Cambridge

Public school district · Middlesex County · Massachusetts · NCES district ID 2503270

Cambridge spent $39,949 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, the most of the 243 Massachusetts districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $21,173). Its 17 schools enrolled 7,027 students in 2024-25; 17.5% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $40,789 per student, up 2.1% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 92% (Massachusetts: 89.2%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Massachusetts districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Cambridge in enrollment (6,312 to 7,377 students) and Cambridge itself.

Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Cambridge, FY23Cambridge $39,949; Brookline, MA $27,892; Lexington Public Schools $25,657; Plymouth $23,123; Chicopee Public Schools $22,136; Chelsea Public Schools $20,895; Malden Public Schools $19,739; Everett $18,878; Methuen $17,940; Wachusett Regional $17,894; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k20k30k40k50kCambridge$39,949Brookline, MA$27,892Lexington Public Schools$25,657Plymouth$23,123Chicopee Public Schools$22,136Chelsea Public Schools$20,895Malden Public Schools$19,739Everett$18,878Methuen$17,940Wachusett Regional$17,894State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Cambridge, FY23Cambridge $39,949; Brookline, MA $27,892; Lexington Public Schools $25,657; Plymouth $23,123; Chicopee Public Schools $22,136; Chelsea Public Schools $20,895; Malden Public Schools $19,739; Everett $18,878; Methuen $17,940; Wachusett Regional $17,894; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k20k30k40k50kCambridge$39,949Brookline, MA$27,892Lexington Public Schools$25,657Plymouth$23,123Chicopee Public Schools$22,136Chelsea Public Schools$20,895Malden Public Schools$19,739Everett$18,878Methuen$17,940Wachusett Regional$17,894State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Cambridge, FY23Cambridge $39,949; Brookline, MA $27,892; Lexington Public Schools $25,657; Plymouth $23,123; Chicopee Public Schools $22,136; Chelsea Public Schools $20,895; Malden Public Schools $19,739; Everett $18,878; Methuen $17,940; Wachusett Regional $17,894; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k30k50kCambridge$39,949Brookline, MA$27,892Lexington Public Schools$25,657Plymouth$23,123Chicopee Public Schools$22,136Chelsea Public Schools$20,895Malden Public Schools$19,739Everett$18,878Methuen$17,940Wachusett Regional$17,894State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Cambridge, FY23Cambridge $39,949; Brookline, MA $27,892; Lexington Public Schools $25,657; Plymouth $23,123; Chicopee Public Schools $22,136; Chelsea Public Schools $20,895; Malden Public Schools $19,739; Everett $18,878; Methuen $17,940; Wachusett Regional $17,894; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k30k50kCambridge$39,949Brookline, MA$27,892Lexington Public Schools$25,657Plymouth$23,123Chicopee Public Schools$22,136Chelsea Public Schools$20,895Malden Public Schools$19,739Everett$18,878Methuen$17,940Wachusett Regional$17,894State median, 1,000+ students $21,173

Where the money came from

$320,456,000 in revenue: 17.5% state, 78.2% local and 4.3% federal. Total spending including $64,985,000 of capital outlay was $379,090,000, or $56,195 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Cambridge revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $56,074,000; Local $250,471,000; Federal $13,911,000; total $320,456,000.
  • State$56,074,000 17%
  • Local$250,471,000 78%
  • Federal$13,911,000 4%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 243 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25

6,627 students in 2022-23, 6,915 students in 2023-24, 7,027 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Cambridge enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,627, 2023-24: 6,915, 2024-25: 7,02702k4k6k8k2022-236,6272023-246,9152024-257,027
Cambridge enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,627, 2023-24: 6,915, 2024-25: 7,02702k4k6k8k2022-236,6272023-246,9152024-257,027
Cambridge enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,627, 2023-24: 6,915, 2024-25: 7,02702k4k6k8k2022-236,6272023-246,9152024-257,027
Cambridge enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,627, 2023-24: 6,915, 2024-25: 7,02702k4k6k8k2022-236,6272023-246,9152024-257,027

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-236,627759.28.7
2023-246,915762.89.1
2024-257,027747.89.4

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$75,912,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $11,253 per student

Cambridge booked $75,912,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 759 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $99,989 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 90 in 100 Massachusetts districts with a figure (state median $83,840, 276 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Massachusetts teacher salary at $88,903 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$55,999,00073.8%
Special education$17,249,00022.7%
Vocational$2,664,0003.5%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $8,932 in 2018-19, $9,523 in 2019-20, $10,994 in 2020-21, $11,036 in 2021-22, $11,253 in 2022-23.

