Martin Luther King Junior

Summary:

Martin Luther King Junior is an exceptional elementary school in Cambridge, MA that serves students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade. The school consistently outperforms the Cambridge school district and the state of Massachusetts in academic assessments, with particularly strong performance in Mathematics.

Martin Luther King Junior's academic achievements are impressive, with 77.95% of all students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 55.2% in the Cambridge district and 39.17% statewide. In Mathematics, an impressive 85.04% of students are proficient or better, far exceeding the district's 53.81% and the state's 40.91%. The school's performance is especially strong in 4th grade Mathematics, with 93.02% of students proficient or better. Additionally, the school excels in the performance of various student subgroups, ranking among the top schools in Massachusetts for White, Asian, African American, and multi-racial students.

Compared to nearby schools, such as John M Tobin, Morse, and Cambridgeport, Martin Luther King Junior consistently outperforms them in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. The school's exceptional performance, low student-teacher ratio, and high spending per student contribute to its status as one of the top-performing elementary schools in Massachusetts.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 102 Putnam Avenue
       Cambridge, MA  02139


(617) 349-6562

District: Cambridge

SchoolDigger Rank:
15th of 916 Massachusetts Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $36,282 Help


Students who attend Martin Luther King Junior usually attend:

Middle:    Cambridge Street Upper School
    Putnam Avenue Upper School
    Rindge Avenue Upper School
    Vassal Lane Upper School
High:    Cambridge Rindge and Latin

Student/teacher ratio:  9.4 Help
Number of students:  332

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
35.8%
Two or more races:
24.7%
White:
23.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  44.8% Help


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 Compare Martin Luther King Junior to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Martin Luther King Junior ranks better than 98.4% of elementary schools in Massachusetts. It also ranks 2nd among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Cambridge School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 95.61. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Martin Luther King Junior is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (35.8%), two or more races (24.7%), White (23.2%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Martin Luther King Junior is 9.4, which is the 6th best among 12 elementary schools in the Cambridge School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Martin Luther King Junior employs 35 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Martin Luther King Junior is $36,282, which is the 3rd highest among 12 elementary schools in the Cambridge School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Martin Luther King Junior:

SchoolDigger ranks Martin Luther King Junior 15th of 916 Massachusetts public elementary schools. (See Martin Luther King Junior in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:


Cambridge:

SchoolDigger ranks Cambridge 101st of 351 Massachusetts school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Martin Luther King Junior

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 11.01 786th 884 11.1%
2004 20.64 720th 882 18.4%
2005 25.60 683rd 887 23.0%
2006 23.97 732nd 911 19.6%
2007 24.14 735th 911 19.3%
2008 11.79 819th 908 9.8%
2009 10.84 831st 909 8.6%
2010 21.02 770th 920 16.3%
2011 32.20 675th 924 26.9%
2012 38.97 617th 930 33.7%
2013 46.94 537th 928 42.1%
2014 65.20 344th 926 62.9%
2015 61.19 372nd 914 59.3%
2016 66.36 306th 932 67.2%
2017 80.20 170th 938 81.9%
2018 82.67 142nd 934 84.8%
2019 84.61 119th 942 87.4%
2021 89.90 82nd 936 91.2%
2022 91.43 66th 932 92.9%
2023 97.24 4th 928 99.6%
2024 95.61 15th 916 98.4%
See the entire list of Massachusetts Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 84.51 9th 31 71.0%
2022 89.78 2nd 31 93.5%
2023 88.93 3rd 33 90.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.44 28th 886 96.8%
2019 76.22 130th 896 85.5%
2021 76.28 140th 894 84.3%
2022 67.96 223rd 905 75.4%
2023 93.81 25th 703 96.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.91 41st 685 94.0%
2019 67.18 175th 700 75.0%
2022 52.16 345th 772 55.3%
2023 90.48 28th 757 96.3%
2024 84.26 50th 760 93.4%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 72.33 240th 893 73.1%
2019 80.20 150th 902 83.4%
2021 93.61 25th 898 97.2%
2022 91.94 44th 901 95.1%
2023 96.73 4th 887 99.5%
2024 94.45 20th 886 97.7%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.84 60th 898 93.3%
2019 83.37 124th 907 86.3%
2021 82.32 144th 904 84.1%
2022 89.27 72nd 908 92.1%
2023 96.17 6th 896 99.3%
2024 95.00 16th 891 98.2%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Tested In Person students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 91.22 53rd 925 94.3%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested In Person Students!

