Best Schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts
31 schools · 20 Elementary · 5 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Cambridge?
Use this page to compare every school in Cambridge by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Maria L. Baldwin
Elementary · Cambridge. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Elementary · Cambridge. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rindge Avenue Upper School
Middle · Cambridge. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Cambridge for 2026 are Maria L. Baldwin (9.9/10), Martin Luther King Jr. (9.6/10), and Rindge Avenue Upper School (9.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
31
20 public · 11 private
Avg Score
7.8
out of 10
Median Home
$1,029,425
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
31
20 public · 11 private
Avg Score
7.8
out of 10
Median Home
$1,029,425
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Cambridge
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 20 rated schools; 31 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria L. Baldwin | 9.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Martin Luther King Jr. | 9.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Rindge Avenue Upper School | 9.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Morse | 9.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Amigos School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Cambridgeport | 9.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Putnam Avenue Upper School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Graham and Parks | 9.1 / 10 |
| 10 | John M Tobin | 8.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.8/10
- Median household income
- $125,903
- Median home value
- $1,029,425
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 79%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 34%
67% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Cambridge compares
Massachusetts rank
#24 of 241
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.5
above Massachusetts avg (6.3)
Median household income
$126k
111% of Massachusetts median
Schools in this city
30
Cambridge runs 85% of Cambridge's public schools
Cambridge touches 4 districts, but Cambridge is the one most addresses actually attend.
Cambridge accounts for 17 of 20 public schools (85%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 20 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 6.4 to 9.9 — the spread is inside Cambridge, not a citywide average.
3 of the 20 public schools are charters (15%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Cambridge17 public · 85%
- Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (district)1 public · 5%
- Community Charter School of Cambridge (district)1 public · 5%
- Prospect Hill Academy Charter (district)1 public · 5%
About Schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge public schools put up strong numbers across the board. The city's 20 ranked public schools average 8.1 out of 10, and 16 of those 20 — 80 percent — score 7 or higher. That high floor is the most important figure for most families: strong performance here is the norm, not the exception, and it extends broadly across the system rather than concentrating in a handful of schools.
The top of the ranking is particularly striking. Maria L. Baldwin Elementary leads the city at 9.9 out of 10. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary follows at 9.8, and Graham and Parks checks in at 9.5. John M. Tobin (9.3) and Haggerty (9.2) complete a cluster of five elementaries all clearing 9.0. Every school in the top five is elementary — and all five sit well above the city's already-high 8.1 average.
That elementary concentration carries practical weight. Parents entering the system at kindergarten are walking into Cambridge's strongest tier. The district runs a controlled-choice assignment process rather than strict neighborhood attendance zones, so families can express school preferences rather than defaulting to proximity alone. The top elementaries attract applicants from across the city, which means starting the process early and understanding how placements work gives families a meaningful advantage.
For parents doing side-by-side comparisons, the core takeaway is depth. An 8.1 city average with 80 percent of schools at 7-plus means good schools are distributed widely, not clustered around one or two exceptions. The ceiling is as high as it gets — Baldwin's 9.9 is the top score in the city — and the schools beneath it hold the standard. Cambridge is a system where parents can make decisions based on fit, proximity, and program rather than spending their energy searching for a single safe option.
Elementary Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 352 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.9 |
| 2 | 328 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.6 |
| 3 | 302 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.4 |
| 4 | 418 students · Pre-K–8th | 9.3 |
| 5 | 285 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 6 | 346 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.1 |
| 7 | 396 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 8 | 326 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 9 | 229 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 10 | 387 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
Show all 20 elementary schools in Cambridge
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 289 students · 6th–8th | 9.5 | ||
| 2 | 270 students · 6th–8th | 9.2 | ||
| 3 | 304 students · 6th–8th | 8.4 | ||
| 4 | 258 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Paul's Choir SchoolPrivate 40 students · 3rd–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,979 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 261 students · 6th–12th | 6.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | James F Farr AcademyPrivate 24 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 917 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 1,407 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 105 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts · 31 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$125,903
Median Home Value
$1,029,425
Median Rent
$2,686/mo
Population
113,724
College Educated
79%
Homeownership
34%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Community Profile
Cambridge has a median household income of $125,903. It is a well-educated community where 79% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,029,425, with a median rent of $2,686/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.7%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Massachusetts
- Elementary
- 20
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 3
- Other
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in Massachusetts
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts
How many schools are in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Cambridge has 31 schools, including 20 public and 11 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Cambridge is 7.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked school in Cambridge on MySchoolScout is Maria L. Baldwin with a composite score of 9.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked elementary school in Cambridge on MySchoolScout is Maria L. Baldwin with a composite score of 9.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked middle school in Cambridge on MySchoolScout is Rindge Avenue Upper School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The top-ranked high school in Cambridge on MySchoolScout is Cambridge Rindge and Latin with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Cambridge is served by 4 school districts: Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (district), Prospect Hill Academy Charter (district), Community Charter School of Cambridge (district), Cambridge.
What is the education level in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
According to Census data, 79% of adults in Cambridge have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Cambridge is approximately $125,903 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Yes, Cambridge has 11 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Paul's Choir School with a score of 8.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Cambridge is 8.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.