Baltimore County Public Schools

Baltimore County Public Schools
Location
Baltimore County, Maryland United States
District information
Type	Public
Superintendent	S. Dallas Dance

Baltimore County Public Schools is the school district in charge of all public schools in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is the 25th largest school system in the US as of 2013.^[1] The school system is managed by the Board of Education, headquartered in Towson. The Superintendent is Dr. S. Dallas Dance.^[2]

Schools

All areas in Baltimore County are unincorporated; as there are no incorporated cities in Baltimore County, all place names are neighborhoods, and have no legal jurisdiction over their areas.

Elementary Schools

There are currently 106 elementary schools:

Middle Schools

In the mid-1980s, Baltimore County shifted the grades in the intermediate-level schools. Until this time, the schools were called "junior high schools" and had grades 7-9. The 9th grade was moved into the high school and the 6th grade was moved in from nearby elementary schools, creating the current "middle school" model with grades 6-8. There are currently 30 middle schools:

High Schools

There are currently 25 high schools:

• George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
• Catonsville High School
• Chesapeake High School
• Dulaney High School
• Dundalk High School
• Eastern Technical High School
• Franklin High School
• Hereford High School
• Kenwood High School
• Lansdowne High School
• Loch Raven High School
• Milford Mill Academy
• New Town High School
• Overlea High School & Academy of Finance
• Owings Mills High School
• Parkville High School and Center for Math, Science, and Computer Science
• Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
• Perry Hall High School
• Pikesville High School
• Randallstown High School
• Sollers Point Technical High School
• Sparrows Point High School
• Towson High School
• Woodlawn High School
• Western School of Technology and Environmental Science

Pure magnet schools

These schools can be attended by any Baltimore County student. Students attend these schools as full-time students.

• Carver Center for Arts and Technology
• Eastern Technical High School
• Sollers Point Technical High School
• Western School of Technology and Environmental Science

Specialty Schools

• Battle Monument
• Bridge Center
• Campfield Early Childhood Center
• Hannah More School
• Imagine Discovery Public Charter School
• Maiden Choice School
• R.I.C.A. Catonsville Education Center
• Ridge Ruxton School
• Rosedale Center Middle and High School
• White Oak School

Issues

In 1978, due to a dip in enrollment projections the elimination of six elementary schools and the repurposing of two middle schools was proposed by the board and eventually implemented by then superintendent Robert Y. Dubel despite significant public objection . At the January 11, 1978 board meeting: Dundalk, Gray Manor, Inverness, Lutherville, Parkville, and Towson elementary schools were proposed to be closed; Eastwood and Ruxton elementary schools proposed to be repurposed as special education facilities; and Towsontown Junior to be repurposed as Central Vocational-Technical Center.^[3]

Overcrowding in some elementary schools due to population growth became an issue in 2007, particularly at four elementary schools in the Towson area — Hampton, Riderwood, Rodgers Forge, and Stoneleigh — which were said to have 451 more children than their 1,665-pupil capacity.^[4] In December 2007, a parents' advocacy group, Towson Families United, called for construction of a new elementary school to alleviate overcrowding, with the group threatening a demonstration near the courthouse office of Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr..^[5] On May 6, 2008, the School Board announced that a new school would open in 2010 near the existing Ridge Ruxton School on Charles Street.^[5]

One-to-One Initiative

The One-to-One Initiative is part of the S.T.A.T. (Students & Teachers Accessing Tomorrow) Initiative of the Baltimore County Public School System. Under the One-to-One Initiative, all BCPS students and teachers will be provided with a personal digital learning device to ensure that students can effectively become 21st century learners.^[6]

Additional information and notability

BCPS has a 1.76 billion budget as per 2016, with a total enrollment of 111,127 students. The majority of its students are white (42.1%) and a 38.8% black student enrollment. Asians and latinos are a minority with 6.7% and 7.7% enrollment respectively. In 2014, Sean McComb of Patapsco High School was named National Teacher of the Year. Superintendent S. Dallas Dance was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans in August 2014. The school system was accepted into the prestigious 32-member League of Innovative Schools in February 2013. BCPS is the only school system in Maryland to be designated as ISO 9001 international certification for management.^[7]

Leadership

The school district is led by superintendent S. Dallas Dance and his respective cabinet, consisting of a chief of staff as well as academic, communications, administrative operations, and human resource officers.^[8]

References

1. ↑ "2014 AS&U 100: Largest school districts in the U.S. by enrollment, 2012-13".  American School & University (2012-13 school year)
2. ↑ "Office of the Superintendent". Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
3. ↑ Robert Y Dubel; Robert V Barton Jr The Sun; Dec 23, 1978; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Baltimore Sun (1837-1985) pg. A18
4. ↑ Gina Davis (2008-05-04). "Towson's Crowded Schools". The Baltimore Sun. 
5. 1 2 Gina Davis (2008-05-12). "Homework brings results". The Baltimore Sun. 
6. ↑ "One-to-One Initiative". Retrieved 2015-02-17. 
7. ↑ "The System - About Us". 
8. ↑ "Superintendent's Cabinet". 

External links

• Baltimore County Public Schools

Baltimore County Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area Administration Circuit Courthouse Education Fire Police Sheriff State's Attorney County Council County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz District 1 Tom Quirk District 2 Vicki Almond District 3 Wade Kach District 4 Julian E. Jones, Jr. District 5 David S. Marks District 6 Cathy Bevins District 7 Todd K. Crandell Education CCBC Goucher College Loyola University Maryland Stevenson University Towson University University of Maryland, Baltimore County Landmarks Hampton National Historic Site Liberty Reservoir Loch Raven Reservoir Prettyboy Reservoir Soldiers Delight Malls Eastpoint Hunt Valley Kenilworth Owings Mills Town Center Security Square Towson Town Center White Marsh Mall / Town Center Medical Fort Howard Veterans Hospital Franklin Square GBMC Northwest Hospital UM Saint Joseph Sheppard Pratt Spring Grove Parks Patapsco Valley Cromwell Valley Gunpowder Falls Gwynn Oak Hart-Miller Island Lake Roland North Point Oregon Ridge Transportation Light Rail MARC Rail Metro Subway MTA Maryland Martin State Airport