Cambridge teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,932, 2019-20: $9,523, 2020-21: $10,994, 2021-22: $11,036, 2022-23: $11,25305k10k15k2018-19$8,9322019-20$9,5232020-21$10,9942021-22$11,0362022-23$11,253
Cambridge teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,932, 2019-20: $9,523, 2020-21: $10,994, 2021-22: $11,036, 2022-23: $11,25305k10k15k2018-19$8,9322019-20$9,5232020-21$10,9942021-22$11,0362022-23$11,253
Cambridge teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,932, 2019-20: $9,523, 2020-21: $10,994, 2021-22: $11,036, 2022-23: $11,25305k10k15k2018-19$8,9322019-20$9,5232020-21$10,9942021-22$11,0362022-23$11,253
Cambridge teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,932, 2019-20: $9,523, 2020-21: $10,994, 2021-22: $11,036, 2022-23: $11,25305k10k15k2018-19$8,9322019-20$9,5232020-21$10,9942021-22$11,0362022-23$11,253

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Cambridge scored proficient or above: 55% in reading and 49% in math, against 43.7% in reading and 40.7% in math across Massachusetts. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Massachusetts, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMassachusettsStudents tested
Reading and language arts55%43.7%3,036
Math49%40.7%3,013

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

92% of the 485 students in Cambridge's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.2% across Massachusetts. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMassachusetts
Four-year graduation rate92%89.2%
Students in the class48572,602

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

12 elementary schools, 3,781 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Amigos School41311.0All free (CEP)Not Title I
King Open39110.4All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Graham and Parks36711.2All free (CEP)Not Title I
Maria L. Baldwin36011.0All free (CEP)Not Title I
Martin Luther King Jr.34010.2All free (CEP)Not Title I
Morse32810.2All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Peabody31411.2All free (CEP)Not Title I
John M Tobin29110.8All free (CEP)Not Title I
Cambridgeport2639.7All free (CEP)Not Title I
Haggerty2508.3All free (CEP)Not Title I
Fletcher/Maynard Academy2497.3All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Kennedy-Longfellow2157.0All free (CEP)Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

4 middle schools, 1,174 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Cambridge Street Upper School3018.3All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Vassal Lane Upper School2987.0All free (CEP)Not Title I
Rindge Avenue Upper School2929.4All free (CEP)Not Title I
Putnam Avenue Upper School2839.0All free (CEP)Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 high school, 2,072 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Cambridge Rindge and Latin2,0729.3All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Cambridge

  • Phone: (617) 349-6494
  • Office: 135 Berkshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02141

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Cambridge

  1. Massachusetts districts by spending per studentCambridge ranks 1 of 243 Massachusetts districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($39,949).#1 of 243
  2. Every school district in MassachusettsCambridge is the number 21 by size of 397 Massachusetts districts, with 6,746 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#21 of 397
  3. Wachusett Regional School DistrictThe next larger Massachusetts district: 6,836 students in fall 2022, $17,894 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$17,894
  4. Chicopee Public SchoolsThe next smaller Massachusetts district: 6,735 students in fall 2022, $22,136 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$22,136
  5. Compare Cambridge with Wachusett Regional School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Cambridge Rindge and Latin, its largest high school2,072 students in 2024-25, 9.3 per teacher.2,072
  7. Teacher salary spending across MassachusettsCambridge spent $99,989 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $83,840); spending, not a salary.$99,989
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Cambridge

  1. How many schools and students are in Cambridge?
    17 schools were open in 2024-25 (12 elementary, 4 middle, 1 high), enrolling 7,027 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Cambridge spend per student?
    $39,949 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Massachusetts median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $21,173 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $40,789 per student, up 2.1% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Cambridge's money come from?
    $320,456,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 17.5% state, 78.2% local and 4.3% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Cambridge live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 984 of the 8,797 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 11.2%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Cambridge spend on teacher salaries?
    $75,912,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $11,253 per student. Divided by the 759 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $99,989 per teacher, more than 90 in 100 Massachusetts districts (state median $83,840). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Massachusetts teacher salary at $88,903 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Cambridge do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Cambridge scored proficient or above: 55% in reading and 49% in math, against 43.7% in reading and 40.7% in math across Massachusetts. Massachusetts's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Cambridge?
    92% of the 485 students in Cambridge's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.2% across Massachusetts. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Cambridge's NCES district ID?
    2503270. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .