Baltimore City College

I'm a current student at BCC and I think this school is absolutely wonderful and challenging. I recommend anyone that is up to be academically challenged. The IB program is very unique and also very challenging. All through its not that diverse its still a great school with the teachers support and a friendly environment. This school is the BEST and I'm glad I chose to go here. :))
—Submitted by a student

I feel like this school is being underrated and should be treated with more respect, besides Poly or Eastern. This is school is a Maryland Landmark.
—Submitted by a parent

Next weekend our third child will graduate from City. My oldest son started there in 2004 (their class of 2008) and just graduated from the College of William & Mary. Each of our children have very different learning styles, temperaments, and interests, and the school work for each of them. The extracurriculars are excellent, the teaching quality very good, the IB program very challenging, and the current administrative leadership excellent. We do not feel that we compromised our children's education because we chose a Baltimore City public school. Quite the contrary, we feel their attendance here helped better prepare them for college and living in a multicultural society. It hasn't been a completely care-free 8 years there. There was a major problem with the former principal, but throughout all the years, the faculty commitment to educating each child remained. The school is physically imposing & beautiful on the outside, but suffers from the lack of public resources it deserves. The place feels very much like a family and the students seem to really connect with each other. I highly recommend this high school as an excellent choice for any family.
—Submitted by a parent

City continues to maintain a consistent school providing a quality academic foundation. As a 1959 graduate and the father of a 1995 graduate I noted a consistency in City's academic foundation. I was also a middle school chess coach and noted City had many excellent players on its team. This gave me insight into the minds of many of its players.

As in regards to schools for baltimore city...you have to fill out a school of choice form for your child number 1 to 5 in order of choice. My suggestion is to contact the student placement office on north avenue because the deadline for those forms has passed but if your new to baltimore city schools it probably won't apply to you
—Submitted by a parent

simpy amazing, my son who is now in the 11th grade has gone through a wonderful stage going to city. he is very happy, and feels privelage to go to city.
—Submitted by a parent

I have one child who graduated from City one year ago and was accepted at several colleges and is now a full time college student and one child who will graduate next year, academically City is an excellent school, and I feel my children are and have been prepared for college. It appears though as if the Principal and staff are a little too lenient in regards to dress code and enforcing school policies and this is a recent and unfortunate change, I dont know if its City or the overall Baltimore City school administration but I hope that City will not allow their standards to be lowered because I we have too many positives, concerned and active parents and committed students to let that happen. Im still proud my kids attend and attended City, its still a good school. City Forever
—Submitted by a parent

I'm in my senior year at city. Over the past four years I've seen the school slowly decline. Administration isn't as strict as it needs to be. There are students here who don't deserve to be. But even at that this is still one of te best places in the city to get an education.I hate to admit this but Poly is the better school. But City holds it own against most schools. I'm proud to be a city knight.
—Submitted by Terrance Sneed, a student

i am a current student at baltimore city college and it is a good school but there are so many things wrong that the administration does not know about or if they do they dont pay any attention to. The principal has his priorities mixed up he has places two plasma televisions inside of the lunch room. how can we afford to place televisions inside of the luch room when we do not have textbooks for every class that they are needed in and if we do have textbooks they are not up to date. I just do not understand how the staff can care more about the appearance of the school then the education of the students. The truth is that when most of the staff and administration stop caring so do the students!!!!
—Submitted by a student

The sad thing is that Baltimore City College HS should be the best in the city. When I see schools like Poly and Eastern Tech being rated higher, it bothers me. I am an alumni of BCC and received one of the best enducations one can get in a public school system. Why have our rating fallen? It, of course, starts with leadership. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that the principal and administrative staff must take charge, dictate policy (be committed to those policies) and maintain discipline at all times. City has always had a rich tradition and strong academics. I love City and it is a great school that needs to bring its standards up to where they use to be (and belong).
—Submitted by a parent

This could be a great school if it did not have staff that pretends to be elite. They sometimes have an arrogance about them that is not necessary. Some of the teachers will not return calls or emails. God forbid if you speak up about something that you disagree with.
—Submitted by a parent

