Baltimore Design School

www.baltimorecityschools.org/schools/382

503 Students

High School 6th - 12th

School Overview

The Baltimore Design School (BDS) is a specialized public secondary school located in the historic Barclay neighborhood of Baltimore. Serving students in grades 6 through 12, the institution focuses on a rigorous academic curriculum integrated with intensive career-technical education in the fields of architecture, fashion design, and graphic design. By bridging the gap between traditional classroom learning and professional industry standards, BDS aims to prepare students for both higher education and direct entry into creative career paths.

Beyond its academic focus, the school is recognized for its unique learning environment, which encourages students to develop a "design-thinking" approach to problem-solving. Located in a renovated historic factory building, the facility is equipped with specialized studios and technology that mirror real-world professional environments. Through partnerships with local design firms and universities, the Baltimore Design School fosters a community that values innovation, creativity, and the application of artistic skills to address complex, real-world challenges.

503

Total Students

38.5

Full-Time Teachers

13.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

75.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Baltimore Design School
Demographic	Student Count
White	26
Hispanic	25
Black	435
Two or More	10
American Indian	4

Black
435 (87.0%)
White
26 (5.2%)
Hispanic
25 (5.0%)
Two or More
10 (2.0%)
American Indian
4 (0.8%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Baltimore City Public Schools
Phone:	(443)642-2311
Website:	http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/schools/382
Grade Range:	6th - 12th
Total Students:	503
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	38.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	382
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 77

Grade 7 63

Grade 8 75

Grade 9 78

Grade 10 78

Grade 11 79

Grade 12 53

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Baltimore Design School
Grade	Student Count
Grade 6	77
Grade 7	63
Grade 8	75
Grade 9	78
Grade 10	78
Grade 11	79
Grade 12	53

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Baltimore Design School
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	339	67.4%
Male	161	32%
Not Specified	3	0.6%

Nearby High Schools (Within 10 Miles)