George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (since 2008) |
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| Address | |
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938 York Road
, 21204-2513
United States
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| Coordinates | 39°24′33″N 76°36′36″W / 39.40917°N 76.61000°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public magnet high school |
| Motto | "Complecti Sententias Novas" ("Embracing New Ideas") |
| Established | 1992 |
| School district | Baltimore County Public Schools, (BCPS) |
| Superintendent | Dr. Myriam Rogers |
| Principal | Erin O'Toole Trivas |
| Teaching staff | 60.2 (FTE) |
| Grades | 9–12 (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors) |
| Number of students | 983 (2023–24) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15.96 |
| Hours in school day | 6 1/2 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Dark green, White, and Black |
| Slogan | Carverized |
| Mascot | "Wildcats" |
| Team name | Carver Wildcats |
| Newspaper | Catalyst |
The George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, often called Carver Center, is a special public high school in Towson, Maryland. It opened in 1992. This school is known as a "magnet school" because students from all over Baltimore County can apply to attend.
Carver Center is famous for its eleven "Primes." These are special areas of study that students focus on. To get into the school, students must apply and usually go through an audition or a lottery process. About 1,000 students attend the school each year.
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Why the Name George Washington Carver?
In May 2008, the school board decided to change the school's name to "George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology." This was done to honor the school's history.
The school was once a separate high school for African American students. It was named after George Washington Carver (1864-1943). He was a famous American scientist, writer, and artist. The school's full name now celebrates both his legacy and the school's past.
How Classes Work
Carver Center uses a special way of scheduling classes called "block scheduling." This means that classes are 80 minutes long. Students have four classes each day, and each class meets every other day. For example, some classes meet on "A-days" and others on "B-days."
During the school day, there's a 25-minute "Wildcat Time." This is a chance for students to get extra help from teachers or join fun activities. The longer class periods are helpful for subjects like sculpture or carpentry. They give students more time to work with materials.
School Spirit and Rules
The "Carver culture" is all about respect and letting students express themselves. The school has a relaxed dress code compared to many other high schools. You can often see student artwork, including human figures, displayed in the hallways. Students at Carver Center are usually very motivated and work well together.
Special Programs: The Primes
Carver Center is unique because of its eleven special programs, called "Primes." These are like majors that students choose to focus on.
- Literary Arts: Students learn different types of writing, like poetry and fiction. They even publish a book called their "senior thesis" in their last year.
- Culinary Arts: Students learn about cooking and food service. They can even earn a ServSafe certification and work in the student-run "Carver Café."
- Information Technology/Interactive Media Production: This prime teaches computer science, video game design, and programming skills.
- Carpentry: Students learn woodworking and building skills.
- Cosmetology: This program focuses on hair, skin, and nail care.
- Dance: Students study various dance styles.
- Design and Production: This prime is for students interested in the behind-the-scenes work of theater, like set design and lighting.
- Acting: Students learn about performing on stage.
- Vocal Music: This program is for students who love to sing.
- Digital Instrumental Music: Added in the 2016–2017 school year, this prime prepares students for careers in the music world using digital tools.
- Visual Arts: This is a broad prime that includes many types of art, such as drawing and painting, multimedia, photography, sculpture, and telemedia (filmmaking and graphic design).
School Achievements
The George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology has a great reputation for academics. In the 2018-2019 school year, it received a 5 out of 5-star rating from the Maryland State Department of Education. This means it was ranked among the top schools in Maryland.
Sports and Teams
Carver Center offers many sports for students to join:
- Basketball
- Golf
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Softball
- Soccer
- Lacrosse
- Field hockey
- Cross country
- Wrestling
- Indoor track
- Track and field
- Cheerleading
- Badminton
The school's mascot is the Wildcat. Girls' teams are often called Lady Wildcats.
Recent Sports Successes:
- The girls' varsity softball team won the Baltimore County championship in 2023.
- The girls' varsity soccer team has been division champions for the past three years.
- The girls' varsity lacrosse team has also been division champions for the past three years.
- Both the boys' and girls' cross country teams won the Region 1A championships in 2023.
Carver Center does not have a football team. However, it still holds an annual homecoming dance, which is a fundraiser for the Student Government Association.
Other Activities and Clubs
Carver Center has many other exciting clubs and teams:
- Model United Nations: Students learn about global issues and diplomacy. They have won many awards at conferences.
- Mock Trial: A team that practices legal arguments and court procedures.
- Kinetic Sculpture/Engineering Club: For students interested in building moving art.
- "It's Academic" TV Quiz Show Team: A team that competes on a local TV quiz show.
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): Students learn about business and leadership. Many students have qualified for national competitions.
- ProStart: The Culinary Arts Prime team has won statewide competitions and traveled to Nationals.
- Vex Robotics: A team that designs and builds robots for competitions.
A New School Building
In 2008, plans were approved for a brand new building for Carver Center. The new school was built on the old athletic fields, so the original building could still be used during construction. The new building was finished in August 2012.
The new school has a large "Central Space" with a 1,000-seat theater, a Black Box Theater, and a gallery. It also includes the Culinary Arts program and the Carver Café. The building was designed to be very energy efficient and even received a "Silver LEED" award for being environmentally friendly.
The old school building was eventually taken down, and all its parts were recycled. New athletic fields were then built in its place.
Awards and Honors
Carver Center is a highly recognized school. In 2016, it was one of only ten Maryland schools to receive the special Blue Ribbon School designation from the U.S. Department of Education.
The school has also produced many "Presidential Scholars." These are some of the most talented high school seniors in the country. Carver Center's AP Studio Art program was even named the best studio arts program of its size in the world in 2005.
Teachers at Carver Center have also received awards. Theresa Shovlin, a painting and drawing teacher, won the "Distinguished Teachers in the Arts" award.
Famous Alumni
Some notable people who graduated from Carver Center include:
- Isaac Oliver: An author and writer for HBO's High Maintenance series.
- James Ransone: An actor who has appeared in TV shows like HBO's The Wire and movies like Inside Man.
- Brittney Spencer: A country music singer who has performed at major awards shows and toured with famous artists.
