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Excellent

#74 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 4% in state

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

Elementary School · Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District)

21 Notre Dame Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140

Charter

Enrollment

346

Student-Teacher

16.5:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#74 of 1,793

In Cambridge

#10 of 20

public schools

Academic growth

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

9.1/10

Elementary School in Cambridge · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Maria L. Baldwin

9.9/10

Cambridge, MA. Compare side by side with Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School before ruling this option in or out.

Martin Luther King Jr.

9.8/10

Cambridge, MA. Compare side by side with Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School before ruling this option in or out.

About Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a public elementary school in Cambridge, MA, part of Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District). Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School serves approximately 346 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #74 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a Title 1, urban K-6 STEM school located in Massachusetts 1 . The institution was designated an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School for 2023 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona 1 . In 2024, the school district ranked as the highest performing district in the state for English Language Arts on the MCAS and was identified as a top-performing district in mathematics 1 . Additionally, the school was ranked #1 in Niche Standout Elementary Schools in Massachusetts for 2025 1 . The school offers an Adventure Club to provide outdoor education opportunities 1 . Daily school hours are from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm, with afterschool care available until 6:00 pm 1 . Applications for enrollment open in January, and materials are provided in multiple languages to support accessibility 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.banneker.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares2.8 pts above MA schools
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change+1.84 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency82.5% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency79% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg+40.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+36.4 pts
Overall Proficiency81% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+32.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile98th
Resources & Environment5.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,437
Chronic Absenteeism12.4%

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School — Students at Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School score 81% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 66.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.1% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 71.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.7% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 96 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
55%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
67.8%
ELA
70.6%
2019
Math
67.4%
ELA
72.4%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
45.4%
ELA
71.8%
2022
Math
73.8%
ELA
70.2%
2023
Math
76%
ELA
79.5%
2024
Math
80.8%
ELA
76.8%
2025
Math
82.5%
ELA
79%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.9/10.

How Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School Compares

See how Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
96th percentile in MA
Academic
9.9/10
Excellent
Growth
9.9/10
Excellent
Environment
5.7/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.4%

Location

21 Notre Dame Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Maria L. Baldwin (rated 9.9/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Graham and Parks (rated 9.6/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Haggerty (rated 9.4/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Cambridge, see our Cambridge schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Peabody Cambridge 0.2 mi 7.1
Rindge Avenue Upper School Cambridge 0.2 mi 9.4
CAMBRIDGE FRIENDS SCHOOL Cambridge 0.3 mi 7.4
WILD ROSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Cambridge 0.3 mi
THE CAMBRIDGE MATIGNON SCHOOL Cambridge 0.6 mi 5.3
ST PETER SCHOOL Cambridge 0.8 mi 6.6
Graham and Parks Cambridge 0.7 mi 9.6
West Somerville Neighborhood Somerville 1.0 mi 8.4
John F Kennedy Somerville 0.8 mi 8.9
Maria L. Baldwin Cambridge 1.0 mi 9.9
Hardy Arlington 1.1 mi 8.9
Benjamin G Brown Somerville 1.0 mi 6.5
BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL Cambridge 1.4 mi 4.9
Thompson Arlington 1.4 mi 8.0
SHADY HILL SCHOOL Cambridge 1.5 mi 7.4
FAYERWEATHER STREET SCHOOL Cambridge 1.2 mi 7.5
LESLEY ELLIS SCHOOL Arlington 1.4 mi 6.7
Gibbs School Arlington 1.4 mi 8.8
ST THERESA SCHOOL Somerville 1.2 mi 6.3
Haggerty Cambridge 1.4 mi 9.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02140 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$136,382

Median Home Value

$1,070,200

Median Rent

$2,581/mo

Population

21,361

College Educated

78.6%

Homeownership

35.9%

Avg Commute

30.9 min

Poverty Rate

10.8%

Median Age

34.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bessie Buker Elementary Wenham, MA 9.1
Dale Street Medfield, MA 9.1
E Ethel Little School North Reading, MA 9.1
Newbury Elementary Newbury, MA 9.1
Tatham West Springfield, MA 9.1
Underwood Newton Corner, MA 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

What grades does Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School serve?

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School?

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School has an enrollment of approximately 346 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School?

The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School rank in MA?

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School ranks #74 of 1,793 schools in MA.

What is Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School's MySchoolScout rating?

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School a charter school?

Yes, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School a Title I school?

No, Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
86 Very Walkable
Transit Score
66 Good Transit
Bike Score
90 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School stack up?

Maria L. Baldwin
9.9
Martin Luther King Jr.
9.8
Graham and Parks
9.6
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
346
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.4%

District

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District)
District Enrollment
346
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,437
District Rank
#1 of 1

How we rate schools

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