Three elementary schools will close at the end of this school year if the Baltimore City School Board follows recommendations from the city school system.

Schools on the chopping block include Edgewood Elementary School in Mt. Holly, Creative City Public Charter School in Towanda-Grantley and Southwest Baltimore Charter School in Washington Village/Pigtown. The first is a traditional school while the other two are charter schools, publicly funded but privately managed. These schools, of which there are more than 30 in the city, must receive a charter from the school board to operate.

The district looked at 19 schools in this year’s annual review that aims to ensure all students receive a high-quality education. Eighteen of them, double the normal number, were charter schools awaiting renewal by the operator.

Southwest Baltimore Charter School, Inc. Executive Director Timothy Smith said the board’s recommendation was “incredibly disappointing,” especially as the school celebrates its 20th anniversary. He said that while the school is concerned about the “disadvantages of the current charter system,” its number one priority is maintaining equity for the Southwest Baltimore community by keeping the school open.

“Closing schools destabilizes communities,” Smith said. “This disenfranchises the very people who need them most.”

In her letter to the Southwest Baltimore Charter School community, Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said the recommendation to close the school after this school year was based on the “not effective” rating. of the school’s overall academic performance and the school’s history. charter renewals for three years. The three-year renewal, instead of five or eight years, is extended to schools that are making progress but still need to improve.

The recommendation to close Creative City Public Charter School was also based on low grades, a lack of consistent improvement in academic performance, and a lack of progress toward charter renewal prerequisites. The school also struggled to effectively care for its students with disabilities, according to the district.

In June 2023, the city school system emerged victorious after seven charter school operators accused the district of unduly withhold part of their funding.

The district also recommended that Edgewood Elementary School close after this school year and send students to Gwynns Falls Elementary School and Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School, which have space and are within walking distance for students from Edgewood zoning. Four citywide special education programs housed in Edgewood would be relocated. The school building would be added to the city’s surplus properties after the closure.

In its recommendations, the school system said Edgewood “has been the smallest school serving K-5 students in city schools for many years” with continued declining enrollment. Still, the recommendation acknowledged that the school had performed well on recent state tests.

“Each year for several years, the school has required additional funds to meet basic budget requirements,” the summary states. “When schools rely on additional funds to meet basic requirements, they do not have the resources to provide rich, robust programming that students deserve and have access to at other schools.”

On November 21 at 5:30 p.m., members of the Edgewood community can gather at the school to share their feelings about the potential closure.

Another decision, regarding New Song Academy, is still pending as the school system seeks to learn more about the school’s finances; the recommendation is expected to be shared at the Dec. 10 board meeting. Six charter schools received renewal recommendations with conditions that schools would need to meet before the next charter renewal.

Angela Alvarez, executive director of the school system’s Office of New Initiatives, said the investment of everyone involved in children’s education makes it difficult to share negative recommendations.

“It doesn’t always work,” Alvarez said, “but we have committed people who are really trying to do their best.”

Charter operators can make their case to the board on Dec. 5 during a virtual public work session.

Community members can tell the school board what they think about these potential closures during virtual meetings on Dec. 12 and Jan. 9. The school board will vote on the recommendations on January 14.

About the Education Center

This report is part of Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with the resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Learn more.