Our Community

The Heart of the Community

City Springs has been serving Southeast Baltimore including Baltimore’s former Perkins Homes public housing for decades. The Perkins Homes were originally built as housing for World War II veterans who worked in Baltimore’s docks and factories. Following World War II, they became public housing, with City Springs Elementary / Middle School built in 1966 and named for the underground spring in the area.

In 2019, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City demolished Perkins Homes and is rebuilding a mixed-income community, to be completed by late 2025.

How We Serve Our Students and Families

Our success depends on the health and wellbeing of our students, families, and community. As part of the community school strategy, we provide extensive, wrap-around services to give our students and families the support and care they need to thrive.

As a community school, we work together with families and community partners to tailor our approach to meet the unique needs of your family and the neighborhood. Our full-time Community School Site Coordinator brings together resources to improve student learning and create stronger families and healthy communities.

Elev8 Baltimore, our community school lead agency, works closely with us to ensure that every program and outreach is meeting the needs of the community.

Resources available:

In-house Baltimore City Health Department School-Based Health Clinic
Full-time City Schools social worker, psychologist, school counselor, and a mental health clinician through a partner organization
Annual dental and hearing screenings and free glasses and vision screenings for all students
Local organizations provide seasonal food and family gifts including Thanksgiving and Christmas
Partnership with local churches and nonprofit organizations that support families with coat drives, haircuts, shoe giveaways, books, and school supply donations

Partnerships that enhance our school include:

The Baltimore Museum of Art

Mindfulness and peaceful conflict resolution program for 5th grade through the Beyond Conflict and Holistic Life Foundation

Big Brothers Big Sisters

CareFirst

Helped fund the purchase of an iPad for every student and a City Springs van

The Baltimore Ravens

Helped fund our beautiful purple turf athletic field

Notre Dame University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Provide lessons on hand washing and other health-related topics

Johns Hopkins Health Systems

Provides full-time mental health counselor and psychiatric services for children

Adopt-A-Class/Career Day Program

For 4th graders to explore healthcare careers through classroom visits by Hopkins doctors and health professionals

Johns Hopkins University’s

City Springs Science Outreach Project

For monthly STEM presentations to 5th grade by the JHU Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering

Outward Bound

For environmental education and team building opportunities

The National Aquarium’s

Terrapins in the Classroom Program

For City Springs to host a diamondback terrapin hatchling in the classroom; includes a field trip to Poplar Island to release the terrapin back into their natural habitat

Baltimore City Football Club

To host the first Soccer School at a City elementary/middle school

Charm City Martial Arts

Engages students in Mixed Martial Arts and awareness of student respect, confidence, self-discipline, and leadership

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Train students and staff in conflict resolution and law

The Carroll School of Dance

Provides classes in ballet, modern, jazz, African, Zumba, and musical theater and performance.

St. Vincent de Paul Church

Provides donations and volunteers who work at our schools