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, which are publicly funded but privately run. Those schools, of which there are more than 30 in the city, must receive a charter from the school board to operate.

The district reviewed 19 schools in this year’s annual review, which aims to ensure all students receive a high-quality education. Of those, eighteen, double the normal amount, were operator renewal charter schools.

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

“Closing schools destabilizes communities,” Smith said. “Giving rights to those who need them most.”

In her letter to the Southwest Baltimore Charter School community, Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said the recommendation that the school close after this school year is based on an “ineffective” assessment of the school’s overall academic performance and history the school’s three-year charter renewals. The three-year renewal, as opposed to five- or eight-year terms, 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 ratings, a lack of consistent improvement in academics and a lack of progress toward previous charter renewal conditions. The school also struggled to care for its students with disabilities, according to the district.

In June 2023, the city’s school system emerged victorious after seven charter school operators accused the district of improperly withholding part of their funding.

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

In its recommendations, the school system said Edgewood “has been the smallest school serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through 5 in the municipal schools for many years,” with enrollment continuing to decline. However, the recommendation acknowledged that the school performed well on recent state tests.

“Each year in recent years, the school has needed additional funding to meet core budget requirements,” the summary said. “When schools rely on supplemental funding to meet basic requirements, they lack the resources to provide the rich and robust programming that students deserve and have access to at other schools.”

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

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

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

“It might not always work,” Alvarez said, “but we have people on staff who are really trying to do their best.”

Charter operators can make their case to the council on Dec. 5 at a virtual public works session.

Community members can tell the board how they feel about these possible closures at virtual meetings on Dec. 12 and Jan. 9. The school board will vote on the recommendations on Jan. 14.

About Education Hub

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