School Overcrowding: What Should Baltimore County Do?

TOWSON, MD — High school overcrowding is expected to peak in the next decade in Baltimore County Public Schools, according to a recent study. Now, school officials want the public to weigh in on what to do about the problem.

A shortfall of about 1,700 seats is projected in the next decade in Baltimore County Public Schools, according to a study by Sage Policy Group.

The three high schools with the most overcrowding by 2027 are the following, according to the study:

• Towson High School, which will have 762 students beyond capacity
• Catonsville High School, which will have 573 students beyond capacity
• Sparrows Point High School, which will have 300 students beyond capacity

While other schools — such as Perry Hall, Pikesville, Dundalk and Patapsco — will be over capacity, they were shown in the study as being under 130 percent capacity.

The county government and school system commissioned the study by Sage Policy Group, which conducted focus groups in June on the issue. Potential solutions emerged like building new schools, redistricting and growing magnet programs.

What do you think Baltimore County Public Schools should do about overcrowding in high schools?

Ideas from the community are needed.

"Beginning in summer 2018, your input will help us develop a set of options and strategies for providing enough seats for growing enrollment throughout the system," Baltimore County Public Schools said in a statement.

Three public input sessions are slated for July, and additional sessions will be added in September.

At these meetings on school overcrowding, there will be a presentation and discussion:

• 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 9, cafeteria at Catonsville High School, 421 Bloomsbury Avenue
• 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2018, auditorium at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Road
• 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, cafeteria at Dundalk High School, 1901 Delvale Road

An online survey will be open from July 9 to July 22, translated in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Those who would like to email their comments may submit them (do not include phone numbers and student names) to highschoolstudy@bcps.org. All email comments received are public record. The name of the person submitting the comments will be public record, while the email address will not be made public.

Here are some of the scenarios that Sage Policy Group provided for addressing overcrowding:

Images by Sage Policy Group/BCPS.