Digital Harbor High School

Digital Harbor High School
Address
1100 Covington Street
Baltimore, Maryland, 21230
Information
School type Public, Magnet, Comprehensive
Motto "Learning, Serving, and Leading through Technology"
Founded 2002
School district Baltimore City Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Gregory Thornton [CEO]
School number 416
Principal Brian Eyer
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 1,409[1] (2013–14 SY)
Area Urban
Color(s) Columbia Blue, Black, and White
              
Mascot RAM's (Random Access Memory), but the sports logo has an actual ram
Website www.baltimorecityschools.org/416

Digital Harbor High School (formerly known as Southern High School) is a magnet high school located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is currently one of two secondary schools and a comprehensive high school that specializes in information technology of Baltimore.[2]

History

The vision for Digital Harbor High School started in 2000 when then-Baltimore schools chief Carmen V. Russo wanted to create a high school for computer studies in downtown Baltimore. Southern High School was the chosen site for the new school because it had suffered low graduation rates and disorder in recent years. Its prime location near Inner Harbor in the gentrifying Federal Hill neighborhood made it an attractive choice for a magnet school drawing students from citywide. A planning committee convened and a multi-million dollar renovation project was undertaken over a five-year period. The building was completely transformed, with approximately $50 million spent to renovate the campus, with $6 million allocated toward information technology and audio visual equipment.

The school was partially designed by the original principal, Michael Pitroff (2002-2005), who is said to be the "Father of Digital Harbor." In 2005, he was reassigned to be the Technology Department Head for the Baltimore school system. The pupil transition from the old Southern High School began in 2002 with the entering 9th graders inaugurating the new school.[3] With the graduation of Southern High School's last Class of 2005, all grade levels for Digital Harbor High School were phased in and another school, the National Academy Foundation School, was also housed on its first floor.[4]

Academics

The academic focus of the school has been on computers and information technology. Digital Harbor's school compass logo represents the curriculum is divided into four separated into 6 separate areas of study ("pathways") for students to choose from:

http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/domain/4353

The students must meet not only the BCPSS requirements for graduation, but must also fulfill the requirements for their particular "pathway" as well. Currently Digital Harbor is one of the most technologically advanced schools in the city, and touts one of the highest attendance rates in Baltimore (92%).during the 2013-2014 school year the schools population increased to 1409 students. http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/domain/4347

Facilities and policies

Digital Harbor is a first among Baltimore City Schools, with millions of dollars in equipment devoted to modernizing all of the classrooms and the adding of Wi-Fi and wired internet access all over the school.

The majority of the desktop computers come from Dell with Windows XP Professional, and IBM Thinkpad laptops, although the media pathway has Macintosh computers as well for use of particular students.

All four floors have pathway offices designed with the school colors.

School uniform

The school currently has a school uniform dress code which includes khaki pants, a polo shirt or oxford shirt in Columbia blue or white as well as a polo shirt or oxford shirt in black exclusively for registered seniors; and the school sweatshirt or sweater with the compass logo or in black. For the 2011-2012 school year the school introduced a royal blue polo shirt for the incoming ninth graders

Sports

The Rams compete in Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association Class 3A. As of the 2013-2014 school year, varsity and junior varsity level sports include:

Southern High School, before renovation

Clubs

Digital Harbor offers a variety of clubs for students. Clubs currently offered at Digital Harbor include:

Equestrian Club Newspaper/Digital Desktop Fashion Club

http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/domain/4349

Achievements

The school was honored by M&T Bank with a $5,000 loan to start a school store, which sells several school oriented memorabilia (cups, mugs, School Uniforms, wristbands etc.); and also sells snacks, drinks, and school supplies.Store Website The store was given the loan based on a presentation given by a group of students in the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) program. The bank has even donated a school mascot uniform to the school named Nifty (after the NFTE program).[7]

References

  1. ↑ "All Students : Demographics : Baltimore City - Digital Harbor High School : 2014 Maryland Report Card:". Maryland State Department of Education. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ The other secondary school that specializes in information technology is Baltimore IT Academy.
  3. ↑ Liz Bowie (2002-08-30). "Officials to delay or stagger 3 city high schools' openings ; Northern, Southern, Lake Clifton affected". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  4. ↑ Michael Olesker (2005-08-26). "City school may be sign of better days for system". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  5. ↑ "MPSSAA Indoor State Championships 2008". Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Assoc. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  6. ↑ "High School Basketball". the Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  7. ↑ Five teenage entrepreneurs convince M&T bankers to loan them $5,000 -Daily Record, Jan 31, 2006 by Kathleen Johnston Jarboe

External links

Coordinates: 39°16′37″N 76°36′26″W / 39.276828°N 76.607329°W