Good, caring teachers; some of them excellent. Warm atmosphere. Terrific parents. The kids are from across the spectrum and my son is comfortable in the school - even as a Freshman.
—Submitted by a parent

One of the previous posters commented that the students are out of control. This can be said for students in just about any ublic school in any major city across the US. City College is among the elite in Baltimore City. I am proud of the strides that they have made in recent years. I am especially proud of the IB curriculim no longer being a choice but the standard. This school offers accademics, theater, music and so much more to stimulate students. I also love the updates that come by way of telephone. My children have unfortunately gotten used to substandard education in Baltimore City so they are being challenged by the standards at Baltimore City College. I know that they are in deed up to the challenge. It is now up to them to figure it out.
—Submitted by a parent

I transferred my son from Samuel Banks to Baltimore City College high. I am very pleased at the curriculum and the programs offered at the school. My son is excited about his new school and brags about the different sports program the school offers. The school is one of the best in the city. I'm glad he's a student.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a graduate of the class of 2007, and i have to say that going to this school is a much better choice then any zone school. No matter what anybody says it's always good to go city wide school rather than going to a easy crappy zone school. Since it is a citywide school you will meet a great assortment of students acroos the city there is more diversity since it is a citywide school, instead of having all african american students, the amount of people there with that diversity gives a college like feel without the tuition and the dorms. Thing is you'll realize i like i did if you plan to do enginneering or computer related stuff afterwards you'd be better going to poly instead, there is a lot of tech classes i should had had to prepare for college.
—Submitted by a student

Looking back on my experience at City, I would say that yes there were, and still are, great programs offered. The IB program is amazing, but other than that city's classes are filled with out-of-control students. There are serious disciplinary issues. I feel as though the majority or the students that attend City don't realize what there being offered and don't take the chance or effort to be part of the IB classes. There are many kids that go to school at City that gamble, play dice, in the halls during class, skip class during other lunch periods and many of them ditch class to smoke pot. There are a handful of amazing teachers present at City but then again there are many that don't know what their teaching. I would consider City to be a high-end public school in the City of baltimore.
—Submitted by a student

Speaking as an alum,I love City, it is a great school. It prepared me for and got me accepted and many of my class accepted into some of the best colleges in the country. HOWEVER City's status is declining partially because of the students and partially because of the Dawson administration. First and foremost requiring all freshman to enter the IB Program is a serious mistake! I was in the IB Program and received the IB Diploma. It is extremely challenging and it is NOT FOR EVERYONE. The IB standard should only self selected! It requires more than anything immense dedication and that is why it is optional. Forcing students to enter a program that they are not willing to put that EXTREME effort towards is setting the students up for failure! Instead, increase the college prep standard, 60 should not count as passing!
—Submitted by a former student

I graduated from City in 2004. City was an excellent school despite what others say. Yes they might have worked us hard and gave a lot of homework, but it prepared us for the future. Now I here the passing grade is 55 that is ridiculous. I wish Mr.Wilson was still there even though I didn't agree with a lot of stuff he did. He made us thrive towards excellence and that is exactly what I did. It made a lot of us better people who wanted to work hard to get good grades. Mr. Dawson is allowing these students to do the minimum instead of doing their best.
—Submitted by Shanita, a former student

This school offers a private school education in a oublic school. The teachers are concerned and prepare them for higher education

I graduated 2005. My experience at city was truly remarkable. As a freshman, the school was ran by Mr.J.Wilson. A lot of student didn't agree with his method of order instilling discipline into his students. Only until he left did we recognize the importance he had in our academic success. Mr Dawson took the place of Mr.Wilson and the difference were definitely noticed. Students were required to wear a student ID card at all times and guys had to tuck in all tee-shirts. Wow, I was really blown away the students were being treated like inmates. The students that were excepted into City college were supposed to be the best...and to be treated like this made it seem like they didn't trust who they were letting into the school.I would like to personally thank Mr. Wilson for his support.
—Submitted by Brittany Lunkin, a former student