Ridgely Middle School

Ridgely Middle School is a Blue Ribbon-award winning middle school that serves students in sixth through eighth grades as part of the Baltimore County Public Schools. This school serves students coming from elementary schools in Lutherville, Timonium, Hampton and Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland.

Ridgely Middle School
North elevation view
Address
121 E. Ridgely Road

Lutherville-Timonium
,
Maryland
21093

United States
Coordinates39°25′52″N 76°36′49″W
Information
StatusBlue Ribbon School
PrincipalSeth Barish
Faculty62.0 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades6-8
Enrollment1,233 (as of 2016–17)[1]
Student to teacher ratio16.31[1]
Color(s)Red & Black   
MascotStag
WebsiteRidgely Middle School

As of the 2016–17 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,233 students and ~75 classroom teachers (on a full-time equivalent or "FTE" basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 15.9.[1]

Courses

Course offerings provide a comprehensive program of general studies where all students are required to participate in specified subjects. At Ridgely, programs are offered to meet the needs of all students on a continuum ranging from Gifted and Talented Education to programs for students with specific learning disabilities. Starting in the 2020-21 school year, courses in Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish will be available to all grade levels.

Ridgely's Grade 8 Gifted and Talented oral history program has been recognized in a Spotlight on Innovative Teaching by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County[2] and in authors Barry Lanman and Laura Wendling's anthology of oral history education.[3]

Awards and recognition

During the 2006-07 school year, Ridgely Middle School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[4][5] the highest award an American school can receive.[6] Librarian Christine Beard won one of Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards for Excellence in Education in May 2007.[7] The Ridgely Chess team has also won the BCPS Chess Championships 2019.[8]

Feeder schools

Elementary schools that feed into Ridgely are:

  • Carroll Manor Elementary
  • Cromwell Valley Magnet School
  • Hampton Elementary
  • Lutherville Lab Elementary
  • Pine Grove Elementary
  • Pinewood Elementary
  • Pot Spring Elementary
  • Riderwood Elementary
  • Timonium Elementary
  • Mays Chapel Elementary

Ridgely students elevate into the following high schools:

Building Renovation

A $14 million renovation project was substantially completed in 2008, including new energy-efficient windows, ceilings, lighting, remodeled bathrooms, and doors.[9] In the 2008-09 school year, rooms and doors were repainted. The 19-year-old roof was also replaced, and four of five temporary classroom trailers were removed, due to increased space in the building.

Since the renovation work was completed, parents have complained that air conditioning should have been included in the project scope.[9] Responding to a large demonstration by parents at the county seat in Towson on September 15, 2009, elected officials called for an investigation into complaints about ventilation and temperature conditions at the school, which parents attribute to the installation of the energy-efficient window system.[10] Parents say the partially sealed windows provide insufficient outside air ventilation in the non-air conditioned school.[10]

Temperatures of over 105 degrees have been recorded inside the school. While administrative offices are air-conditioned, classrooms are not. As a result of the heat, students have experienced nausea, aggravated asthma, and even vomiting. In 2007, one student was taken by ambulance from Ridgely to Greater Baltimore Medical Center after he became dehydrated in class.[11]

References
  1. Ridgely Middle School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 8, 2019.
  2. "Spotlight on Innovative Teaching". University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  3. Lanman, Barry Allen; Wendling, Laura Marie (2006). "21: The Grade Eight Gifted and Talented Oral History Program". Preparing the next generation of oral historians: an anthology of oral history education. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-7591-0853-6.
  4. "Regional Briefing", The Washington Post, September 23, 2006. Accessed April 15, 2008.
  5. Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 through 2006 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed April 16, 2008.
  6. CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department Archived August 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  7. "Baltimore agencies announce winners of 21st annual Awards for Excellence in Education", Daily Record, May 17, 2008.
  8. "BCPS Chess Championships". BCPS.
  9. Terhune, Virginia (2008-07-09). "New windows no opportunity for cooler classrooms". Towson Times. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  10. Gencer, Arin (September 16, 2009). "Parents rally over hot issue". The Baltimore Sun. p. 3.
  11. Barbara Pash. "Baltimore County". explorebaltimorecounty.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
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