Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West | |
---|---|
Address | |
![]() | |
1500 Harlem Avenue
Street[1] , 21217 United States | |
Coordinates | 39°17′49.66″N 76°38′27.87″W / 39.2971278°N 76.6410750°W |
Information | |
School type | Public |
Founded | 2007 |
School district | Baltimore City Public Schools |
School number | 364 |
Principal | LaWanda Wilson[2] |
Grades | 6-12 |
Gender | All-boys |
Enrollment | 232[2] (2018) |
Campus type | Urban |
Color(s) | Navy, Gold, White |
Team name | Rockets[3] |
Website | City Schools Site |
Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West, is an all-boy public middle/high school located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The school's focus is on Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.[2]
The school was an extension of the Bluford Drew Jemison Math Science Technology Academy initially opened in 2007 as a charter middle school, and named for African-Americans who had found success in STEM fields: Guion S. Bluford and Mae Jemison, and Charles R. Drew.[4] This original school was located at 1130 N. Caroline St. in the Gay Street neighborhood of Baltimore.[5] This original BDJ lost its Charter license in 2013 (becoming a traditional school) due to low academic performance and financial issues, before shuttering for good at the end of 2014.[6][7]
Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West was launched as a spin off in 2010.[8] Initially co-located within the Diggs-Johnson Middle School at 1300 Herkimer St, the school moved to the former Walbrook High School at 2000 Edgewood Street in the Fairmont neighborhood in 2010 when Diggs-Johnson was closed to make room for the Southwest Baltimore Charter School.[8] However, by November 2013, the school board had decided to empty the Walbrook campus entirely, and BDJ West was recommended for closure along with its predecessor.[9] Community protests kept it from closure and relocation, but the board did revoke its charter in December of the same year, announcing it would look for a new operator.[10]