Baltimore County Public Schools


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. The school system is managed by the Board of Education, headquartered in Towson. The superintendent is Darryl L. Williams, appointed by the School Board on June 11, 2019.

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 107 elementary 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:
There are currently 25 high schools:
High School Advanced Placement Scores 2015
High SchoolHigh School EnrollmentAP ExamsAP Exams 3+AP Exams 3+ %
Catonsville175879956871.1%
Chesapeake9911935930.6%
Dulaney18031791149383.4%
Dundalk14351513019.9%
Eastern Technology110677058175.5%
Carver85351141080.2%
Hereford118888065774.7%
Kenwood16292686925.7%
Lansdowne12341725230.2%
Loch Raven88445426959.3%
Milford Mill15192864515.7%
New Town9971246250.0%
Overlea9631223327.0%
Owings Mills9322509337.2%
Parkville159631515649.5%
Patapsco143429811137.2%
Perry Hall210596460963.2%
Pikesville84049233668.3%
Randallstown10211805430.0%
Sparrows Point8601355843.0%
Towson14441303103179.1%
Western92651541881.2%
Woodlawn1385761519.7%

Magnet Schools

These schools can be attended by any Baltimore County student through an application process. Students attend these schools as full-time students.
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.
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. 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.. 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.
Overcrowding continues to plague the BCPS school system. In 2018 it is particularly bad in the North East area of the school system. Where there is a deficit of over 1700 seats on the elementary level. Furthermore, Perry Hall Middle school is on track to be the largest school in the county with more than 400 students above maximum capacity.

Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow (S.T.A.T.)

To create 21st century learning environments that allow for student-centered learning experiences within the school system's "Framework for Teaching and Learning", Baltimore County Public Schools has established Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow. S.T.A.T. is aligned with the school system's "Theory of Action", part of which is to "ensure that every school has an equitable, effective digital learning environment". The work that supports S.T.A.T.’s goals includes the district's conversions of curriculum, instruction, assessment, organizational development, infrastructure, communications, policy, and budget.

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 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.

Leadership

The school district is led by superintendent Darryl Williams and his respective cabinet, consisting of a chief of staff as well as academic, communications, administrative operations, and human resource officers.