Frederick Douglass High School (Baltimore) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frederick Douglass High School |
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| Address | |
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2301 Gwynns Falls Parkway
, 21217
United States
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| Coordinates | 39°18′53″N 76°39′18″W / 39.3148°N 76.6549°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, comprehensive |
| Motto | "Continuing the Tradition with Pride, Dignity, and Excellence" |
| Founded | 1883 |
| School district | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Sonja Brookins Santelises |
| School number | 450 |
| Principal | Craig Rivers |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 886 (2014) |
| Area | Urban |
| Color(s) | Dark blue and orange |
| Mascot | The Mighty Ducks |
| Team name | The Mighty Ducks (boys) Lady Ducks (girls) |
Frederick Douglass High School is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland. It opened in 1883. This school is special because it was one of the first high schools in the U.S. created just for African American students.
For many years, it was one of only two high schools in Baltimore that African American students could attend. Douglass High served students from West Baltimore. The other school, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, served students from East Baltimore.
A very famous person, Thurgood Marshall, went to Frederick Douglass High School. He later became a Supreme Court Justice. He helped end school segregation in the U.S. with the important case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. This case made it illegal to have separate schools for different races.
In 2008, most students at Douglass High were African American. Many students also came from families with lower incomes. The school was working hard to improve its academic results.
Contents
The History of Douglass High School
How the School Started
Frederick Douglass High School began in 1883. It was first called the "Colored High and Training School." This was because schools were separated by race back then. The first school building was at the old Peale's Baltimore Museum.
Six years later, the school moved to East Saratoga Street. This area is now called Preston Gardens. The famous leader Frederick Douglass (1808-1895) even spoke at a dedication event nearby. The school was the only one for African American students in Baltimore for about 30 years.
A New School and a Famous Speech
In 1931, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School opened. This gave more options for African American students. At that time, schools also taught skills for jobs in factories and other industries.
On June 22, 1894, Frederick Douglass himself gave a speech at the school. He talked about how important it was to focus on being a good person. He said it was more important than just focusing on race or color. He believed that people should work together for justice for everyone.
Moving and Growing
In 1900, the high school moved again. It went to the corner of Dolphin Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. That same year, the Baltimore City Public Schools started a special training course. This course was for African American elementary school teachers.
By 1902, this training program grew. It became a two-year "Normal Department" within the high school. Seven years later, it became its own school. This school eventually became Coppin State University. Coppin State is now one of Maryland's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
A New Building and Integration
In 1925, the high school moved to its third location. This was a brand-new building designed just for the school. It was built with red brick and limestone. This new building was officially named "Frederick Douglass High School." For the first time, black students in Baltimore had their own gym, library, and cafeteria.
Since 1954, Douglass High has been on Gwynns Falls Parkway. This was after schools in Baltimore became integrated, meaning students of all races could attend together. The school is now in the building that used to be Western High School. The campus of Coppin State University is also across the street.
A Look at Challenges
In 2008, Frederick Douglass High School was featured in an HBO documentary. It was called Hard Times at Douglass High: A No Child Left Behind Report Card. Filmmakers showed the school's history. They also highlighted its challenges with academics and money. The film showed how the school worked to follow the No Child Left Behind Act.
Student Information
Who Attends Douglass High?
As of 2007, Frederick Douglass High School had 1,151 students. About 52% of the students were girls. Almost all the students, 99%, were African American. Also, 53% of the students qualified for free lunch. This means their families had lower incomes.
The school had 59 teachers. This meant there was about 1 teacher for every 20 students.
Famous People from Douglass High
Many talented people have graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. Here are some of them:
- Sisqó (graduated 1992) – A musician and singer.
- Sallie Blair – A jazz singer.
- Eubie Blake – A famous American pianist and composer of ragtime and jazz music.
- Clarence W. Blount – An important leader in the Maryland State Senate.
- Lucy Diggs Slowe – A founding member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She was the first Dean of Women at Howard University. She was also a tennis champion.
- Frank Boston – A member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
- Paul Brent – A pianist. He was the first African American to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
- James "Buster" Brown (graduated 1932) – A tap dancer.
- Anne Brown – An American singer. The role of Bess in the opera Porgy and Bess was rewritten for her.
- Roger W. Brown (graduated 1959) – A judge in Baltimore City.
- Nellie A. Buchanan (graduated 1917) – She taught at Douglass from 1923 to 1970.
- E. Franklin Frazier (graduated 1912) – An American sociologist.
- Blanche Calloway – An American jazz singer and bandleader.
- Cab Calloway (graduated 1925) – A famous jazz singer and bandleader.
- Paula Campbell (graduated 2001) – A recording artist.
- Harry A. Cole – The first African American elected to the Maryland General Assembly.
- Samuel James Cornish – The first Poet Laureate of Boston.
- Isaiah Dixon (graduated 1941) – A member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
- Ethel Ennis – A jazz singer.
- Elton Fax – An illustrator.
- Mark Fax – An American composer and professor.
- Dru Hill – An R&B music group.
- Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson – A civil rights activist. She founded Baltimore's NAACP branch.
- Terry Johnson – A singer, songwriter, and music producer. He was the lead singer of the group The Flamingos.
- Bill Kenny and Herb Kenny – Singers in the group The Ink Spots.
- Thomas Henderson Kerr Jr. – A classical pianist, organist, music teacher, and composer.
- Labtekwon – A hip hop artist.
- Ellis Larkins – An American jazz pianist.
- Thurgood Marshall (graduated 1925) – A U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
- Kweisi Mfume – A U.S. Congressman and former president of the NAACP.
- Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. – A civil rights activist.
- Juanita Jackson Mitchell – A civil rights activist and lawyer. She was the first African American woman to practice law in Maryland.
- Parren Mitchell – A U.S. Congressman.
- George B. Murphy Jr. (1906–1986) – A newspaper editor, journalist, and civil rights leader.
- Margaret "Peggy" Murphy – The first black woman to lead the Baltimore City Delegation.
- Henry E. Parker – The Connecticut State Treasurer.
- Alfred Prettyman – A philosopher.
- Pete Rawlings – An important chairman in the Maryland House of Delegates.
- Bishop L. Robinson – The first African American police commissioner of Baltimore.
- Shinique Smith – A well-known painter and sculptor.
Notable Teachers and Staff
- G. David Houston – A Professor of English at Howard University.
- Harry Truman Pratt Sr. – A former student who later became the school's principal. He was an educator and business leader.
- William Llewellyn Wilson – A conductor, musician, and music educator.
