The vision for Digital Harbor High School started in 2000 when then-Baltimore schools chief Carmen V. Russo wanted to create a high school for computer studies in downtown Baltimore. Southern High School was the chosen site for the new school because it had suffered low graduation rates and disorder in recent years. Its prime location near Inner Harbor in the gentrifying Federal Hill neighborhood made it an attractive choice for a magnet school drawing students from citywide. A planning committee convened and a multimillion-dollar renovation project was undertaken over a five-year period. The building was completely transformed, with approximately $50 million spent to renovate the campus, with $6 million allocated toward information technology and audio visual equipment.
The school was partially designed by the original principal, Michael Pitroff (2002-2005), who is said to be the "Father of Digital Harbor." In 2005, he was reassigned to be the Technology Department Head for the Baltimore school system. The pupil transition from the old Southern High School began in 2002 with the entering 9th graders inaugurating the new school.[3] With the graduation of Southern High School's last Class of 2005, all grade levels for Digital Harbor High School were phased in and another school, the National Academy Foundation School, was also housed on its first floor.[4]
Academics
The academic focus of the school has been on computers and information technology. Digital Harbor's school compass logo represents the curriculum is divided into four separated into 6 separate areas of study ("pathways") for students to choose from:
Interactive Media Production (IMP)
IT Networking Academy (Cisco)
Database Academy (Oracle)
Information Support and Services (ISS)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing (RI)
The students must meet not only the BCPSS requirements for graduation, but must also fulfill the requirements for their particular "pathway" as well. Currently, Digital Harbor is one of the most technologically advanced schools in the city. During the 2013–2014 school year, the school's population
increased to 1409 students.
[6]
Facilities and policies
Digital Harbor is a first among Baltimore City Schools, with millions of dollars in equipment devoted to modernizing all of the classrooms and the adding of Wi-Fi and wired internet access all over the school.
All four floors have pathway offices designed with the school colors.
School uniform
The school currently has a school uniform dress code which includes khaki pants, a polo shirt or oxford shirt in Columbia blue or white as well as a polo shirt or oxford shirt in black exclusively for registered seniors; and the school sweatshirt or sweater with the compasslogo or in black. For the 2011–2012 school year the school introduced a royal blue polo shirt for the incoming ninth graders
The school was honored by M&T Bank with a $5,000 loan to start a school store, which sells several school oriented memorabilia (cups, mugs, School Uniforms, wristbands etc.); and also sells snacks, drinks, and school supplies.[11] The store was given the loan based on a presentation given by a group of students in the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) program. The bank has even donated a school mascot uniform to the school named Nifty (after the NFTE program).[12]
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