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Anne Arundel County Public Schools

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Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Address
2644 Riva Road
Annapolis
, Anne Arundel, Maryland, 21401
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesPreK–12[1]
SuperintendentMark Bedell
NCES District ID2400060[1]
Students and staff
Students84,452 [1]
Teachers5,930.13 [1]
Student–teacher ratio14.24 [1]
Other information
Websitewww.aacps.org

Anne Arundel County Public Schools is the public school district serving all of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. With over 85,000 students and 126 schools,[2] the AACPS school system is the 4th largest in Maryland and the 39th largest in the United States. The district has over 5,000 teachers[2] supporting a comprehensive curriculum from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Schools

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AACPS primarily consists of 79 elementary schools (Pre-K or K, through grade 5), 20 middle schools (grades 6–8), and 15 high schools (grades 9–12).[2] AACPS maintains 2 centers of applied technology, 3 charter schools, 3 special education centers, 1 alternative high school, 1 middle school learning center, and 1 center for emotionally impaired students known as the Phoenix Center.

Many AACPS schools have garnered recognition for their academic programs, with appointment as National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence and Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.[3][4] These schools are marked below with symbols representing their National-level (National Blue Ribbon School logo) and Maryland-level (Maryland flag) awards.

List of high schools

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There are currently 15 high schools:

List of middle schools

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Partial list of elementary schools

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AACPS elementary schools serve students from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Some schools[5] also offer a Pre-Kindergarten program for younger students who are "economically disadvantaged or homeless".[6] Among AACPS's elementary schools are:

Public charter and contract schools

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Chesapeake Science Point (CSP) is a magnet school for math and science. The school was founded in 2003 by the volunteer non-profit Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF), after the Charter School Law (Bill 75) was put into effect in July 2003, authorizing the establishment of charter schools in the state of Maryland. Admission to CSP is via an application and lottery basis.

Monarch Academy Glen Burnie (MAGB) is another charter school in Anne Arundel County. Monarch Academy serves students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. It employs Expeditionary Learning, a project based learning model, and is located in Glen Burnie.

Monarch Global Academy (MGA) is a contract school in Anne Arundel County. Monarch Global Academy serves students in Kindergarten through eighth grades. It employs the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program in K–6 and a project based learning model in grades 6–8. It is located in Laurel, Maryland.

Other schools of note

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Leadership

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AACPS headquarters are in the Parole census-designated place, near Annapolis.[8][9] The Carol S. Parham Building houses the board of education,[10] school support departments, professional support facilities,[11] and meeting spaces.

The school system is governed by an eight-member board of education.[10] Seven members of the board (representing each of the county's council districts) are elected to four-year terms (before 2018, these positions were appointed by the state governor),[12] and one student member is voted to a one-year term by students in Magnet Programs or The AVID Program.[10]

The board appoints a superintendent of schools to administer the school system. The current superintendent is Dr. Mark Bedell, who has served in this capacity since 2022.[13] Previous superintendents include:

  • Dr. George Arlotto (2014–2022)
  • Mamie J. Perkins, interim superintendent (2013–2014)[14]
  • Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, 11th superintendent (2006–2013)[15][16]
  • Nancy Mann, interim superintendent (2005–2006)
  • Eric Smith (2002–2005)[17]
  • Ken Lawson, interim superintendent (2001–2002)[17][18]
  • Dr. Carol S. Parham (1993–2001)[17][19]
  • C. Berry Carter II (1992–1993)[17][20]
  • Larry L. Lorton (1988–1992)[17][21]
  • Robert Rice (1986–1988)[17]
  • Edward J. Anderson (1968–1986)[17]
  • David Jenkins (1946–1968)[17]
  • George Fox (1916–1946)[17]

Controversies

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Pop-Tart controversy

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Anne Arundel County Public Schools made headlines in March 2013 when school officials suspended 7-year-old Josh Welch for chewing a Pop-Tart pastry into a shape they thought resembled a gun and pretending to shoot his classmates. This was not the first time AACPS had dealt with this situation in that way, as 2 years earlier, a similarly aged student by the name of Sean House was suspended for the same reason. The Welch family, represented by attorney Robin Ficker, subsequently appealed to the district to have the two-day suspension removed from Josh's record, but the appeal was denied. The Welch family appealed the decision to the county school board,which upheld the suspension after a 2014 hearing.[22] The Maryland State Board of Education also ruled to uphold the suspension.[23] The suspension was again upheld in county circuit court in 2016, with an 11-page ruling that cited "the student’s past history of escalating behavioral issues" and confirmed that "a suspension was appropriately used as a corrective tool".[22][23] Shortly after this ruling, the parents' suit was closed by mediation in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals with an "undisclosed settlement".[24] Officials at the school and the county maintained that "the case was never about a pastry or a gun, but rather an ongoing behavioral problem. They said that the boy disrupted the classroom repeatedly and that the suspension was a last resort."

