Yes and No. Yes, it is part of the Baltimore City Public School System. Yes, it answers to Baltimore’s school board and CEO. Yes, it follows all of the regulations that city schools do. No, it has a partner, or Co-Operator, in Johns Hopkins’s CSOS. They work with and oversee the principal and staff to guide the vision approved by BCPSS.
Most of this answer is the same for all Innovation schools. Innovation schools accept student applicants from all over the city, and have no criteria except that students be eligible for public school and that they apply. In our case, we have students from middle schools like Southeast, Harlem Park, and Hamilton. We even have students who graduated from private middle schools.
There are three other Innovation schools in Baltimore: The New Era Academy, the Academy for Career and College Exploration, and the Baltimore Freedom Academy. The model itself has been influential in Baltimore’s high schools for almost ten years. The first high school ever to use the Talent Development model was Patterson High School, making Patterson famous in reform circles nationwide
1) How many students are currently enrolled and what is the projected enrollment?
The current enrollment of BTDHS is approximately 250 students with the projected enrolment of 600 in 2007-08.
2) Why is the school named Baltimore “Talent” Development?
The word talent is included into the title because we believe that all students have talents which in the proper environment can be discovered, nurtured and eventually assist the student in heir career aspirations. At BTDHS we believe that a students talent is their brain and that once their cognitive abilities are developed they will be able to succeed.
3) Do students need a specific talent to apply and is there an audition?
No. Students do not need a specific talent to apply. We are not attempting to develop students singing, dancing or artistic talents specifically, however we do want to develop those academic talents.
4) Do students receive an automatic scholarship to Johns Hopkins University once they graduate?
No. Johns Hopkins University offers free tuition to all Baltimore City Public Schools students who are accepted to the university. All graduates of BCPSS are eligible for the scholarship not only BTDHS students
5) Is the School Board proposal to move BTDHS definite?
No. The school board is currently reviewing the proposal to close the Harlem Park Community (which houses BTDHS) a proposal which is currently begin contested by the community.
6) What neighborhood or zone do students need to live in to attend BTDHS?
BTDHS is a citywide program which permits all Baltimore City residents to attend.
7) How many teachers are employed at BTDHS?
BTDHS has 8 ninth and tenth grade subject teachers. BTDHS is also fortunate to have 6 Johns Hopkins University facilitators who assist the teachers and hold specialized classes for students needing addition assistance.
8) What is the average class size?
The average BTDHS class size is 20 with no class having more than 25.
9) Is student safety an issue at BTDHS?
As most BCPSS high schools, BTDHS has occasional problems with students encountering problems in the community, however we have one of the safest schools in the city. We are proud of or low altercation (fight) rate and attribute it to the school climate which we pay special attention to.
10) Can a student already in high school transfer to BTDHS?
In order to transfer, the student’s parent must
contact the Student Placement office at North Ave. We are always
looking for positive students who are excited about learning
