Baltimore schools and colleges
Baltimore schools chief Andres Alonso proudly presented a group of high-achieving students going off to the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, College Park at a board meeting recently.
It was an honor for the students, who are among a smaller-than-usual pool who had been accepted at those schools through special programs.
In recent years, Hopkins and College Park have attempted to boost the number of city public school students who were able to attend their institutions – among the most prestigious in the state – by getting rid of one of the most difficult barriers: money.
Hopkins has agreed to give any student in the city who can get admitted free tuition. Maryland has said it will do the same for one student from each of the nine city high schools each year.
The results have been mixed, with enrollments up some in the past decade, but the numbers are still small overall. This year is no exception.
In 2008, only 13 students were accepted at Hopkins. Next fall, 15 city students will attend the school, up slightly, but still far below the 23 who were accepted to Hopkins in 2005.
Maryland gave only seven students scholarships this year. Two schools, Northwestern High School and Forest Park High School, didn’t have a student who was qualified to be accepted into the state’s flagship school.
Of those students who have been accepted to Hopkins, three are from City College, two are from the School for the Arts, one is from Digital Harbor High and one is from Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School. The remaining eight students come from Polytechnic Institute.
Here is a list of the Maryland College Park Scholars:
Sade Diggs, Western; Ashley Hall, Baltimore School for the Arts; Kori Hill, City College; Juan Peralta, Digital Harbor; Tamicka Smithson, Dunbar; Shamia Stewad, Poly; Tiara Whitfield, Mervo.
The Baltimore Scholars accepted to Hopkins are:
From City College: Anais Naharro Murphy, Zoe Rammelkamp and Rachel Smith.
From Poly: Hannah Bands, Teno Boone, Morgan Glaze, Kayleigh Horst, Michael Lampart, Chardaye Matthews-Page, Joseph Schwartz, Christian Wisner-Carlson,
From the School for the Arts: Christopher Digregorio and Shea Lawson.
From Digital: Zachary Bowman.
From Mervo: Lance McCoy.
Comments
As a 2006 Baltimore Scholar, it is dissapointing to see such lagging numbers. Have Hopkins standards gone up? Has interest gone down? Or are the students these days just not as qualified?
Posted by: Samuel | July 3, 2009 3:20 PM
Northwestern had a student awarded the scholarship, but she chose to go to another school.
Posted by: Jay | July 3, 2009 5:30 PM
The problem with this blog is that is is not timely and mostly no longer relevant. If we ever get the passion back that was Sara, will everyone be dispersed? As it is, I only check the blog about onee a week. We need meat,not fluff and filler.It is so sad that what was such an excellent forum for discussion just vanished with barely a squeek.
Posted by: wise educator | July 4, 2009 11:48 AM
Part of the reason less Poly-Tech students have opted for Hopkins was due to the happy circumstance of more colleges offering better offers. Remember, Hopkins only offers tuition; for many students, help with room & board is needed, too. In my kid's case, we received 4 offers for the full free ride; in the end Hopkins was picked when they matched the other offers.
Maryland @ College Park should really up their quota of city public school students by expanding their full scholarship program. They could use the diversity, as well as exposure to higher scores.
Posted by: Poly-Tech Parent | July 5, 2009 6:03 PM
Like Jay said, there were definitely more Baltimore City students accepted to Hopkins who chose other schools. Your list from City is missing several other kids' names who were accepted as Baltimore Scholars, yet are not actually attending JHU. So while in 2005 there may have been 23 kids accepted, I'm sure the number is pretty similar in 2009.
Additionally, Baltimore City students were offered other enticing merit scholarships to College Park, including full scholarships under other programs, like the Banneker Key Scholars. College Park Scholars is not the only one either.
Posted by: 09Student | July 6, 2009 12:42 PM
@wise educator -
squeek, squeek, squeek.
Not much point, but I've been squeeking.
Another blogger's squeek as well.
Posted by: a parent | July 6, 2009 3:36 PM
Wise Educator--It's not fair to blame Liz for the lack of passion in this blog--rather, people need a break. I know of handful of people who no longer read the blog because of the self righteous attitude of some of the "regulars."
I've said it before, but Liz deserves credit for pursuing the Alonso/Morris story. I'll take objectivity and transparency anyday!
Posted by: On top of things | July 6, 2009 10:05 PM
Objectivity,transparency..of course. I'm not blaming anyone except the Sun for the greatly reduced reporting and the lack of quick turnaround. Blogs work when they are conversations" without pauses of days.
I am merely asking for meaty, timely posts not fluff and filler. I ggree, the Morris coverage was spot on but since then the topics are nice but not essential to the success of a school system. I do not feel self righteous. I just want critical information. Why must your posts get personal?
Not to worry-I'm truly done.
Posted by: wise educator | July 7, 2009 4:37 PM