Baltimore County home to two of seven schools named Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools this year - 2/26/07  

Students at Red House Run Elementary School raise high the school’s new Blue Ribbon School flag.

Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick paused for dramatic effect.

“Do you know how many schools there are in the state of Maryland?” the State Superintendent of Schools asked a gymnasium full of students at Red House Run Elementary School in Overlea. Nearby, Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston smiled; he knew what was coming.

Hands flew up. 200? 10,000? A hundred thousand? came the answers from Grasmick’s rapt audience of elementary school students.

The Blue Ribbon announcement at Red House Run Elementary was made before an excited audience of the school’s students.

No, she said, “There are about 1,500 schools, and out of all those schools, you are one of just seven who have been named this year as a Maryland Blue Ribbon School!” Then cheers and applause and smiles all around as Red House Run became – officially – the 14th Baltimore County public school to be named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the state of Maryland.

Several weeks later on February 16, Hereford Middle School celebrated its blue-ribbon designation with its own visit from Dr. Grasmick and Dr. Hairston.

Festivities at Red House Run Elementary included a performance of the school’s recorder musicians.

“Today is a day to celebrate what is right with education,” Hereford Middle Principal Cathy Walrod told Dr. Grasmick, who said Hereford Middle was “a school I love, a school I remember being built.” 

In fact, Dr. Grasmick’s drama was appropriate – Baltimore County schools claimed two of seven schools statewide that were designated Blue Ribbon schools this year, bringing the total number with the elite status to 14 in the county school system. 

Since 1994, Baltimore County has excelled in placing schools on the state’s Blue Ribbon honor roll. Of the 14, eight have also been recognized with National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School designations. State officials will submit both Hereford Middle School and Red House Run Elementary School for consideration for the national designation as well.

With Hereford Middle School Principal Cathy Walrod (left) looking on, State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick congratulates the school on its Blue Ribbon designation.

Each Blue Ribbon School is selected by the Maryland State Department of Education on the basis of rigorous state and national requirements. Among other criteria, schools may be recognized because they are in the top 10 percent of state schools as measured by the Maryland School Assessment Program.

While the formal declaration was announced in December, complete with a press conference introducing principals of selected schools and presenting them with the state’s Blue Ribbon flag and other gifts, Dr. Grasmick and Blue Ribbon coordinator Dr. Darla Strouse saved the official celebrations for early this year.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston salutes Hereford Middle School for its Blue Ribbon achievement.

On January 11, the pair journeyed to Red House Run, where most of the school still was not aware they were to be included among this year’s honorees. With the ceremony seeming more a pep rally than formal announcement, Dr. Grasmick and Dr. Hairston presented Principal Pat Lawton with a variety of gifts and citations, including a pizza party, a $2,000 award from MSDE, a $2,000 white board technology unit, a library of books from Scholastic, Inc., and other rewards.

Then on February 16, Dr. Grasmick and Dr. Hairston visited Hereford Middle School to congratulate students and staff and enjoy a festive celebration topped by the serving of more than 750 pizzas to students for lunch, courtesy of MSDE as part of the Blue Ribbon schools program.

In Baltimore County, three other middle schools have received the Maryland award - Catonsville Middle, Dumbarton Middle, and, last year, Ridgely Middle School. Of those, Ridgely won the National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon award last year, while Dumbarton won the national designation in 1998.

In addition to Red House Run, seven elementary schools have won the state honor - Carroll Manor, Kingsville, Middlesex, Riderwood, Sparks, Summit Park, and Timonium, with all but Kingsville being named national Blue Ribbon schools. Two high schools - Dulaney and Eastern Technical - have been named Maryland Blue Ribbon schools.

Story and photos by Charles Herndon, communications specialist for BCPS.

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