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Western High School

4600 Falls Road, 21209

410.396.7040
 

Charter/zoned school: Citywide high school, criteria for admittance, Maryland Blue Ribbon Honorable Mention School 2002, Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence 2008

 

Grades served: Ninth through twelfth

 

Application process and deadlines: Baltimore City Public School students apply through their middle school guidance counselor who submits the applications by the December deadline. Students outside of BCPSS should contact Mr. Karl Starks at the Office of Student Placement at 410.396.8605.

 

Uniform: Red, black, or white polo or oxford shirt with the Western logo. Black pants or skirts to the knee or longer.

 

Brief school history: Western was founded in 1844 to provide the best and most appropriate education possible for the young women of Baltimore. Western is a citywide high school with a rigorous academic program for college-bound students.

 

School Leadership

 

Principal: Mrs. Eleanor P. Matthews

 

Phone: 410.396.7040

 

Ms. Matthews is a product of Baltimore City Public Schools. She holds a BA from Morgan State University in French and Spanish, a MA from the University of Wisconsin in French, and a certification in Administration and Supervision. Ms. Matthews has been at Western since 1981. She has served as department head of foreign languages, assistant principal, and has been the principal since 2006.

 

Under her leadership, the school has continued to attain 100% college acceptance for members of the graduating classes and has added several upper level courses, such as a computer game design course with the University of Baltimore funded by Northrop Grumman.

 

Vice Principals:

Ms. Kelly Caswell            Twelfth grade administrator

Mrs. Stephanie Farmer            Eleventh grade administrator

Ms. Rhonda Clyburn            Tenth grade administrator

 

Academics

 

Western is a citywide high school that offers college preparatory, honors, and advanced placement classes emphasizing the humanities and mathematics, and science and technology. To earn the Western Certificate, students must successfully complete 28 high school credits. Courses offered other than those listed include economics, law, sociology, psychology, creative writing, newspaper, drama, anatomy and physiology, genetics, dance, instrumental and vocal music, music theory, art, environmental science, computer game design, computers in science, robotics, and logic. Foreign languages include Chinese, Russian, and Spanish. Students take all one-credit classes daily during the school year and half-credit classes daily for one semester. Western has an eight-period day.

 

For the Classes of 2009–2012

College Preparatory

Accelerated College Preparatory
  • 4 English
  • 4 Math (Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II, Pre-Calculus)
  • 4 Levels of Same Second Language
  • 3 Social Studies (World History, US History, American Govt.)
  • 3 Lab Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
  • 1 Tech. Education
  • 1 Fine Arts
  • 1 Physical Education
  • 1/2 Health
    -------------------------
    21 1/2 Required Courses
    6 1/2 Electives (min. 2 advanced)
  • 3 Honors, 1 AP English (beginning with the class of 2011, honors English in grade 9 not required)
  • 4 Math (Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II, Pre-Calculus)
  • 4 Levels of Same Second Language
  • 4 Social Studies (World History, US History, American Govt.)
  • 3 Lab Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
  • 1 Tech. Education
  • 1 Fine Arts
  • 1 Physical Education
  • 1/2 Health
    -------------------------
    21 1/2 Required Courses
    6 1/2 Electives (min. 2 advanced)
    Requirements for this program: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 Min., 4 hon. courses per yr. (sophomore–senior year), must take 3 Advanced Placement courses

 

 

 

Teacher Academy

 

  • 4 English
  • 4 Math (Alg. I Geometry, Alg. II, Pre-Calculus)
  • 4 Levels of Same Second Language
  • 3 Social Studies (World History, US History, American Govt.)
  • 3 Lab Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
  • 1 Tech. Education
  • 1 Fine Arts
  • 1 Physical Education
  • 1 Human Growth and Development through Adol.
  • 1 Teaching as a Profession
  • 1 Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction
  • 1 Educational Academy Internship
  • 1/2 Health
    -------------------------
    25 1/2 Required Courses
    2 1/2 Electives (min. 2 advanced)

 

 

 

  • Freshmen placed in Algebra I may take two math classes in the sophomore year in order to enroll in Calculus in the senior year. Teacher recommendation required.
  • Honors and Advanced Placement courses are available to all 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. Placement in honors and Advanced Placement courses is determined by teacher recommendation the previous spring and year-end grades.
  • Students must enroll in a minimum of four credits each year from among the English, mathematics, social studies, science, and foreign language offerings.
  • Beginning with the Class of 2011, all students enter the College Preparatory program in grade 9. They may apply to enter the Accelerated College Preparatory or Teacher Academy programs in grade 10, for which administrative approval is required.

