble received a Gold Medal at MAJE.<\/p>\n

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    Senior Projects<\/h4>\n

    Students are offered a unique 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.<\/p>\n

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    Extracurricular Activities<\/h4>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

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    Interdisciplinary Studies<\/h4>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

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    Profile of a Graduate<\/h4>\n

    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?<\/em> In Spring 2018, the WPS community adopted its first Profile of a Graduate.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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    Graduation Requirements<\/h4>\n
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    1. Earn 136 credits* in grades 9-12.<\/li>\n
    2. Required Courses:*
      English<\/strong>\u00a0 (4 years)
      Math**<\/strong>\u00a0 (2 years)
      Science***<\/strong>\u00a0(2 years)
      Social Studies<\/strong>\u00a0 (2.5 years) (1 year must be U.S. History)
      Fitness and Health<\/strong>\u00a0 (1 course each year) (Intro to Fitness Gr 9\/ Health Gr 10)<\/li>\n
    3. Meet Competency Determinations (CD) in Math, Science, and English as approved by Wellesley School Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u00a0*A student must fulfill all their graduation requirements prior to the graduation ceremony in order to participate in the ceremony.<\/p>\n

      **Starting with the Class of 2028, the math requirement will be 3 years.<\/p>\n

      ***<\/span>All WHS Science courses include a lab component<\/p>\n

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      Grade Point Average<\/h4>\n

      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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Honors (H) \/ AP<\/td>\nAdvanced College Prep (ACP)<\/td>\nCollege Prep (CP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      A+\/A = 5.0<\/td>\nA+\/A = 4.5<\/td>\nA+\/A = 4.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      A- = 4.7<\/td>\nA- = 4.2<\/td>\nA- = 3.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      B+ = 4.3<\/td>\nB+ = 3.8<\/td>\nB+ = 3.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      B = 4.0<\/td>\nB = 3.5<\/td>\nB = 3.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      B- = 3.7<\/td>\nB- = 3.2<\/td>\nB- = 2.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      C+ = 3.3<\/td>\nC+ = 2.8<\/td>\nC+ = 2.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      C = 3.0<\/td>\nC = 2.5<\/td>\nC = 2.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      C- = 2.7<\/td>\nC- = 2.2<\/td>\nC- = 1.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      D+ = 2.3<\/td>\nD+ = 1.8<\/td>\nD+ = 1.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      D = 2.0<\/td>\nD = 1.5<\/td>\nD = 1.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      D- = 1.7<\/td>\nD- = 1.2<\/td>\nD- = 0.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      F = 0<\/td>\nF = 0<\/td>\nF = 0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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      College Admissions Test Scores<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      SAT I (mean)<\/strong><\/td>\nClass of 2026<\/strong><\/td>\nClass of 2025<\/strong><\/td>\nClass of 2024<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Number of Tests Taken<\/td>\n477<\/td>\n490<\/td>\n459<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Math<\/td>\n670<\/td>\n678<\/td>\n670<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Evidence Based Reading & Writing<\/td>\n654<\/td>\n666<\/td>\n656<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      ACT (mean)<\/strong><\/td>\nClass of 2026<\/strong><\/td>\nClass of 2025<\/strong><\/td>\nClass of 2024<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Number of Tests Taken<\/td>\n101<\/td>\n148<\/td>\n69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      English<\/td>\n29.0<\/td>\n28.5<\/td>\n28.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Math<\/td>\n27.1<\/td>\n27.8<\/td>\n27.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Reading<\/td>\n28.8<\/td>\n29.5<\/td>\n29.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Science<\/td>\n28.3<\/td>\n28.4<\/td>\n\u00a027.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Composite<\/td>\n28.4<\/td>\n28.7<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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      Post Graduate Plans<\/h4>\n

      Class of 2025
      <\/strong>Four-year colleges\u00a0 \u00a0 93%
      Two-year colleges\u00a0 \u00a0 .6%
      Post Graduate School\u00a0 \u00a02%
      Gap\/Alternative\/Working\u00a0 2.1%<\/p>\n

      Total Post-Secondary Education<\/strong>\u00a0 97.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      2025-26 AP Courses Offered at Wellesley HS<\/h4>\n