Benjamin Banneker Charter Schl

What Benjamin Banneker Charter Schl does

The Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a K1 through grade 6 STEM-focused public charter school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1996 to address underachievement among minority and low-income students in Cambridge Public Schools, the school serves approximately 350 students drawn primarily from Cambridge and the Greater Boston area, with preference given to siblings and Cambridge residents in an annual lottery admissions process.

Banneker delivers a standards-based STEM curriculum integrated with visual and performing arts (STEAM). Core technology includes a 1:1 personal laptop program for grades 3–6 (devices retained by students after 6th grade), a ClassLink single sign-on portal, and a Digital Learning Studio for engineering design education, with a device-to-student ratio under 2:1. Academic outcomes are differentiated: Banneker was the highest-performing 3–8 district in Massachusetts on the 2024 ELA MCAS, the top-scoring district in 2024 mathematics, and one of only 13 districts statewide to meet or exceed pre-pandemic MCAS performance in 2025, earning it the U.S. Department of Education's 2023 National Blue Ribbon School designation.

The school operates as a tuition-free public charter school under a performance contract with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Revenue derives from per-pupil state allocations, federal funding (Title I, Special Education), and private donations raised through an annual family-participation fundraising drive. Banneker is the only charter school in Massachusetts offering free transportation, complemented by free breakfast and lunch under the Community Eligibility Provision. The school relocated to a new campus at 1 Matignon Rd. in July 2026 and is led by Executive Director Dr. Sherley E. Bretous, who has served the institution since 1996 in progressively senior roles.

Name

Benjamin Banneker Charter Schl

Legal name

The Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

Website

https://banneker.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a tuition-free K1–6 STEM-focused public charter school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving approximately 350 students from Cambridge and the Greater Boston area. It is funded through Massachusetts per-pupil allocations, federal Title I and Special Education funding, and private donations, and is recognized as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education (Charter Elementary School)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools (EDAJACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

Keywords

• K-6 STEM education
• Public charter school
• Elementary education
• STEAM curriculum
• Title 1 school

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, Banneker is funded on a per-pupil basis by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They receive public funds based on enrollment levels.
2. Federal Funding: Charter schools are entitled to federal funding for which their students are eligible, such as Title I and Special Education monies.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Banneker conducts an annual fundraising drive targeting 100% family participation to fund STEAM projects, community events, enrichment clubs, and field experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a tuition-free public charter school serving approximately 350 students from K1 through grade 6 in Cambridge and Greater Boston. It delivers a standards-based STEM curriculum integrated with language and fine arts (STEAM), supported by specialist teachers, a Digital Learning Studio, a 1:1 laptop program for grades 3-6, free meals, and free transportation — the only charter school in Massachusetts offering the latter.

