Baltimore County to Close Scholars K-8

Baltimore County Public Schools operates 175 schools, programs and centers, but as of the 2016-2017 school year, one school will be taken off the list, officials announced Thursday.

The Baltimore County Board of Education voted to close Scholars K-8 at the end of the current school year, officials reported. The board made its decision on Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to the report.

The superintendent recommended the closure because of several factors, school system officials reported:

• Building age and condition (inadequate space, lack of full-size cafeteria and gymnasium)
• Enrollment trends (declining and under projections; last year had 414, this year K-8 has 264 students)
• Transportation (will be arranged for those living more than 1 mile away)
• Student relocation (Dogwood, Edmondson Heights, Featherbed Lane, Johnnycake, Scotts Branch, Winfield and Woodmoor elementary schools and Southwest Academy and Woodlawn middle schools can accommodate)
• Educational programs (students at K-8 School are limited to one foreign language offering and have no access to music, health, technology education or family/consumer science courses)
• Impact on the community (neighboring property is business park)

According to Baltimore County Public Schools, the institution first opened in 2008 and was called “Imagine Discovery Public Charter School.” The organization running the program ended its charter at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 school year, officials said in a statement.

It was renamed “Scholars K-8” for the 2014-2015 school year, continuing to operate as a Baltimore County public school; and the school board extended the lease to June 2016, based upon requests from parents not to disrupt their students’ education and so the administration could evaluate the program’s viability, the statement said.

The lease, which will end in June 2016, cost the school system $1,210,023.60 annually, according to school officials.

Scholars K-8 is located at 1726 Whitehead Road.