Bladensburg High School
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Bladensburg High School
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| logo = BladensburgHSMDlogo.png
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| motto = "Where Excellence Is A Deliberate Practice"
| established = 1936
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| principal = Lisa Faulkner-Jones
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| headmaster =
| head_name = Second Master
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| head_name2 = Assistant Headmaster
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| enrollment = 1,896 (2016-17){{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Miles=10&Zip=20781&ID=240051000987|title=Bladensburg High|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}
| grades_label =
| grades = 9–12
| streetaddress = 4200 57th Avenue
| city = Bladensburg
| state = Maryland
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| country = U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|38|56|27|N|76|55|3|W|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Maryland
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| district = Prince George's County Public Schools
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| colors = {{color box|#5e0000}} {{color box|white}} {{color box|black}} Maroon, White, Black
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| nickname = Blade
| mascot = Mustang
| free_label = Emblem
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| yearbook = Peacecrosser
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| website = {{URL|http://www.pgcps.org/bladensburghs/}}
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Bladensburg High School{{Cite web |title=Bladensburg High School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/districts/prince-georges-county-public-schools/bladensburg-high-school-9166 |website=www.usnews.com}}{{Cite web |title=Bladensburg Home |url=https://schools.pgcps.org/bladensburghs/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=schools.pgcps.org}} is a public high school located in Bladensburg, Maryland, United States. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district.
The school serves:"[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20High.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." Prince George's County Public Schools. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. the towns of Bladensburg,"[http://bladensburgmd.gov/about-us/demographics-maps/ The Bladensburg Area]." Town of Bladensburg. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. Colmar Manor,"[http://colmarmanor.org/images/CM_Map_by_Wards_2.jpg Map by Wards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306173937/http://www.colmarmanor.org/images/CM_Map_by_Wards_2.jpg |date=2020-03-06 }}." Colmar Manor. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. and Cottage City,"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2420050_cottage_city/DC10BLK_P2420050_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Cottage City town, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. as well almost all of the Town of Cheverly,"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2416550_cheverly/DC10BLK_P2416550_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Cheverly town, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 31, 2018. See also [http://www.cheverly-md.gov/Pages/CheverlyMD_Council/wardmap Cheverly Ward Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831211656/http://www.cheverly-md.gov/Pages/CheverlyMD_Council/wardmap |date=2018-08-31 }}. portions of the towns of Edmonston and Riverdale Park,"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2425425_edmonston/DC10BLK_P2425425_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Edmonston town, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 26, 2018."[http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/maps.cfm Maps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826043854/http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/maps.cfm |date=2018-08-26 }}." Town of Riverdale Park. Retrieved on March 3, 2018. a small section of the City of Hyattsville,[http://www.hyattsville.org/DocumentCenter/View/3892 Map]. Hyattsville, Maryland. Retrieved on February 1, 2018. and sections of East Riverdale and Landover census-designated places."[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2424650_east_riverdale/DC10BLK_P2424650_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: East Riverdale CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 26, 2018."[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2445325_landover/DC10BLK_P2445325_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Landover CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 1, 2018. In addition the school serves students from all across the county that are selected to enroll in its prestigious Biomedical Program.{{Cite news|last=Anderson|first=Nick|date=2005-08-18|title=Rebirth of a School Is Symbol of County's Hopes|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2005/08/18/rebirth-of-a-school-is-symbol-of-countys-hopes/cc41bfce-0069-4170-8fdf-b7b0531c2c2a/|access-date=2020-10-29|issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web|last=Sentinel|first=P. G.|title=POTUS announces $7 million grant at Bladensburg High|url=https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/prince_george/news/local/potus-announces-7-million-grant-at-bladensburg-high/article_38c37c69-5fd4-5769-9fe5-74d8c686655f.html|access-date=2020-10-29|website=thesentinel.com|date=24 April 2014 |language=en}}
History
In 1950 a permanent building was constructed,{{cite news|author=Lyles, Jeffrey K.|author2=Michael Kabran|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2005b/200533/hyattsville/news/290179-1.html|title=Staff readying Bladensburg High's opening|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2005-08-18|accessdate=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908170013/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2005b/200533/hyattsville/news/290179-1.html|archive-date=2018-09-08|url-status=dead}} in phases. Beginning in the 1980s the district made plans to renovate or replace the building, but delays occurred as PGCPS resources were devoted to schools that needed to be built or ones that had more serious problems in their facilities. In 1999 PGCPS decided that Bladensburg High would get a new building instead of a renovation.{{cite news|author=Lyles, Jeffrey|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200223/porttowns/news/107783-1.html|title=Bladensburg grads set new course|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2002-06-06|accessdate=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908172934/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200223/porttowns/news/107783-1.html|archive-date=2018-09-08|url-status=dead}} Prior to 2001 the school building became infested with insects and rats, prompting PGCPS officials to make its replacement a priority.{{cite news|author=Morris, Ayesha|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200333/bowie/news/172938-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908171126/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200333/bowie/news/172938-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-09-08|title=Residents upset high school still in Bowie|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2003-08-14|accessdate=2018-09-09}} - Also under the title "[http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200333/porttowns/news/173146-1.html Residents upset Bladensburg High still in Bowie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908170847/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200333/porttowns/news/173146-1.html |date=2018-09-08 }}."
