Rank

Cambridge

13 schools · 1 high school · 12 elementary schools · Cambridge

Cambridge is a densely urban city immediately west of Boston, home to Harvard University, MIT, and other major educational and research institutions that shape its character and economy. With an average single-family assessed value exceeding $2 million, Cambridge is among the state's most affluent communities, and this investment is reflected in several standout schools—Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary ranks #14 statewide, while the district overall places #84. The city's 94.2% graduation rate and per capita income of $87,857 underscore the resources available to its diverse student population. Despite its urban density and complexity, Cambridge maintains a strong commitment to public education across 12 elementary schools and Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School.

Avg MCAS ELA

60%

#87 of 326

Avg MCAS Math

60.5%

#71 of 326

Avg SAT

1,166

#74 of 290

Attendance

92.6%

#200 of 328

Graduation Rate

94.2%

#159 of 288

AP Pass Rate

85.9%

#55 of 278

Per-Pupil Spending

$39,212

#4 of 325

Avg Teacher Salary

$107,958

#38 of 325

MCAS Performance by Grade

Grade	ELA M+E%	Math M+E%	Sci M+E%	Avg Score	Students
Grade 3	61%	62%	—	507	502
Grade 4	59%	60%	—	504	518
Grade 5	56%	59%	61%	504	460
Grade 6	55%	51%	—	502	429
Grade 7	59%	49%	—	503	429
Grade 8	62%	55%	47%	506	403
Grade 10	56%	57%	53%	505	504
HS Science	—	—	17%	482	23

Showing 2025 data

Student Demographics

White: 36.2%

Asian: 14.8%

Hispanic: 14.5%

Black: 22.5%

Multi-Race: 11.7%

Am. Indian: 0.2%

Female: 48.8%Male: 50.9%Non-binary: 0.3%

High Schools in Cambridge

Rank

Grade

School

SAT

MCAS ELA

MCAS Math

Grad

B+

Cambridge Rindge and Latin

Cambridge Rindge and Latin

Elementary Schools in Cambridge

Rank

Grade

School

MCAS ELA

MCAS Math

Attend.

Class Size

A+

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Fletcher/Maynard Academy

Fletcher/Maynard Academy

District Operations

Attendance

#200 of 328

Attendance Rate92.6%

Avg Days Absent13

Chronically Absent (10%+)21.7%

Chronically Absent (20%+)7%

Per-Pupil Expenditure

#4 of 325

In-District Per Pupil$36,948

Total Per Pupil$39,212

Total FTE Students7,558

Teacher Salaries

#38 of 325

Average Salary$107,958

Teacher FTE Count763

Salary vs. Town Income1.2x(near town avg)

Teacher salary is 1.2x the town's per capita income ($87,857). Teachers earn close to the community average. The MA median ratio is about 1.9x.

Class Size & Populations

#91 of 327

Avg Class Size16

English Learners12.3%

Students w/ Disabilities21.4%

Total Students7,038

Staffing & Retention

#207 of 327

Teacher Retention85.7%

Principal Retention100%

Total Teachers778

Attendance: 2024-2025 · Expenditure: 2024 · Salaries: 2023-2024 · Class Size: 2024-2025 · Staffing: 2025

Town Data

Cambridge

Avg Assessed Value

$2,050,959

#6 of 235

Avg Tax Bill

$13,680

Income Per Capita

$87,857

#34 of 235

Tax Bill Rank

#31

of 341 towns

Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.

Tax & Bond Details

Residential Tax Rate0.67%

Tax as % of Income15.57%(typical)

Bond RatingAAA(highest)

Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average. Bond rating reflects the town’s creditworthiness for borrowing. AAA is the highest possible rating (strong fiscal management), meaning the town can borrow at the lowest interest rates. AA+ is excellent, AA is very good.

New Growth

$1337.6M+1.69% levy growth(strong)

Residential$314.4M

Commercial/Industrial$1023.2M

Residential Share14.48%(diverse)

New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 4.2% (2.5% base + 1.69% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (14.48%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.

Municipal Free Cash

$184.3M17.1% of operating budget

Free cash is the town's unencumbered surplus funds. 5-10% of budget is considered healthy. Operating budget: $1075.2M.

Where Children Attend School

Local Public: 6,360(77.6%)

Vocational: 2(0.0%)

Charter: 467(5.7%)

Private: 1,296(15.8%)

Home School: 38(0.5%)

Total: 8,199