Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School vs Maria L. Baldwin

Maria L. Baldwin ranks #1 of 1,791 schools in Massachusetts, while Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School ranks #89 of 1,791 — still an elite position, but a meaningful gap when both schools sit within 1.0 mile of each other in Cambridge. Maria L. Baldwin's overall rating of 9.9/10 edges out Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's 8.7/10 by 1.2 points, placing Baldwin in a category of its own statewide. For families weighing two genuinely strong options, that state-rank difference is the sharpest signal available.

The academic scores are nearly identical — Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School earns a 9.7/10 and Maria L. Baldwin a 9.8/10 — a gap of just 0.1 points that is unlikely to drive a decision on its own. Both schools post a growth score of 9.9/10, meaning students at each school are advancing at an exceptional rate relative to peers with similar starting points. On raw academic trajectory alone, the two schools are effectively tied.

The clearest structural difference between the two schools is student-teacher ratio: Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School runs at 16.5 students per teacher, while Maria L. Baldwin operates at 11.0 students per teacher — a gap of 5.5 students per adult. Both enroll a similar number of students overall, with Benjamin Banneker at 346 and Maria L. Baldwin at 352, so the ratio difference reflects staffing levels rather than school size. Families who prioritize individualized attention will find meaningfully more of it at Baldwin.

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a charter school serving grades PK through 06, while Maria L. Baldwin is a regular public school serving grades PK through 05. The one additional grade year at Banneker means families stay in the same building through sixth grade rather than transitioning to middle school after fifth — a logistical consideration for parents thinking about continuity. Enrollment at Banneker requires navigating the charter admission process, whereas Baldwin assignment follows Cambridge Public Schools' standard placement system.