Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary / Middle School
Calvin Rodwell Elementary Middle, and its many partners, are excited to move into their new 21st century building in 2021.
About Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle School
Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle is located in Northwest Baltimore right next to the brand new, state-of-the-art ShopRite grocery complex. Community parents tell Live Baltimore that the school provides a "private school quality education in a public setting" and that it is truly a hidden gem among Baltimore City Public Schools. Each school day begins with a recitation of the motto, "We're on our way to college!"— a commitment backed by outstanding instruction from a highly qualified staff. Elementary students receive comprehensive training in core subject areas and are also provided with music, technological awareness and unique culinary arts programming. With the support of many community partners, including the Goldseker Foundation, the school has steadily increased enrollment and standardized test scores over the past five years.
Student Demographics
- 94% African-American
- 1.3% White
- 3.2% Hispanic
- 1.6% Other
Programming
- Gifted and Advanced Learning Site
- Intensive Literacy Site
- ESOL Site
Meet the Principal
Principal Samuel Rather II is the principal at Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle School. Though he is no stranger to its halls, the 2018-19 school year was his first year as principal with it serving as both an elementary and a middle school. He strongly believes in helping all students realize the power they possess to impact the world.
“I just really want to empower our community and rewrite the narrative of what is said about urban education,” he said. “There are so many great things happening in city schools across the district. Our students need to be celebrated and honored.”
Principal Rather II was a math teacher at William Paca Elementary, a math coach at Rosemont Elementary Middle School and a math academic content liaison at Baltimore City Public Schools Central Office before training to become a principal through the New Leaders for New Schools principal residency program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Delaware State University and a master's degree in teaching from the Johns Hopkins University. He has also received an Admin I certification from the College of Notre Dame. He was a recipient of the Fund for Educational Excellence’s Heart of the School award in 2017.
When he is not at school, you can find Principal Rather II doing something athletic like playing sports, joining a recreational league or working out at the gym.
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