Save the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys! We need your Help!
UPDATE: The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners had a tied vote 5-5 on Thursday’s Feb 23rd vote. They will be voting again on Tuesday, February 28th. Please send any emails and letters to schoolboard@bcps.k12.md.us.
The Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys (website here) is located in our district in Coldstream Homestead Montebello on the corner of Kirk and Exeter Hall Avenues. The school is a public charter school and has been in existence since 2015, moving to its current location in 2019. We are thrilled to have them in our district!
The operator and Principal of the school recently got word that the Baltimore City School System is recommending them for non-renewal, meaning the school could close at the end of the school year. After reading all of the materials, talking with the leadership team, community members, parents and students, I am determined to ensure this school stays open. Our young men deserve it!
Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys is for boys in grades 4th-8th grade. The students go on to the best high schools in the city and the best colleges in the area. The school takes the expectations of our young Black men and shatters them, filling our young men with confidence, humility, and a commitment to serve others.
The school system examines most charter schools every three years to ensure they are meeting expectations for each student. They are measured on various factors including academic performance, administrative operations, vision, teacher retention and satisfaction, parent satisfaction, suspensions and other factors. While the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys scored less than expected on these factors, there are very good explanations:
2020 which was the first year of the new renewal - COVID happened. All schools had to start online learning that spring and go into the new school year all online. Student success was challenging during that time. All schools got a pass during this time, and the charters should too.
2021 was a rebuilding year for all schools. As students came back to school in the fall of 2021 many were coming into school with trauma from being shut in for a year. Behavior issues abound in all of the schools.
The operating entity has completely revamped it’s leadership team, starting this school year. Dr. Barney Wilson is the former Principal of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly) and after 10 years at Poly was hand-picked by former City Schools CEO Andres Alonso to reform a failing school. Dr. Wilson is one of the best principals in the entire state, and the operators of the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys somehow convinced him to come, and he did.
Let’s let Dr. Wilson work his magic. He won’t be able to do it alone. The school leadership, the parents, the community, we are right with him. Our young people in Baltimore deserve the best, and this school is one of the best during a difficult time in our young men’s lives.
How can you help?
You can send letters directly to me at odette.ramos@baltimorecity.gov and I’ll send them to the school system. Letters are needed prior to February 14th.
You can attend the following meetings to show support for the school:
Tuesday, February 7th at 6pm at Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys - the school system will be meeting with parents to explain the process and what the options are for their sons if the school closes. The Collegiate school leadership want to have this be more of a rally of support for the school.
Tuesday, February 14th at 5:30pm is when the school system presents the findings and recommendation to the school board during a regular scheduled meeting. Public testimony is available this day. The links to participate are not live yet, I’ll add them here.
Thursday, February 16th is when the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys will present it’s case to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Testimony is limited. So your letters are critical. The links to participate are not live yet, I’ll add them here.
Tuesday, February 23rd is a special Board of School Commissioners meeting where they will make the final decision on the fate of the school. The links to participate are not live yet, I’ll add them here.
I am asking for our entire district’s support. I believe in this school and these students. They are the future of our city. Please support them with your letters or your presence at these meetings. It will mean the world to these young men.