Baltimore City High School recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Guys - a colleague is moving to the Baltimore and will be living in the city in the 21210 zipcode. Turns out this zipcode is zoned for Baltimore city schools and not Baltimore county. I am trying to help out by shortlisting a few decent high schools in the city and would appreciate any insight. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I assume you are looking for private school suggestions? Are they looking for any religious affiliation or does it really matter? Do they have boys or girls or both? Many of the private high schools in Baltimore are single-sex.

I would imagine that with that zip code, the high school that they are zoned for is Poly, which is very highly regarded and probably the best public school in Baltimore City (its one of the best public high schools in Maryland). Having said that, A LOT of city residents chose to go private, myself included.

[Anonymous]

Actually, Baltimore City doesn't use a zone system for public high schools -- they are all "schools of choice." Poly, mentioned in the first reply to your post, accepts students from across the city, based on entrance criteria (combination of academic results, attendance records, etc.). Baltimore City College has similar criteria, as does the all-girls Western High School (right beside Poly). Other high schools provide career-technology education programs or have other areas for curricular focus. You can find out more at www.baltimorecityschools.org/choice

[Anonymous]

City College High school is top notch. So is Poly. Then there are the 20k+ privates (Friends, Park, Calvert, Loyola)

[Anonymous]

I grew up in 21209. Poly would be my choice. He's right near Poly. City College is high-ranked and actually my Father went there when it was an all boys school in the 1950's but the neighborhood is bad.

[Anonymous]

City, Poly and Western would be the only Baltimore City HSs I would consider. Since he is closest to Poly and Western, I'd choose one of them.

[Anonymous]

Gilman

[Anonymous]

If you are moving soon, I would very strongly advise you do not move into Baltimore City. Almost all the high schools in Baltimore City are horrible, some are quite frankly dangerous. The Choice Process begins in the Fall semester before the next year begins. You more likely than not will not be able to get your child into any decent high school in Baltimore City as most are full. The best high schools are Baltimore City High, Poly, Western, NAF (National Academy Foundation), Baltimore School of the Arts and City Neighbors. I know most of those schools have waitlists of a couple hundred kids. I am a former assistant principal for that district, and my school which was really not all that great had a waitlist of over 200.

If you are moving, move to Baltimore County. Their schools are nice. Montgomery County, Howard County and Charles County have really good schools. Stay away from PG County. Good luck to you.

[AdamRules]

Anonymous wrote:If you are moving soon, I would very strongly advise you do not move into Baltimore City. Almost all the high schools in Baltimore City are horrible, some are quite frankly dangerous.

Very true. I have heard bad things about even the public magnet HS in Baltimore (Poly, City, BSA).

I would highly recommend living in the county to increase your school options.