Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West

Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West
Address
1500 Harlem Avenue Street[1] Baltimore , Maryland 21217 United States
Coordinates	39°17′49.66″N 76°38′27.87″W
Information
School type	Public
Founded	2007
School district	Baltimore City Public Schools
School number	364
Principal	LaWanda Wilson[2]
Grades	6-12
Gender	All-boys
Enrollment	232[2] (2018)
Campus type	Urban
Color(s)	Navy, Gold, White
Team name	Rockets[3]
Website	City 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 2019-02-20.
2. "Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West". Baltimore City Public Schools. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
3. "Bluford Drew Jemison Academy Football". MaxPreps. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
4. Neufeld, Sara (2006-11-30). "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 (2008-05-17). "They Don't Have A Prayer". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
6. Green, Erica L. (2013-05-15). "City school system receives seven charter applications". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
7. Green, Erica L. (2013-06-11). "City school board approves three new charters". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. Archived from the original on 2019-02-21. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
8. Bowie, Liz (2010-06-17). "Last day of Diggs-Johnson Middle School". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
9. Green, Erica L. (2013-11-12). "Edwards calls for 7 city schools to close". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
10. Green, Erica L. (2013-12-18). "City board votes to close six schools in 2014". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
11. Bowie, Liz (2024-01-01). "West Baltimore principal chose her students' future over her school's". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
12. "Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West". www.baltimorecityschools.org. Retrieved 2024-11-05.

External links

• Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West at Baltimore City Schools