Rank History for Tested Remotely students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 83.49 66th 399 83.5%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Tested Remotely Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 54.15 81st 155 47.7%
2022 79.82 19th 143 86.7%
2023 86.53 4th 145 97.2%
2024 76.71 36th 152 76.3%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.21 16th 174 90.8%
2019 88.72 9th 172 94.8%
2022 79.10 16th 173 90.8%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Martin Luther King Junior

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.19 221st 772 71.4%
2019 96.58 1st 780 99.9%
2022 97.82 3rd 764 99.6%
2023 96.66 1st 762 99.9%
2024 98.50 1st 753 99.9%
See the entire list of Best Massachusetts Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Martin Luther King Junior Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, September 27, 2021

Open Quote Outstanding teachers and leadership. A real gem. Very nice and new building Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Open Quote The principal bluntly told us that he could not promise my kid's safety at school. And all he can offer is to have a meeting with his team with us, the victim's family over and over again. Shameful! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Martin Luther King Junior

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 272 239 32 36 0 n/a n/a 0 579
1989 261 206 76 41 0 n/a n/a 0 584
1990 286 183 81 45 0 n/a n/a 0 595
1991 283 193 100 44 0 n/a n/a 0 620
1992 277 214 108 48 2 n/a n/a 0 649
1993 280 221 105 48 2 n/a n/a 0 656
1994 135 135 70 37 0 n/a n/a 0 377
1995 110 138 59 30 2 n/a n/a 0 339
1996 110 138 59 30 2 n/a n/a 0 339
1997 100 119 55 24 2 n/a n/a 0 300
1998 93 98 54 20 1 n/a n/a 0 266
1999 82 78 79 16 1 n/a n/a 0 256
2000 87 111 73 23 1 n/a n/a 0 295
2001 65 116 53 25 0 n/a n/a 0 259
2002 48 127 66 19 0 n/a n/a 0 260
2003 48 127 66 19 0 n/a n/a 0 260
2004 46 127 58 26 0 n/a n/a 0 257
2005 33 113 48 19 0 n/a n/a 0 213
2006 50 107 39 22 0 n/a n/a 3 221
2007 40 113 40 20 0 n/a n/a 4 217
2008 41 126 47 28 0 n/a n/a 9 251
2009 42 129 44 29 0 0 12 0 256
2010 40 135 47 28 0 2 11 0 263
2011 50 131 62 31 0 0 11 0 285
2012 61 134 49 37 0 1 12 0 294
2013 59 93 54 26 0 0 18 0 250
2014 60 86 65 27 0 0 29 0 267
2015 64 80 63 30 0 0 31 0 268
2016 91 79 73 28 0 0 38 0 309
2017 87 83 71 21 0 0 55 0 317
2018 97 80 72 19 0 0 60 0 328
2019 88 73 83 17 1 0 65 0 327
2020 82 61 92 19 2 0 70 0 326
2021 74 50 91 18 1 0 64 1 299
2022 78 49 106 16 0 0 74 0 323
2023 77 40 119 14 0 0 82 0 332

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Martin Luther King Junior

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 579 n/a n/a n/a
1989 584 n/a n/a n/a
1990 595 n/a n/a n/a
1991 620 n/a n/a n/a
1992 649 n/a n/a n/a
1993 656 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 377 n/a n/a n/a
1995 339 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 339 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 300 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 266 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 256 n/a 0.0 94.9
2000 295 n/a 0.0 58.6
2001 259 n/a 0.0 68
2002 260 n/a n/a 66.5
2003 260 n/a n/a 66.5
2004 257 31.1 8.3 59.5
2005 213 29.5 7.2 63.8
2006 221 27.6 8.0 72.5
2007 217 30.0 7.2 57.3
2008 251 23.5 10.7 59.1
2009 256 23.6 10.8 62.9
2010 263 25.6 10.2 53.2
2011 285 26.2 10.8 61.1
2012 294 29.4 9.9 56.1
2013 250 16.7 14.9 47.6
2014 267 25.0 10.6 47.2
2015 268 31.0 8.6 44.8
2016 309 28.0 11.0 n/a
2017 317 26.8 11.7 n/a
2018 328 29.5 11.1 n/a
2019 327 29.5 11.0 n/a
2020 326 30.3 10.7 n/a
2021 299 37.6 7.9 n/a
2022 323 34.0 9.4 n/a
2023 332 35.0 9.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Martin Luther King Junior

