- 5 Things to Know at City Schools
- Family & Community Town Hall: 2025-26 School Year Calendar!
- Join us for Family Math Night
- Come to the School Choice Fair
- Come to the Winter Wonderland Showcase
- Come to Mayor Brandon M. Scott's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Join PCAB and Dr. Santelises
- Cheer on our teams at the Football State Championship
- Calling All Families: Share Your Voice and Lead the Way with Family University!
- Spreading Good News
- Upcoming Events
- Local News
December 3, 2024
What's Inside
📸 Author Carole Boston Weatherford visited Cross Country Elementary/Middle School to discuss her latest book, Whirligigs, with fourth-grade students.
Family & Community Town Hall: 2025-26 School Year Calendar
City Schools invites families and community members to a special Town Hall event to discuss our district calendar for next year! This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on the proposed calendar models and let us know what works best for you and your family.
Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Virtual Link:bit.ly/FamilyCommunityInput
Join us for Math Night
City Schools is hosting a Districtwide Math Night at Port Discovery on Wednesday, December 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. Pre-K through fifth-grade students and families can engage in math activities, and parents and guardians can learn how to support their students at home. Sensory materials and sensory-friendly alternative activities will be available. Discount parking, dinner, and interpretation will also be available.
Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Time: 5 - 8 p.m.
Location: Port Discovery
35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Register: https://bit.ly/MathNightPD25
Come to the School Choice Fair!
At City Schools, students have the opportunity to choose their middle and high schools. To support families in the Choice process, we’re hosting the annual Choice Fair to showcase all the exciting school options available.
Join us on Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Baltimore Convention Center!
For all information on the School Choice process, visit the School Choice page. And don't forget, School Choice applications are now open in the Student Enrollment Management System, and are due on January 17!
Come to the Winter Wonderland Showcase
Join us the week of Monday, December 9, for the Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) Winter Arts Showcase at our North Avenue District Office. Schools from across the district will present holiday-themed productions, featuring a variety of visual art exhibitions and live performances in the Guilford Gallery.
We invite you to enjoy the creativity and talent of our students as they celebrate the season. The performance schedule is available HERE!
Come to Mayor Brandon M. Scott's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Our students will bring some festive cheer to Mayor Brandon M. Scott's tree lighting ceremony, this Wednesday, December 4 at 6 p.m. at War Memorial Plaza. Come out for some holiday spirit and to support City Schools' students from Federal Hill Preparatory Academy, Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, and Baltimore City College!
Join PCAB and Dr. Santelises
Join the Parent and Community Advisory Board (PCAB) for a special virtual meeting on Thursday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m. Hear from City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises during a Q&A session and hear updates about the 2025-26 school year calendar. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your input and get your questions answered!
Visit the PCAB page for more information.
Support Mervo and Dunbar in the Football State Championships!
Support Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School as they compete at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401.
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical vs. North Point
Date: Thursday, December 5
Time: 7 p.m.
Paul Laurence Dunbar vs. Patuxent
Date: Friday, December 6
Time: 4 p.m.
Tickets are available online only: MPSSAA Football State Championships.
Let’s go, Mervo and Dunbar!
Calling All Families: Share Your Voice and Lead the Way with Family University!
City Schools' Family University is seeking families to help design workshops on topics important to YOU!
What do you need to be a partner in your child’s educational journey? Join Family University and other City Schools families to develop a workshop series designed by families for families, to support your student's success. This is a stipend-eligible role. Interested? Sign up with this form!
Great News! More City Schools campuses increased star ratings on the Maryland School Report Card
Overall, Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) boosted its percentage of 3-, 4-, and 5-star schools on the Maryland State Department of Education’s (MSDE) annual Maryland School Report Card in 2024. At the same time, the school district now has its fewest number of schools earning stars in the lowest category.
City Schools' leap forward also outpaced Maryland school districts overall. Eighteen percent of City Schools campuses gained at least one star compared to a year ago, better than the state’s 16 percent rise. Meanwhile, only 6 percent of Baltimore City schools lost a star compared to 8 percent statewide.
To learn more about this exciting news, read here.
Baltimore City School Police Coat Drive
This holiday season, Baltimore City School Police partnered with local nonprofit, Girls Expecting More Success (G.E.M.S.), to provide winter coats to City Schools students.
Wednesday, December 4 - Operator Renewal Board Work Session - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 5 - Family and Community Town Hall: 2025-26 Calendar - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 5 - Operator Renewal Board Work Session - 5:30 p.m.
Monday, December 9 - SECAC meeting - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 10 - Public Board meeting - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 11 - Districtwide Math Night at Port Discovery - 5 p.m.
Thursday, December 12 - Community School Steering Committee meeting - 4 p.m.
Thursday, December 12 - Annual Review Board Hearing #1 - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 14 - Annual School Choice Fair - 10 a.m.
Operation Warm
Keep your student warm this winter! Families are invited to select Enoch Pratt Free Library branches to pick up a free coat for students ages 2 to 18 while supplies and sizes last. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay cozy and ready for the winter cold.
Enter Mayor Scott's Black History Month Art Contest
City Schools students and families, it's time to get creative! In preparation for Black History Month, Mayor Scott is hosting an art contest, and the winning pieces will be showcased in City Hall this February. Whether it’s a painting, drawing, digital art, or mixed media, this is a great chance to honor Black leaders, artists, and trailblazers creatively.
Parents, encourage your young artists to participate! Artwork drop-offs are from December 9 to December 13 at City Hall, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Be sure to check the guidelines to make sure your submission is ready! For questions, please email childrenandfamilysuccess@baltimorecity.gov.
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