Baltimore, Maryland, is a large city with many different unique educational opportunities for families. They split their schools up into public, private, Christian, charter, and boarding schools. Many summer school programs are also available in this area, providing an easy-going and high-quality experience. Many of these schools try to balance the students in classes to be as level as possible.
Baltimore Schools
According to online sources, Baltimore has nearly 200 individual schools within its borders and near its borders. These education opportunities make it easier for students to find classes that meet their needs. These options are typically broken down based on geography, with a school serving a specific region. Understanding these divisions should make it easier to find the best option for new residents in the area.
Public Schools
The Baltimore public school system splits its educational opportunities into almost 200 different schools, making up over 10 percent of all state schools. The possibilities here range from pre-school options up to high school.
School Districts
Baltimore is broken up into just one large school district: the Baltimore City School District. There are over 80,000 students within the district – nearly 10 percent of the state's student population.
Diversity in the district consists of a handful of Native American students, Asian students, Hispanic students, African-American students, and Caucasian students.
High Schools
Public high schools in Baltimore include Catonsville High School not far from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, or Highway 195. Another large park is near this school, including a local golf club and a dog park, making it easier to experience outdoor excitement in a relatively rural and busy area, particularly during the often quite warm summers.
Mercy High School
Mercy High School is an independent all-girls Catholic high school. It exists on a 26-acre campus and has a variety of playing fields and more for its students. Around 300 or so students enter the school every year, and their varsity lacrosse team has been highly successful in recent years. Located across East Northern Parkway from Leith Walk Elementary School, its outdoor environment provides a relaxing alternative for Catholic girls who want a break from competitive high schools.
Western High School
Western High School has the unique privilege of being the oldest public all-girls high school in the country and the third-oldest public school in the state. Winner of many awards (including the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2009 – and a handful of state championships in several sports. Located near the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, it provides non-Catholic girls with a near-private competitive atmosphere.
Elementary Schools
Elementary school options in Baltimore vary between options like Abbottston Elementary to Arbutus Elementary. Baltimore also has a few Montessori schools that provide a unique hands-on educational opportunity for students. A few of these are public schools, though most are private and require paying tuition and other costs before attending.
Arlington Elementary School
This elementary school is located down West Northern Parkway off Highway 83, just down the road from Sinai Hospital. Serving the Arlington area of Baltimore, it consists of around 605 students and is the 251st largest public school in Maryland. A student-to-teacher ratio of about 17:1 helps, as this is a reasonable class size that should make education a little easier for many students.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
Located between Greenspring and Park Circle – and serving these areas – this school is not far from the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and the Ridley Athletic Complex. Located not far from 83, its unique position between two outdoor areas and easy access to Druid Lake and Boat Lake, students should find a place to relax when they aren't studying and have outdoor fun with friends.
Middle Schools
Baltimore City Public Schools provides the most viable middle school option in the area. Rated just outside the top 100 for middle schools in the state (103), it has a student-to-teacher ratio of about 20:1, which is slightly higher for the area. Other options include Hampstead Hill Academy, which also serves elementary school options, providing a good all-in-one option before a student heads off to high school.
Booker T. Washington Middle School
Booker T. Washington Middle School is located near McCulloh Street and has a student-to-teacher ratio of about 11.4:1, one of the best in the area. With just 309 students, it is one of the more compact and reasonably sized schools in the area. Located near the Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum, this centrally-positioned middle school is also not far from the Maryland Institute College of Art Main Building for even more educational and artistic possibilities.
Private Schools
Baltimore has over 100 different private school options split up into a handful of choices. Christian and Catholic schools provide a religious environment for those who need it. And boarding schools are a good choice for those who want a stricter education or one that focuses more on achievement than passing test scores – a common concern for parents sending children to public schools.
Christian Schools
In the Baltimore area, Christian schools include Robert Franklin Stokes Christian School 4 the Arts.
However, attending education options like these helps reinforce critical Christian lessons and gives many students a better understanding of their spiritual needs. These schools include on-site religious advisers and prayer areas where students can attend services or visit when struggling with various life issues. Many Christian schools in the area are primarily Catholic due to the heavy influx of this religion in the area.
Catholic Schools
The Catholic High School of Baltimore on Edison Highway is located near Clifton Park Golf Course, Herring Run Park, located near Darley Park. Catholic residents send their children here to receive a dose of Catholicism and K-12 education on various subjects. And Holy Angels Catholic School, in Halethorpe not far from downtown Baltimore, offers many of the same services.
Blessed Sacrament School on Old York Road is not far from Johns Hopkins University and Medstar Union Memorial Hospital, two unique education opportunities. Students often go on field trips to learn more about medical treatments, providing a unique atmosphere that draws in many in the area.
Mount Pleasant Christian School
Mount Pleasant Christian School serves K-8 students and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 7:1, one of the best in the area. Located not far from Mount Pleasant Church and Ministers off Radecke Avenue, this option provides Christian education o a variety of students that should take care of their needs.
Perry Hall Christian School
With a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1, Perry Hall is a bit denser in population than some Christian schools in the area. Located off Schroeder Avenue, it is a relatively isolated area, located in a mostly rural area. This setting is often a good one for students who need to be separated from problematic influences.
Charter Schools
Charter schools in Baltimore are split up into various classes that focus on specialized learning opportunities. For example, Tunbridge Public Charter School off York Road is a non-profit school that focuses on gifted students who need a little more help from their teachers.
Boarding Schools
Boarding schools are typically stricter and more controlled environments designed for young children who may have behavioral issues or simply want a closer learning environment. Baltimore offers private boarding schools that focus on teaching caring attitudes.
Summer Schools
Many public and private schools offer summer educational programs to keep Baltimore students at a high level of education. These classes include options like the Summer Arts and Learning Academy for pre-kindergarten students. This summer course teaches the necessary behavioral skills, math, and literacy to help prepare students to transition to a proper elementary environment.
Other classes include the CTY Baltimore Emerging Scholars Summer Program, the Shining Stars Program, and the Online Digital or Grade Level Paper Packet for K-8 students, and the Middle School English Learners Program, Ailey Camp Baltimore, POP CDF Freedom School Summer Sports Program, and the Summer Bridge for Rising 12th Graders for middle school and beyond.
Baltimore's many educational opportunities provide a broad and often advanced chance for students in the area to learn. Make sure to research each of these options further by reaching out to them and learning more about application methods, payment needs, and other factors that influence students, classes, and other educational elements.