Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School vs Morse
Morse has a higher overall rating of 9.2/10 compared to 8.7/10. In math proficiency, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School leads at 67.0%.
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Cambridge, MA
346 students
Morse
Cambridge, MA
302 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School | Morse |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.7 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.7 | 8.0 |
| Growth Score | 9.9 | 9.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Environment Score | 4.3 | 9.8 |
| State Rank | #89 of 1,791 | #28 of 1,791 |
| State Percentile | 95th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School | Morse |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 67.0% | 57.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 72.0% | 67.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School | Morse |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 6th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 346 | 302 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 16.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District) | Cambridge |
| City | Cambridge | Cambridge |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Cambridge (02140) | Cambridge (02139) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $136,382 | $124,648 |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,200 | $1,066,200 |
| Median Rent | $2,581 | $2,613 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 78.6% | 77.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Avg Commute | 31 min | 25 min |
The data story: Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School vs Morse
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School and Morse sit 2.7 miles apart in Cambridge, Massachusetts and are separated by just 0.1 rating points overall — Morse edges ahead at 9.1/10 versus Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's 9.0/10. In state rank, Morse holds a modest lead at #57 of 1791 Massachusetts schools compared to Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School at #64 of 1791. For parents focused on that headline number, both schools land in the top 4% statewide, making the overall gap practically negligible.
The academic and growth picture is where the two schools diverge most sharply. Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School scores 9.7/10 on academics against Morse's 8.0/10 — a 1.7-point gap that represents a meaningful difference in measured proficiency outcomes. On growth, both schools perform at an elite level: Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School earns a 9.9/10 and Morse a 9.7/10, meaning students at both schools are advancing well relative to peers statewide. Families prioritizing tested academic outcomes will find Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's academic score significantly stronger, even though Morse's overall rating is fractionally higher.
The demographic and structural contrasts are considerable. Morse's student-teacher ratio of 9.2:1 is dramatically lower than Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's 16.5:1, meaning Morse students get roughly twice the adult attention per classroom. Enrollment tells a similar story — Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School serves 346 students while Morse has 302 — though the ratio difference is a far larger practical distinction than the enrollment gap. Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a charter school operating independently of Cambridge Public Schools, while Morse is a regular district public school, which affects enrollment processes, lottery requirements, and access to district wraparound services.
One structural difference families should weigh: Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School serves grades PK–06, carrying students one year further than Morse's PK–05 range. That extra sixth-grade year keeps students in the same building longer before the middle school transition. Families on a charter lottery versus neighborhood-assignment path will also navigate different enrollment timelines and commitment structures at each school.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School suits families who prioritize academic performance above all else — its 9.7/10 academic score is 1.7 points higher than Morse's — and who are willing to enter a charter lottery and accept larger class sizes (16.5:1) in exchange for that outcome. The PK–06 span also appeals to parents who want to delay the middle school transition by one year.
Morse
Morse is the stronger fit for families who want an intimate classroom environment — its 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio is among the lowest you'll find at any public school — and who prefer straightforward district enrollment over a charter lottery. Its #57 statewide rank shows it delivers elite outcomes with a level of individual attention Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's structure cannot match.