By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
Two public hearings will take place for Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys, which is currently recommended for closure in 2026.
The first public hearing will take place Thursday, Dec. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Baltimore City Public Schools District Office, located at 200 E. North Avenue. Registration to comment during the Dec. 11 meeting will be open between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. School officials are asking people who want to comment to email Lindsey Anderson at leanderson@bcps.k12.md.us.
The second public hearing will take place Jan. 8, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. That meeting will also take place at the District Office, located at 200 E. North Avenue. Registration to comment will be open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A final vote on the matter will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. That meeting will begin around 5 p.m., with a location still to be confirmed by Baltimore City Public Schools
Led by Chief Executive Officer Edwin C. Avent, Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys (BCSB) held a press conference on Dec. 10 urging the Board of Education to keep the school open amidst financial struggles.
The charter school, which serves hundreds of Baltimore city boys from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, produces students that go on to graduate high school at a remarkable rate of nearly 90 percent. According to Avent, over 40 percent of BCSB scholars who have graduated from the institution are enrolled in either a two or four year college.
“Our school was established to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, and our track record shows that we are doing so successfully,” said Avent. “When our boys leave our school, they are equipped with the vision, determination, and grit that they need to graduate from high school and go on to higher education.”
BCSB is the only public charter school in Baltimore that provides Black boys from grade 4 to 8 with a structured environment that educates and mentors them while also pushing students to achieve a higher education. BCSB’s high school graduation rate is nearly 30 percent higher than the city’s average for African-American boys coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Parents and students of BCSB took to the stage during the Dec. 10 press conference to speak about the importance of the public charter school and why they feel it’s important that it stays open.
“One day, my son came home and I asked him how his day was. He told me about how he felt good about himself,” said Janine Kelly. “His interactions with his teachers were way different from where he was before. He likes the way they hold him accountable and they pull the best out of him.”
Kevin Blackwell, the father of a sixth grader, shared what both he and his son have gotten out of BCSB so far.
“We came from downtown, Federal Hill Prep, and it’s a completely different atmosphere,” said Blackwell. “When I came here and saw this atmosphere – the boys dressed the way they’re dressed, sticking to it…the discipline that’s within this building–this is more than just a school. This is progress and purpose. It must continue because this is a symbol for what needs to happen within the entire city.”
Maryland State Del. Caylin A. Young, Esq.,who represents District 45, has joined the fight to keep BCSB open.
“I challenge the school board. I challenge the school administration and my challenge to anybody that’s paying attention, including my colleagues in the General Assembly and as someone who serves in the Ways and Means Committee and the education subcommittee. My challenge to all of us: This is the only school like this in our entire state. What are we going to do about it?” said Young.
Young shed light on the struggles that many charter schools face when it comes to dealing with financial issues in comparison to other schools around Baltimore city and the state of Maryland.
“Are we going to allow this school to struggle when we know the money is already there? This is not an issue with traditional schools, traditional schools get capital funding. So we’ve created a circumstance where we haven’t set this school up– and many other schools–to succeed,” said Young.
BCSB is asking for supporters of the school community and the city at large to take action. School leaders are asking for people to sign their names to a Change.org petition in favor of the school staying open, submit a video testimony or submit a statement to the board urging them to keep the school open. Supporters are also urged to attend the upcoming public meetings.
To contact members of the Baltimore City Public Schools Board of Commissioners, please see below:
Board Chair Robert Salley
Vice Chair Ashiah Parker
Commissioner Andrew Coy
Commissioner Emily Ames-Messinger
ecamesmessinger@bcps.k12.md.us
Commissioner Ashley “Ash” Esposito
Commissioner Kwame’ Jamal Kenyatta-Bey
Commissioner Mujahid Muhammad
Commissioner Dr. Stefan Redding-Lallinger
Commissioner Amber Scott Woodruff
Commissioner Larry Carlton Simmons Jr.
Commissioner Khalilah Slater Harrington
For more information, visit http://baltimorecollegiate.org/renewal.