On June 5, 2025, the BCP Board of Directors held its final meeting of the school year at Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA) and via Zoom. The meeting included a tour of the newly completed Newstead Gymnasium at HHA, along with updates on finances, school performance, curriculum, marketing efforts, and more. Principal Matt Hornbeck from HHA shared his school’s successes and his strategy for keeping students engaged until the last day of school.
Strong Progress on Academic Achievement and Renewal
The Board received positive updates from across the BCP network of neighborhood conversion charter schools. Pimlico Elementary / Middle School, the only school undergoing renewal this year, received a very favorable preliminary review from SchoolWorks, the organization conducting the School Effectiveness Review (SER). The results from the 5E Survey, which assesses perceptions of leadership, teaching, family engagement, and the school environment, were also strong. Pimlico received “Very Strong” ratings in three areas and “Strong” in two. The official SER report is pending, but the outlook is promising.
Other Student and School Highlights Include:
- City Springs Elementary / Middle School: Exceptional reading gains, with students performing above grade level for the first time in nearly two decades.
- Frederick Elementary School: Fully staffed for core academic subjects heading into the 2025-2026 school year—an important milestone.
- Govans Elementary School: Impressive growth in MAP scores and a reduction in suspensions; Principal Bernarda Kwaw received the Transformational Principal designation.
- Hampstead Hill Academy: The completion of the Newstead Gymnasium is a highlight, with a new (and much smaller) project to add two classrooms in the old gym space, along with fundraising for a new playground.
- Wolfe Street Academy: The May Wolfest had great attendance despite the weather and featured fantastic performances, including one student earning a two-month scholarship to the Music Workshop for piano lessons, showcasing her dedication to learning. It was a wonderful celebration of all things Wolfe, with many alumni attending. All but one staff member will be returning next year for the fourth consecutive year.
MAP Results Show Continued Growth
Academic achievement and growth across BCP schools continue to rise, with math and reading scores showing significant improvement. In spring 2025, the average achievement on the MAP assessment increased to 34.3% in math and 33% in reading, up from 25% just two years ago. Schools implementing the new Reveal Math curriculum (City Springs, Frederick, and Pimlico) are experiencing particularly strong results. Govans will join them next year.
Attendance Initiative Launched
BCP is launching a new initiative to combat chronic absenteeism. This pilot program aims to support students who miss between 15 and 23 days per year and to reduce overall chronic absenteeism across all six BCP schools. The initiative will include a research component and will result in a white paper to share best practices.
High School Placement Success
BCP’s middle school students continue to excel after 8th grade:
- 40% of students across all BCP schools were accepted into entrance-based high schools.
- 77% of HHA 8th graders gained placements at top-tier schools such as City College, Poly, Dunbar, and Western.
- Students also received acceptances to the Baltimore School for the Arts, Loyola Blakefield, Cristo Rey, and more.
Fundraising and 30th Anniversary Planning
Marketing and development updates included a recap of the successful “Are You Smarter?” fundraiser and a preview of BCP’s upcoming 30th Anniversary celebration. Ongoing projects include a commemorative video, an impact report, and updates to the BCP website.