Public schools in Cambridge, MA
19 open public schools with an address in Cambridge, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
19
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,305
19 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.2:1
Massachusetts median 11.8:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Cambridge public schools
The federal directory lists 19 public schools in Cambridge, MA: 12 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 19 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,305 students, an average of 437 per school. The largest campus is Cambridge Rindge and Latin (2,072 students), and the largest elementary school is Amigos School (413).
Cambridge operates the most schools here (16), plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.2:1, lower than the statewide school median of 11.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Cambridge
Cambridge
Public school district
16 schools in Cambridge
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Cambridge
Community Charter School of Cambridge (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Cambridge
Prospect Hill Academy Charter (District)
Independent charter agency
1 school in Cambridge
Elementary schools in Cambridge
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amigos School Cambridge | PK–08 | 413 | 11:1 | |
| Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District) · Charter | PK–06 | 352 | 18.5:1 | |
| Cambridgeport Cambridge | PK–05 | 263 | 9.7:1 | |
| Fletcher/Maynard Academy Cambridge | PK–05 | 249 | 7.3:1 | |
| Graham and Parks Cambridge · Alternative School | PK–05 | 367 | 11.2:1 | |
| Haggerty Cambridge | PK–05 | 250 | 8.3:1 | |
| John M Tobin Cambridge | PK–05 | 291 | 10.8:1 | |
| King Open Cambridge · Alternative School | PK–05 | 391 | 10.4:1 | |
| Maria L. Baldwin Cambridge | PK–05 | 360 | 11:1 | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Cambridge | PK–05 | 340 | 10.2:1 | |
| Morse Cambridge | PK–05 | 328 | 10.2:1 | |
| Peabody Cambridge | PK–05 | 314 | 11.2:1 |
Middle schools in Cambridge
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Street Upper School Cambridge | 06–08 | 301 | 8.3:1 | |
| Darby Vassall Upper School Cambridge | 06–08 | 298 | 7:1 | |
| Putnam Avenue Upper School Cambridge | 06–08 | 283 | 9:1 | |
| Rindge Avenue Upper School Cambridge | 06–08 | 292 | 9.4:1 |
High schools in Cambridge
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Rindge and Latin Cambridge | 09–12 | 2,072 | 9.3:1 | |
| Community Charter School of Cambridge Community Charter School of Cambridge (District) · Charter | 06–12 | 251 | 9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Cambridge
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter School Prospect Hill Academy Charter (District) · Charter | PK–12 | 890 | 10.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White30.7%
- Hispanic15%
- Black30.2%
- Asian13%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial10.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 Cambridge schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,305 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Cambridge
How many public schools are in Cambridge, MA?
The current NCES directory lists 19 open public schools with a location address in Cambridge: 12 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 8,305 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Cambridge?
Schools with an address in Cambridge belong to 4 education agencies, led by Cambridge (16 schools), Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (District) (1 school), Community Charter School of Cambridge (District) (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Cambridge?
Cambridge Rindge and Latin reported the largest high-school enrollment in Cambridge, with 2,072 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Cambridge?
Yes. 3 of the 19 public schools in Cambridge are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School, Community Charter School of Cambridge, Prospect Hill Academy Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Cambridge schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Cambridge public schools is 10.2:1, lower than the Massachusetts school median of 11.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Cambridge guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Massachusetts cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Massachusetts cities