We’re so proud of all our Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) 5th and 8th grade students, each taking the skills they gained and all they learned as BCP students with them as they move to middle school and high school.
Many of 8th grade students from City Springs Elementary / Middle School, Hampstead Hill Academy, and Pimlico Elementary / Middle School will be attending top-tier Baltimore City high schools: Baltimore City College; Western High School; Baltimore Polytechnic; and Paul Laurence Dunbar. To attend these schools, each student had to meet rigorous entrance requirements.
In fact, around half of City Springs’ and Hampstead Hill’s Class of 2024 were admitted to one of the above schools. Here’s a snapshot of where BCP 8th graders are going this fall:
- 14% will attend Baltimore Polytechnic (Poly) and are ready for Poly’s challenging and engaging curriculum focused on STEM and humanities.
- 10% will join Baltimore City College (City), an International Baccalaureate World School and the third oldest public high school in the United States. City’s rigorous college-preparatory program combines communication, intercultural awareness and inquiry-based learning.
- 4% girls will join Western High School, the country’s oldest all-girls public high school that includes excellent academic programs in STEM, a vibrant visual and performing arts program, and information technology.
- 4% students will attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Dunbar), which offers several Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, in Health & Biosciences and Human Resource services, including Nursing Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician.
Additionally, 43% of BCP 8th graders have chosen to attend one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) high schools throughout the city that offer specific careers and focus areas. Other students opted to attend a Baltimore City charter high school, a private or parochial high school, or their local neighborhood high school.
Congratulations to the Highest Performing Students
Kudos to the highest performing students in each of our most recent 8th grade classes.
Gabrielle Bell
City Springs Elementary Middle School (CSEM): Attending Poly
Phillip Taylor
City Springs Elementary Middle School (CSEM): Attending Poly
McKenzie Jones
Pimlico Elementary Middle School (PEMS): Attending Western
Eliezer Duenas-Arias Burger
Pimlico Elementary Middle School (PEMS): Attending Forest Park
Aria Cannizaro
Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA): Attending City
Henry Burger
Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA): Attending Calvert Hall College High School
Aria and Henry also achieved the highest average scores across their Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) assessments in science, mathematics, and English/language arts.
Marissa Lightkep, HHA School Counselor, says HHA provides students with the skills they need to be successful in high school and beyond.
There are many aspects to this preparation. One of the most significant is our rigorous advanced academics program. Students must take at least one honors course per year throughout middle school; but many of our middle school students take all honors courses.
Another major factor, is the comprehensive College and Career Readiness guidance lessons that students receive in grades 1-8. Beginning in 6th grade, these lessons educate and prepare them for the high school choice process. Through preparation and advanced curriculums, HHA students gain the skills they need to successfully navigate their way through the demands of high school.
What is the Baltimore City High School Choice Program?
To choose their high school placement, each BCP 8th grade student participates in Baltimore City High School Choice program. They complete the process with the support of their parents and their school’s guidance counselor. The High School Choice process involves students applying to the high schools they want to attend in 9th grade. The schools accept students based on factors including their grades, interviews, essays, performances, art portfolios, or other relevant information. If a student is applying to a private or parochial school, they also have the support of their guidance counselor who helps navigate this process.
Read more about how our BCP school counselors help students and their families find the school that’s the right fit.