Sex Education Curriculum

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Sex education in AACPS had made headlines significant controversy, particularly regarding the inclusion of lessons on LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity, and sexual orientation. In response for LGBTQ+ rights, AACPS has made efforts to include more inclusive content in its sex education curriculum. However, this shift has faced resistance from some parents and community groups who argue that discussions on topics such as gender identity and same-sex relationships are inappropriate for children, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels. These parents contend that such lessons conflict with their personal or religious beliefs about sexuality. [25]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Anne Arundel County Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Fast Facts 1395/57 (Rev. 9/13) (PDF), Annapolis, MD: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, September 2013, archived from the original on October 21, 2013, retrieved November 4, 2013
  3. ^ "Facts about AACPS". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  4. ^ "About Blue Ribbon Schools". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  5. ^ "Pre-Kindergarten". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on February 12, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  6. ^ Jackson, Alex (January 17, 2014). "O'Malley administration announces pre-K expansion bill". Capital Gazette. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  7. ^ "Ruth Parker Eason School". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014. Ruth Parker Eason is a public, separate day school located in Millersville, Maryland in Anne Arundel County. Our school provides a full day special education program for students ages 3 through 21 with moderate to severe disabilities.
  8. ^ Fast Facts 1395/57 (Rev. 5/12) (PDF), Annapolis, MD: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, May 2012, archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2013, retrieved October 6, 2012
  9. ^ "2010 Census Block Map Parole CDP, Md. No. 4." (Archive) U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 6, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c "Board of Education". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Professional Growth & Development". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  12. ^ Lumpkin, Lauren (November 6, 2018). "Incumbents ousted in Anne Arundel's first school board race". Annapolis Capital. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  13. ^ "Mark Bedell, ED.D., Superintendent". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  14. ^ "Mamie J. Perkins – Interim Superintendent". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013. Mamie Johns Perkins was appointed as interim superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools on July 23, 2013. Her term ran from August 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014.
  15. ^ "SUPERINTENDENT Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph.D". Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Archived from the original on September 18, 2006. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  16. ^ Toth, Sara (June 23, 2013). "Maxwell welcomed 'home' as Prince George's schools CEO". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hutzell, Rick (July 13, 2013). "Remembering Anne Arundel's 11th superintendent". Annapolis Capital. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019. Who was George Fox? No, not the Fantastic Mr. Fox nor the original Quaker. Fox was the first Anne Arundel County Public Schools superintendent. From 1916 to 1946, he brought the county school system out of the 19th century and is credited with allowing the creation of the first network of schools for African-American students.
  18. ^ Huslin, Anita (March 21, 2002). "Lawson a Low-Key Candidate for School Superintendent". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  19. ^ Anonymous (March 9, 2011). "Dr. Carol Sheffey Parham". What's Up? Magazine. What's Up? Media. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  20. ^ Sevilla, Graciela (October 27, 1993). "Anne Arundel School Superintendent Resigns". Annapolis Capital. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  21. ^ Shen, Fern (January 18, 1992). "Embattled Anne Arundel School Superintendent Quitting June 30". Washington Post. Annapolis, Maryland. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  22. ^ a b Furgurson, E.B. III; Huang, Cindy (June 16, 2016). "Judge upholds suspension of boy in pastry gun incident". Annapolis Capital. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  23. ^ a b St. George, Donna (June 16, 2016). "Judge upholds suspension of student who chewed pastry into the shape of a gun". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  24. ^ Belt, Deb (October 25, 2016). "Pop-Tart Gun School Suspension Case Settled After 3 Years: Parents and Anne Arundel County Public Schools have settled over the suspension of a boy who may have chewed his Pop-Tart into a gun shape". Patch. Patch Media. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  25. ^ "Anne Arundel County Public Schools defends stance on policy to accommodate transgender students". Fox 5. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
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