Product overview

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School is a K1 through grade 6 STEM-focused public charter school in Cambridge, MA. The school offers a comprehensive educational program centered on its STEM Curriculum integrated with Visual & Performing Arts (STEAM). Core offerings include the Digital Learning Studio for engineering design education, Library Services, and specialized programs like the Adventure Club for outdoor education and Banneker Beats dance program. Academic support services include Homework Club and Special Education services. The school provides wraparound support including free transportation (the only charter school in Massachusetts to do so), free meals, and after-school enrichment through the Banneker Extended Enrichment Program. Technology integration features a 1:1 laptop program for grades 3-6. Students are served from K1 through 6th grade with approximately 350 students enrolled.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Curriculum Standards-based Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics curriculum serving K1 through grade 6 students, integrating language and fine arts into STEM instruction.
• Visual and Performing Arts (STEAM) Program STEAM education program incorporating art into STEM curriculum, exposing students to visual arts, music, dance, and performing arts from Pre-K through grade 6.
• Digital Learning Studio (DLS) Engineering design-focused learning space providing weekly sessions to cultivate deep understanding of engineering design concepts, serving the entire school community.
• Adventure Club Outdoor education program established in 2007 offering trips including kayaking, camping, rock climbing, skiing, and ice skating to 5th and 6th grade students to build teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence.
• Homework Club Academic support program for students on IEPs, English language learners, and teacher/parent-recommended students, offering reteaching, quiet study environment, and organizational skill development on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
• Banneker Beats Dance Program Dance troupe performing ballet, tap, and hip-hop routines, incorporating poetry and singing, with annual Black History Month performances honoring Black excellence.
• Banneker Extended Enrichment Program (After School) Academic and social enrichment program running from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, offering homework support, arts and crafts, languages, and activities for K-6 students.
• C.A.R.E. Program Character education program based on four core values: Community, Achievement, Responsibility, and Experience, with monthly CARE Awards recognizing students who exemplify these values.
• Special Education Services Full staff of special education teachers, a special education coordinator, counselor, occupational therapist, ELL teacher, and speech and language therapist supporting students with diverse learning needs.
• Free Transportation Free bus transportation for Cambridge students, Boston students, and North Shore/South Shore areas including Chelsea, with bus monitors for safety — the only charter school in Massachusetts to offer this benefit.
• Free Breakfast and Lunch Nutritious breakfast (from 7:15am) and lunch served free to all students daily, with hot and cold options, as part of the Community Eligibility Provision program.
• 1:1 Laptop Program Personal laptop program for grades 3-6, with device-to-student ratio less than 2:1; students take laptops home after 6th grade graduation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest performing 3-8 district on the 2024 English Language Arts MCAS in Massachusetts
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)coreOthers · 15 September 2023Banneker operates under a performance contract (charter) with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The school undergoes charter renewal every five years and is subject to DESE oversight, reporting, and accountability standards including DESE Report Card requirements.
• U.S. Department of EducationcoreOthers · 15 September 2023Banneker received the National Blue Ribbon Award designation from the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing exemplary high performance. This designation required meeting rigorous performance standards set by the federal government.
• Local UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanjeer partners with local universities to expand the world of students through field trips, outdoor activities, and hosting events. These partnerships support the school's mission of providing diverse learning experiences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston Collegiate Charter School: Boston Collegiate is a grades 5-12 charter public school in Dorchester with a strong college-prep academic record and a similar demographic focus. It is comparable as a high-performing Massachusetts urban charter serving students of color in the Boston area.
• Excel Academy Charter Schools: Excel Academy operates multiple charter campuses in East Boston and surrounding communities serving grades K-12, with a strong STEM orientation and a similar demographic focus on first-generation college-bound students. It is directly comparable as a Massachusetts STEM charter with extended school day programming.
• MATCH Charter Public School: MATCH is a Boston-area K-12 public charter school that, like Banneker, serves a high-need urban population with a STEM/college-prep focus and an extended-day model. Both schools are independent Massachusetts charters competing in the same Greater Boston family market with comparable mission-driven positioning.
• Codman Academy Charter Public School: Codman Academy is a Dorchester-based K-12 charter school with a small-school model and a mission of college preparation for students from under-resourced communities. It is comparable as a Massachusetts charter serving similar demographics and competing in the same Greater Boston market.
• Prospect Hill Academy Charter School: Prospect Hill Academy is a K-12 charter school located in Somerville/Cambridge, directly adjacent to Banneker's catchment area. It shares the Massachusetts charter funding model and competes for the same Cambridge-resident families in the lottery process.
• KIPP Massachusetts (KIPP Academy Boston): KIPP Massachusetts runs a network of tuition-free public charter schools in Boston and Lynn serving K-12 with a college-preparatory mission aimed at underserved students. Banneker and KIPP MA compete for the same families in Greater Boston and operate under the same state charter framework.
• Conservatory Lab Charter School: Conservatory Lab is an elementary-level public charter school in Brighton, MA that integrates music and arts into its STEM-focused curriculum, mirroring Banneker's STEAM model. Both serve similar Cambridge/Greater Boston families seeking a tuition-free, mission-driven elementary education.
• Neighborhood House Charter School: Neighborhood House is a K-8 public charter school in Dorchester serving a similar low-income, urban demographic with extended-day programming. It is comparable as a Greater Boston charter with comparable mission and operational structure to Banneker.
• City on a Hill Charter Public School: City on a Hill operates public charter high schools in Boston and New Bedford with a college-preparatory mission for students historically underrepresented in higher education. It is comparable as a Massachusetts charter operating in the same urban education ecosystem and serving similar student demographics.

Regional players

• Salem Academy Charter School: Salem Academy is a public charter school serving grades 6-12 in Salem, MA, also funded through Massachusetts per-pupil allocations with a mission of college preparation for underserved students. It is comparable as a regional Massachusetts charter serving similar demographics but in a different geographic submarket.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHD3QCNAGj4yRme6QUpAscQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/bannekercharter
• Instagraminstagram.com/bannekercharter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benjamin-banneker-charter-schl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Banneker Charter Schl