Principals of two West Baltimore middle/high schools propose merger due to low enrollment, scarce funding

Principals of two West Baltimore public schools asked the Baltimore school board Tuesday to merge into one high school because of low enrollment and diminished funding. LaWanda Wilson, who leads Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West, said the all-boys middle/high school has seen a 63% drop in middle school enrollment since 2019. The school, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and math, had just 42 middle schoolers and 98 high schoolers this year, a 37% decline overall.