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 579 n/a n/a n/a
1989 584 n/a n/a n/a
1990 595 n/a n/a n/a
1991 620 n/a n/a n/a
1992 649 n/a n/a n/a
1993 656 n/a 0.0 n/a
1994 377 n/a n/a n/a
1995 339 n/a 0.0 n/a
1996 339 n/a 0.0 n/a
1997 300 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 266 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 256 n/a 0.0 94.9
2000 295 n/a 0.0 58.6
2001 259 n/a 0.0 68
2002 260 n/a n/a 66.5
2003 260 n/a n/a 66.5
2004 257 31.1 8.3 59.5
2005 213 29.5 7.2 63.8
2006 221 27.6 8.0 72.5
2007 217 30.0 7.2 57.3
2008 251 23.5 10.7 59.1
2009 256 23.6 10.8 62.9
2010 263 25.6 10.2 53.2
2011 285 26.2 10.8 61.1
2012 294 29.4 9.9 56.1
2013 250 16.7 14.9 47.6
2014 267 25.0 10.6 47.2
2015 268 31.0 8.6 44.8
2016 309 28.0 11.0 n/a
2017 317 26.8 11.7 n/a
2018 328 29.5 11.1 n/a
2019 327 29.5 11.0 n/a
2020 326 30.3 10.7 n/a
2021 299 37.6 7.9 n/a
2022 323 34.0 9.4 n/a
2023 332 35.0 9.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Martin Luther King Junior

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $155 (0.6%) $27,731 (99.4%) $27,886
2020 $281 (1.0%) $28,672 (99.0%) $28,953
2021 $484 (1.3%) $35,797 (98.7%) $36,282

Data source: Massachusetts Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Martin Luther King Junior

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 119th of 942 Elementary schoolsRanks 4th of 928 Elementary schools
 12.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior)6988.9
 19.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cambridge)6863.8
 4.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5643.9
 12.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Martin Luther King Junior)6291.1
 29.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Cambridge)5758.2
 1.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4941
 8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior)7679.6
 3.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Cambridge)6056.9
 3.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5239.7
 12.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Martin Luther King Junior)6884.1
 16.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Cambridge)5961.9
 2.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4945
 4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior)9381.8
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Cambridge)6463
 1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5243.8
 8.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Martin Luther King Junior)6879.6
 11.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Cambridge)5157.3
 6.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.9
 8.2%
5th Grade Science (Martin Luther King Junior)7572.7
 2.3%
   5th Grade Science (Cambridge)5357.1
 4.1%
   5th Grade Science (Massachusetts)4841.6
 6.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior)7983.5
 4.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Cambridge)6058.6
 1.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Massachusetts)5242.3
 9.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Martin Luther King Junior)6685
 19%
   All Grades Mathematics (Cambridge)5353.4
 0.3%
   All Grades Mathematics (Massachusetts)4940.6
 8.4%
All Grades Science (Martin Luther King Junior)7572.7
 2.3%
   All Grades Science (Cambridge)4950.8
 1.8%
   All Grades Science (Massachusetts)4741.2
 5.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students327332
 1.5%
African American7340
 45.2%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian83119
 43.4%
Hispanic1714
 17.6%
Pacific Islander00
White8877
 12.5%
Two or More Races6582
 26.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Martin Luther King Junior

In the 2022-23 school year, 332 students attended Martin Luther King Junior.

Yes! Martin Luther King Junior is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 15th of 916 Massachusetts elementary schools.

Students at Martin Luther King Junior are 36% Asian, 25% Two or more races, 23% White, 12% African American, 4% Hispanic.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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