 

ESOL (English as second language): Western shares an ESOL teacher with Poly.

 

Special education: Full inclusion setting.

 

100% of our graduates are accepted to at least one four-year college, and according to the College Bound statistics, more students from Western actually attend college and complete the first year than students from any other Baltimore City high school.

 


 

Test Scores

 

Western has met Adequate Yearly Progress in all categories for the last five years. More specifics on scores including the High School Assessments are available here.

 

Enrichment Activities

 

Gifted/talented programs: All classes are college preparatory. In addition, students have the opportunity to take honors level and Advanced Placement courses. Advanced Placement courses include: Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, English Language, English Literature, United States Government and Politics, and U. S. History, Human Geography, and Studio Art 2D. Other enrichment courses include Logic, Environmental Science, Robotics, and Computer Game Design.

 

Tutoring: All teachers offer Coach Class for students before or after school. The National Honor Society offers peer tutoring during lunch periods.

 

After-school clubs:

 


·       Archives Club

·       Band

·       Bible Club

·       Campus Crier

·       Chess Club

·       Chinese Heritage

·       Computer Club

·       Concert Choir

·       Debate Team

·       Drama Club

·       Environmental Club

·       Fashion Design Club

·       Fashionettes

·       Christian Athletes

·       It’s Academic

·       Library Club

·       MESA

·       Modern Dance Group

·       Muslim American Society

·       National Art Honor Society

·       National Honor Society

·       Pep Squad

·       Robotics Club

·       S.H.O.P.

·       SADD

·       Sci-Fi Club

·       Sisters for Black Awareness

·       Sometimes Magazine

·       Sounds Unlimited

·       Student Government

·       Spanish Honor Society


·       Stage Crew

·       Urban Debate League

 


Athletic teams:


Fall:

Winter:

Spring:

·       Varsity Cross Country

·       Junior Varsity Basketball

·       Varsity Badminton

·       Junior Varsity Soccer

·       Varsity Basketball

·       Junior Varsity Badminton

·       Varsity Soccer

·       Junior Varsity Swimming

·       Varsity Softball

·       Junior Varsity Volleyball

·       Varsity Swimming

·       Junior Varsity Softball

·       Varsity Volleyball

·       Modern Dance

·       Varsity Tennis

·        

·       Varsity Indoor Track

·       Varsity Track

·        

·        

·       Varsity Lacrosse

 

Teaching Staff and Classroom Management

 

Class size: 30:1 student-teacher ratio

 

Teaching staff: 93.5 % of Western teachers are considered highly qualified. Seven of the Western staff are alumnae; 16 of the teachers have been teaching for more than 20 years; 15 teachers have between 1–5 years experience while all others fall between six and 19 years of experience.

 

Student Population

 

Number of students: 847

 

Ethnic breakdown: 85% African American, 11% Caucasian/white, 4%

 

Percentage on free/reduced lunch: 45.5%

 

Percentage of ESOL students: 0.4%

 

Percentage with Individual Education Plans (IEP): 0.2%

 

More information on student demographics is available here.

 

Parent Involvement

 

Parent group name: Western High School PTA

 

Parent group contact: Ms. Bert Lee

 

Number of active members: 250

 

Number of times group meets per year: Every second Monday of the month September through June.

 

Facility Description

 

In 1966, Western High School was relocated from its site on Centre and Howard streets to its current facility on Falls Road. Western shares the campus with Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Western has its own separate program and building, which houses computer labs, science labs, a foreign language lab, a dance studio, a distance learning lab, an art studio, and instrumental and vocal music facilities. The two schools share an auditorium, swimming pool, and cafeteria. One of our most attractive features is the shared courtyard between the two schools.