The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Math. The lowest is 68% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Cambridge, a dense urban city that is home to Harvard University, MIT, and a large concentration of biotech and tech companies. The school operates as its own single-school district, a structure that keeps governance and budget local to this one building. Because the school only goes through sixth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. Families who enroll here will need to plan for a middle and high school transition elsewhere, either to another charter, a Cambridge public school, or a private option.
The school’s academic results on the state’s NextGen MCAS assessments place it in a strong position. On the most recent testing year, the share of students scoring proficient or above in math was well above the midpoint among the districts of Middlesex County, and the same was true for English language arts. Science proficiency, while still at a level many schools would consider solid, was lower than the other two subjects. Over the past several years, both math and ELA proficiency rates have been consistently high, with math showing a noticeable upward arc over time. The school had full participation on these tests, which gives confidence that the results reflect the whole tested student body.
The student body is not large for a school serving these grades. Black students make up the great majority of enrollment, and the remainder is spread across students who identify as Hispanic, white, Asian, or two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage and on students with disabilities or English learner status was not reported in the available records. A parent who wants to understand the full support landscape at the school would need to ask the school directly about these dimensions.
Housing costs in the Cambridge ZIP Code that covers this school are among the highest in the state, with home values well above the Massachusetts average and rental rates that are also elevated. The market has been cooling slightly on the ownership side recently. The school's location in Cambridge means families have access to the urban amenities of the city’s squares, the MBTA Red Line, and the broader Boston-area job market. There is no separate campus; the school's address on Notre Dame Avenue places it within the city fabric.
The school is a charter public school, meaning it is publicly funded but operates independently of the Cambridge Public Schools district. It sets its own calendar, curriculum, and staffing. There were no recent parent-relevant changes publicly reported for this district, which is a single-school entity and may not produce the same kind of public strategic plans that a larger district would.
This is a school where the academic data is straightforward: performance is strong across tested subjects, with math and ELA particularly so. The limitation of serving only through sixth grade means families need a plan for the next step. The urban setting offers many cultural and educational resources, but comes with a high cost of housing. A family that values a small, independent public school with consistent test results and is prepared for a transition after sixth grade will find this school worth a close look. Those who want a single K-12 pathway or who need detailed information on special education or English learner services should ask those questions of the school before deciding.
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