Place matters. Research over the past century has consistently found that school facilities impact teaching and learning in profound ways.
Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) understands the importance of maintaining quality school facilities for our teachers and students. BCP continuously works with the Baltimore City Public School System (City Schools) to ensure our buildings provide the conditions needed to support successful learning outcomes.
Summer is the perfect time to assess and address facility upgrades to our schools. We’re excited about the following upgrades and what they mean to our students, families, educators, and community members. Each of these improvements were overseen by Blaine Lipski, BCP’s Director of Facilities.
City Springs Elementary / Middle School
This summer, City Springs relocated its music room to the 2nd floor and sound-proofed the room for lots of joyous music-making and fun to come this fall. City Springs will be undergoing a transformation over the next few years with a new school building to be constructed through the City Schools and State of Maryland’s 21st-Century School’s program.
Govans Elementary School
In the fall of 2021, Govans’ students and teachers moved into their newly constructed school building as part of City Schools’ 21st Century School plan. Govans’ 2023 summer facility upgrades to its recently constructed building focused on safety with the installation of a new security initiative by adding room identification signs to windows for exterior identification.
Frederick Elementary School
Frederick Elementary (FES) added new exterior pavement graphics called custom thermoplastic markers, on the sidewalks, walkways, and entrances leading to the school. The goal is to elevate FES’s identity in the neighborhood and add purposeful, public art to inspire students. These durable, custom graphics (made of the same materials used for crosswalks) also serve a very important safety feature: to create awareness of student walking routes to and from the school buildings.
Creating the graphics was a collaborative effort with FES faculty and staff coordination. Principal Jackson, who began her principalship of FES on July 1, led the coordination of FES teams to decide on images.
Hampstead Hill Academy
In its ongoing commitment to faculty and staff support, Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA) transformed an existing room into a Mothers’ Nursing Room that can be used by faculty and staff and all mothers in the HHA community.
The school days are literally a lot brighter at HHA (or at least an office) with a new exterior window installed this summer.
Two years ago, an anonymous donor kickstarted a capital campaign to expand and improve HHA’s existing facility. Improvements will include: additional classrooms; security vestibule at the main entrance; new dedicated gymnasium, rooftop recreational space;and renovating the existing gym into a performing arts center. If you are interested in learning more or making a donation, please reach out to Matt Hornbeck, HHA Principal,at principalhornbeck@hha47.org
Pimlico Elementary / Middle School
Pimlico was renovated in 2018 as part of City Schools 21st-Century building plan and converted to a BCP charter school in 2021. Over the summer, Pimlico unveiled a new school logo to help rebrand itself as a BCP school while also embracing the school’s historic roots. As part of this rebranding efforts, Pimlico added window and wall mural decals throughout the building.
Bathrooms on the 3rd and 2nd floors were also restored with new floor covering. During the spring planting season, the school grounds and entrance received a much-needed makeover with lush, new exterior landscaping, too.
Wolfe Street Academy
Earlier in the spring, Wolfe Street Academy (WSA) received 21st century lighting upgrades throughout the school. This summer, WSA added an exterior window in the front office to allow more natural light and improve security through heightened awareness of their surroundings and a better view of the street.
