Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West

Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West
Address
Map
1500 Harlem Avenue Street[1]

Baltimore
,
Maryland
21217

United States
Coordinates39°17′49.66″N 76°38′27.87″W / 39.2971278°N 76.6410750°W / 39.2971278; -76.6410750
Information
School typePublic
Founded2007
School districtBaltimore City Public Schools
School number364
PrincipalLaWanda Wilson[2]
Grades6-12
GenderAll-boys
Enrollment232[2] (2018)
Campus typeUrban
Color(s)Navy, Gold, White
Team nameRockets[3]
WebsiteCity Schools Site

Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West, was an all-boy public middle/high school located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The school's focus was on Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.[2]

History

The school was an extension of the Bluford Drew Jemison Math Science Technology Academy initially opened in 2007 as a charter middle school, and named for African-Americans who had found success in STEM fields: Guion S. Bluford and Mae Jemison, and Charles R. Drew.[4] This original school was located at 1130 N. Caroline St. in the Gay Street neighborhood of Baltimore.[5] This original BDJ lost its Charter license in 2013 (becoming a traditional school) due to low academic performance and financial issues, before shuttering for good at the end of 2014.[6][7]

Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West was launched as a spin off in 2010.[8] Initially co-located within the Diggs-Johnson Middle School at 1300 Herkimer St, the school moved to the former Walbrook High School at 2000 Edgewood Street in the Fairmont neighborhood in 2010 when Diggs-Johnson was closed to make room for the Southwest Baltimore Charter School.[8] However, by November 2013, the school board had decided to empty the Walbrook campus entirely, and BDJ West was recommended for closure along with its predecessor.[9] Community protests kept it from closure and relocation, but the board did revoke its charter in December of the same year, announcing it would look for a new operator.[10]

In fall 2023, principal LaWanda Wilson proposed a merger with neighboring Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts,[11] the move was then approved by the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners in January 2024.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West 2017 - 2018 School Report Card". Maryland State Department of Education. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West". Baltimore City Public Schools. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  3. ^ "Bluford Drew Jemison Academy Football". MaxPreps. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Neufeld, Sara (November 30, 2006). "13 Charter Schools Sought in City - Applications Received by the School Board Reflect a Range of Trends, Philosophies". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
  5. ^ Kane, Gregory (May 17, 2008). "They Don't Have A Prayer". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
  6. ^ Green, Erica L. (May 15, 2013). "City school system receives seven charter applications". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
  7. ^ Green, Erica L. (June 11, 2013). "City school board approves three new charters". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Bowie, Liz (June 17, 2010). "Last day of Diggs-Johnson Middle School". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
  9. ^ Green, Erica L. (November 12, 2013). "Edwards calls for 7 city schools to close". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
  10. ^ Green, Erica L. (December 18, 2013). "City board votes to close six schools in 2014". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  11. ^ Bowie, Liz (January 1, 2024). "West Baltimore principal chose her students' future over her school's". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West". www.baltimorecityschools.org. Retrieved November 5, 2024.


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