In June, Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA) kicked off its 20th year with Middle Grades Partnership (MGP), a Baltimore nonprofit that matches middle schools within Baltimore City Public Schools with the region’s independent private schools for summer academics, enrichment and community building. HHA is MGP’s first, largest, and longest-running partnership.
Since 2005, HHA has partnered with The Friends School of Baltimore to offer exciting opportunities for academic and personal enrichment and growth for both HHA and Friends School middle-school-aged students and teachers. “The Hampstead Hill and Friends MGP was established in 2005, during MGP’s first summer,” explains Wendy Samet, MGP Executive Director. “What began as a partnership serving 40 students—hosted at Friends School—has grown into a program serving almost 100 students, now held at HHA.”
This summer, the HHA and Friends partnership is serving over 90 students: 60-plus from HHA and 30 from Friends School. Coordinated by a team of HHA and Friends faculty, the summer program is just over a month-long, wrapping up in mid-July. Friends students shuttle to HHA from their North Baltimore school each day for academic enrichment activities.
Over the course of the month-long summer program, the HHA and Friends students receive 160 hours of skill building in algebra, writing, and reading. In addition they have classes in engineering, public speaking, financial literacy, arts, and MGP’s signature leadership and civic responsibility program, Leadership, Equity, Activism, Diversity, and Service (LEADS).
Summer fun is also a key part of the experience. In summer 2025, the HHA and Friends middle schoolers are enjoying summer adventures like Trivia day, Track and Field day, Bowling, Movies at Flagship Cinema, and a day at Hammerman Beach.
“In bringing students from both schools together, they can better understand themselves and their city, and to make a difference in their communities,” adds Ms. Samet. “For 20 years, these schools, their students, teachers, and leaders have demonstrated what a true public-private school partnership can be, learning from one another and setting an example for others.”
Thank you, HHA, Friends, and MGP, for building bridges and changing lives!
Learn more at middlegradespartnership.org.
HHA MGP Director: Brian Whitte, 7th Grade Math teacher
Friends MGP Director: Erika Smith, Middle School Social Studies teacher