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August 26, 2025

What's Inside

  • City Schools demonstrates continued growth on state tests

  • Share photos from the first day

  • Finish our back-to-school checklist

  • Register for the CEO Community Conversation

  • Calendar reminder: Schools and offices closed on Monday, September 1

  • Complete Annual Student Verification

  • Come to free student immunization clinics

  • Learn about the updated cell phone policy

  • New protocols for public engagement during Board meetings

  • Download the 2025-26 School Calendar

  • Spreading good news

  • Upcoming events

  • Local news

First day at Fallstaff Elementary/Middle School
📸 First day at Fallstaff Elementary/Middle School
whats new

City Schools extends literacy gains for the ninth consecutive year and three consecutive years of math gains on the state tests

City Schools students achieved a ninth consecutive year of gains in English Language Arts (literacy), a total of nearly 16 percentage points during CEO Santelises’ tenure, on the Maryland state assessments. Also, City Schools has earned three consecutive years of increases in math scores, equaling the statewide increases.

Share photos from the first day

Celebrate back to school by sharing your first day of school photos on social media using #CitySchoolsFirstDay. 

First day at Woodhome Elementary Middle School

Woodhome Elementary Middle

First day at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

First day at Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys

Baltimore Collegiate

Back-to-school checklist

Finish the back-to-school checklist

Visit our back-to-school page to complete Annual Student Verification, read our handbooks, find immunizations, and meet all requirements for a successful school year.

CEO Community Conversation - September 3, 2025

Register for the CEO Community Conversation

Join Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, chief executive officer, for a virtual conversation hosted by City Schools and Act Now about strengthening faith-based partnerships.

Date and time: Wednesday, September 3, from 12:45 - 2 p.m. Register for the CEO Community Conversation by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2, to receive Zoom details on the day of the event.

Calendar reminder

Calendar reminder: Schools closed on Monday, September 1

Remember - Schools and offices are closed on Monday, September 1, for the Labor Day holiday.

Complete Annual Student Verification

Even if there are no changes, families must log into Campus Portal to update or confirm student information and contact information.

Everything you need is on our Annual Student Verification webpage.

New protocols for public engagement during Board meetings

New protocols for public engagement during Board meetings

City Schools is enhancing the security of Board meetings in many ways. Learn the new procedures for public comment.

Learn about the updated cell phone policy

New for the 2025-26 school year: Under the Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy, students may bring devices to school, but they must be powered off, away, and secured during the school day.

Free immunization clinics at City Schools

Come to free student immunization clinics

No appointment is needed! Free student immunization clinics begin this Friday, August 29, at City Schools.

Download the 2025-26 school calendar at baltimorecityschools.org/events

Download the 2025-26 school calendar

The 2025–26 one-page calendar for City Schools is available in English and Spanish! This calendar includes key dates such as the first and last days of school, observance days, early release days, and breaks. Stay tuned for more updates to help you plan for the year ahead.

spreading good news
Baltimore City College Graduation

Poly and City College ranked among Maryland’s top 25 high schools in 2025 national rankings

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly) and Baltimore City College (City College) earned recognition among Maryland’s top 25 high schools in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best High Schools list!

Advanced Placement (AP) participation jumped 30% in two years

What does this experience provide students from their perspective? Meet four alumni who took AP Calculus at the Academy for Career and College Exploration: Audrey, Jordan, Oscar, and Sudarshan.

AP Calculus students at Academy for College and Career Exploration
Upcoming Events
  • Friday, August 29, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Free student immunizations at City Schools 

  • Monday, September 1: Labor Day holiday; Schools and offices closed

  • Wednesday, September 3: CEO Community Conversation, 12:45 - 2 p.m.

  • Wednesday, September 3: Board Meeting, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

  • Friday, September 5, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Free student immunizations at City Schools 

  • Monday, September 8, 6 – 8 p.m.: SECAC Meeting 

  • Tuesday, September 9, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Teaching and Learning Committee Meeting 

  • Thursday, September 11, 4 – 5:30 p.m.: Safety and Wholeness Committee Meeting

  • Friday, September 12, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Free student immunizations at City Schools 

Local News
YO Fest 2025

Come to YO Fest 2025

Celebrate YO Fest's 25th year with fun, food, and community on Friday, September 5, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Harlem Park Field.

In case you missed it...

  • Reserve a spot at the Women and Girls Sports Fest on Thursday, August 28

  • Register for free Baltimore City Recreation and Parks after-school program

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City Schools Helpful Numbers

Main: 443-984-2000
Enrollment: 410-396-8600
Transportation: 410-396-7440
Complaints/ Concerns: 410-545-1870
Special Education Parent Response Unit: 443-984-1561

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Baltimore City Public Schools does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy/parenting status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally or constitutionally protected attributes or affiliations, as outlined in Board Policies JBA, JBB, JICK, ACA, ACB, and ACD. Full nondiscrimination notice: www.baltimorecityschools.org/notice-nondiscrimination