The $45 million project was scheduled to begin in January 2001 and was originally to last until circa 2003. In 2000 officials were looking for a campus to temporarily house the students. The first plan was to send the students to the former Northwestern High School building, but the Hyattsville city council disapproved of this as it felt the Bladensburg students would be too close to the Northwestern students, already occupying the current school building. The second choice was a building in Bowie, but around 100 Bowie residents protested against this plan in a city hall meeting;{{cite news|author=Hollingsworth, Catherine|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200031/montgomerycty/education/21269-1.html|title=High school relocation spat fans racial flames in Bowie|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2000-08-04|accessdate=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908151034/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200031/montgomerycty/education/21269-1.html|archive-date=2018-09-08|url-status=dead}} Several Bowie city council members stated that the controversy gave Bowie a negative image.{{cite news|author=Hollingsworth, Catherine|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200031/princegeorgescty/county/20664-1.html|title=Bowie officials say city's getting a 'bad rap' image|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2000-08-03|accessdate=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908151032/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200031/princegeorgescty/county/20664-1.html|archive-date=2018-09-08|url-status=dead}}
Bladensburg High was temporarily relocated to the Belair Annex in Bowie, a former school building that was used by PGCPS to house excess students from other schools;{{cite news|author=Furfari, Joel|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200229/bowie/news/113281-1.html|title=Belair Annex growing|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2002-07-18|accessdate=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908172015/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200229/bowie/news/113281-1.html|archive-date=2018-09-08|url-status=dead}} - Also published July 25 as "[http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200230/porttowns/news/114435-1.html Bladensburg High to push confines of Belair Annex even further] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908172013/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200230/porttowns/news/114435-1.html |date=2018-09-08 }}" Bowie residents hoped to use the annex to relieve area schools that had excess students.{{cite news|author=Lyles, Jeffrey|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200201/riverdale/news/86484-1.html|title=It was a difficult, yet triumphant year|newspaper=The Gazette|date=2002-01-04|accessdate=2018-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908170144/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2002/200201/riverdale/news/86484-1.html|archive-date=2018-09-08|url-status=dead}} By 2002 the district planned to install 18 trailers at Belair to house additional students. The trailers were later 22, then 38. The opening of the new Bladensburg High was pushed back from 2004 to 2005, and the swelling student population that was far larger than the capacity of the original school necessitated additional construction, eroding the patience of the residents of surrounding Bowie neighborhoods who felt impacted by the additional buildings and traffic. In addition Bladensburg students wished for the new campus to be complete as they perceived the temporary facilities to be inadequate. The new Bladensburg High opened in August 2005.
In April 2011, Bladensburg High School won three first-place awards, placing the schools in Bladensburg as the number-one contender in Communication, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
In 2011, Bladensburg High School appeared in several media showcases for its work with the DREAM Act; Communication, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math awards; Secondary School Reform courses; Nobel Laureate William Daniel Phillips' physics presentation at the school; and winning the Grammy Foundation Award for Excellence in Music.
Bladensburg High School graduated a Gates Millennium Scholar in 2009 and its first Posse Foundation scholar in 2011.
Demographics
Bladensburg has had significant historical changes in the demographics of its students. When Bladensburg High School opened in the mid-1930s, all students were white. Due to the desegregation of public schools nationwide in 1954 and, later, the changing population of Prince George's County{{Cite web |title=Prince George's County, MD {{!}} Official Website |url=https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=www.princegeorgescountymd.gov}} overall, student enrollment is now 49% African-American and 49% Hispanic/Latino.
Programs
In 2011 the school was one of two in the county with an on-site daycare; it also had classes for new parents.{{cite web|author=Brownback, Abby|url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/05122011/uppenew160026_32538.php|title=Schools struggle to educate, help young moms|work=The Gazette|publisher=Post Community Media, LLC|date=2011-05-12|accessdate=2019-11-16|archive-date=2011-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517012231/http://www.gazette.net/stories/05122011/uppenew160026_32538.php|url-status=dead}}
Curriculum
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2018}}
Bladensburg High School offers programs of study in biomedicine, culinary arts, cosmetology, agriculture, and nursing. Over the last two years, the school, along with its feeder middle school and elementary school, participated in the national Communication, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math competition in Houston.
Notable alumni
- Thurl Bailey, former NBA player
- Wayne K. Curry, former Prince George's County Executive
- Brian Davis, former professional basketball player
- Ebenezer Ekuban, former National Football League player
- Ellen Louise Graham, journalist at Wall Street Journal and 1999 Pulitzer Prize finalist{{Cite web |title=Finalist: Chris Adams, Ellen Graham and Michael Moss of The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/chris-adams-ellen-graham-and-michael-moss |website=The Pulitzer Prizes}}
- Mike Holston, former National Football League player
- Abdul K. Kallon, former District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
- John P. McDonough, former Secretary of State of Maryland
- Steve Rochinski, bebop jazz guitarist and educator
- Jason Williams, former professional basketball player
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www1.pgcps.org/bladensburghs/}}
{{Prince George's County Public Schools}}
{{Prince George's County, Maryland High Schools}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Educational institutions established in 1936
Category:Public high schools in Maryland
Category:Schools in Prince George's County, Maryland