Graham and Parks vs Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Graham and Parks and Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.1 out of 10. In math proficiency, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School leads at 67.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Graham and Parks
Cambridge, MA
396 students
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Cambridge, MA
346 students
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| Metric | Graham and Parks | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.1 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 7.9 | 10.0 |
| Growth Score | 9.5 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Environment Score | 9.9 | 5.7 |
| State Rank | #72 of 1,793 | #70 of 1,793 |
| State Percentile | 96th | 96th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Graham and Parks | Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 47.0% | 67.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 57.0% | 72.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Cambridge (02138) | Cambridge (02140) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $122,040 | $136,382 |
| Median Home Value | $1,088,700 | $1,070,200 |
| Median Rent | $2,799 | $2,581 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 85.6% | 78.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 12.6% | 10.8% |
| Avg Commute | 24 min | 31 min |
The data story: Graham and Parks vs Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Graham and Parks sits at 9.5/10 overall versus Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's 9.0/10 — a half-point gap that reflects a significant difference in state standing. Graham and Parks ranks #13 of 1791 Massachusetts schools, placing it in the top 1% statewide. Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School ranks #64 of 1791, which is still elite company, but trails Graham and Parks by 51 positions on that same list. Both schools are 0.7 miles apart in Cambridge, making the comparison a genuine neighborhood decision rather than a geographic tradeoff.
On raw academics, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School pulls ahead: its academic score of 9.7/10 beats Graham and Parks' 8.6/10 by 1.1 points, a meaningful delta suggesting stronger tested proficiency at Banneker. Growth scores are nearly identical — Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School posts a 9.9/10 versus Graham and Parks' 9.8/10 — meaning both schools add roughly the same value relative to student starting points. Where Graham and Parks earns its overall edge is likely in equity-related metrics and environment factors that offset Banneker's academic advantage in the composite rating.
The most concrete structural difference between these two schools is the student-teacher ratio. Graham and Parks runs at 11.3 students per teacher versus Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's 16.5:1 — that's five additional students per adult in the room, a 46% higher ratio at Banneker. Graham and Parks also enrolls 396 students versus Banneker's 346, so the smaller ratio at Graham and Parks is not a function of a smaller school. Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a charter school; Graham and Parks is a regular public school, which affects lottery access, enrollment processes, and district zoning considerations for Cambridge families.
Graham and Parks serves grades PK through 5, while Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School extends one year further through grade 6, giving Banneker families an additional year before a middle school transition. Both schools serve pre-kindergarten, so entry points align for families with younger children.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Graham and Parks
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School suits families who prioritize maximum academic performance — its 9.7/10 academic score is 1.1 points above Graham and Parks — and are willing to manage the charter enrollment process and a 16.5:1 classroom ratio in exchange for that edge. The PK–06 span also appeals to families wanting to delay a middle school transition by one year.
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Graham and Parks is the stronger fit for families who want a top-1%-in-Massachusetts school (#13 of 1791) with significantly smaller class sizes — 11.3 students per teacher versus 16.5:1 at Banneker — and prefer a traditional public school enrollment path over the charter lottery. The higher overall rating of 9.5/10 reflects strengths beyond academics alone.