Local News

Former Matignon School in Cambridge bought by local charter school

The sale to Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School went through in October for $31.3 million, according to deed records.

Cambridge Matignon School. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

December 17, 2024

1 minute to read

The Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School in Cambridge will move its campus to the building previously occupied by the recently shuttered Cambridge Matignon School, according to deed records.

The Cambridge Matignon School, a Catholic school located in North Cambridge near Teele Square in Somerville, closed in June 2023 after 75 years due to financial challenges, the school announced at the time.

The sale went through in October for $31.3 million, according to deed records. The archdiocese declined to comment on the sale to Boston.com.

The purchase includes the Matignon High school building, the administrative building, and excess land including a parcel on Endicott Street in Somerville, according to deed records. The deed stipulates that Banneker can’t use the property as a house of worship or for anything related to abortion.

Banneker’s main campus is located on Notre Dame Avenue in Cambridge, about a mile from Matignon’s former building. The K-6 school announced the acquisition in a letter to Cambridge Day in November written by school leadership.

“This acquisition marks a significant milestone in the history of the Banneker community, providing a consolidated space where all students and staff can be under one roof and fostering an environment where the school’s vibrant culture of excellence and community can flourish,” they said.

Banneker, which opened in 1996, is a Title 1 school, meaning the federal government helps fund support for students from low-income families. More than 80 percent of Banneker students are Black, and the majority are high needs and low-income, according to state data.

Currently, the property is not ready for elementary-aged students, the letter said. Banneker will bring the campus “up to code” and add learning spaces, recreational areas, and modern facilities.

“We are excited but recognize that the work is just beginning,” School Leader Sherley Bretous said in the letter.

While the letter did not discuss the timeline to move into Matignon, The Boston Globe reported that the move will take place “as soon as renovations are complete,” per a real estate developer.