Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Maryland)

Public high school in Maryland, USA

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Address

1400 Orleans Street

Baltimore

Maryland

21231

United States

Coordinates| 39°17′42″N 76°35′56″W﻿ / ﻿39.29512°N 76.59876°W﻿ / 39.29512; -76.59876
Information
Type| Public magnet high school
Motto| "Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow"
Founded| 1918; 107 years ago (1918)
School district| Baltimore City Public Schools
School number| 414
CEEB code| 210170
NCES School ID| 240009000298[1]
Principal| Yetunde Reeves
Teaching staff| 43 FTE (2022-23)[1]
Grades| 9–12
Enrollment| 1,067 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 16.33 (2022-23)[1]
Campus type| Urban[1]
Color(s)| Maroon and gold

Athletics conference| MPSSAA 1A
Mascot| Owl
Team name| The Poets (boys)
Lady Poets (girls)
Website| www.baltimorecityschools.org/schools/414

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

## History

[edit]

In 1918, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School opened around the corner from its present location as the Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School, No. 101. The original school was part of the segregated "colored schools" system, which was abolished by 1954.[citation needed] The present school is part of the Baltimore City Public Schools system. It was named in memory of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a famous African-American poet, who had died twelve years before the school opened. In 1925, it was renamed Dunbar Junior High School, No. 133. In 1940, Dunbar became a high school and awarded its first diploma, the second school for African-Americans in Baltimore to do so.[2]

Dunbar's temporary location during renovations

In the summer of 2007, after thirty years of heavy use, the main high school building was emptied for renovations. Students were moved to Thomas G. Hayes Elementary School, behind Dunbar at 601 North Central Avenue. The renovations were completed in late August 2009 with costs totaling $32 million. Renovated features included science and robotics labs, wider interior hallways, larger windows, a new cafeteria, and a new library.[3]

## Academics

[edit]

Dunbar High School is a magnet school, offering biotechnology, emergency medical technology (EMT), accounting, nursing, and health care delivery systems programs. Dunbar High School has been named a Bronze Medal School by U.S. News & World Report.[4]

## Athletics

[edit]

The male varsity sports offered at Dunbar are baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and wrestling. The women's varsity sports offered are badminton, basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The four varsity teams that are coed are cross country, swimming, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field.

Dunbar's athletic teams have an owl mascot, and are sometimes referred to as "the Poets."

### Football

[edit]

The Baltimore City Public Schools withdrew from the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA) in 1993, which it had been part of since 1909, and which formerly segregated schools like Dunbar and Douglass had been part of since 1956.[5] The schools then joined the larger, statewide Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA). Since then, the Dunbar football team has won state championships in 1994, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2021.[6]

### Basketball

[edit]

Since 1993, the school's basketball team has won the State Championship fifteen times. Additionally, the Poets were National Champions in 1983, 1985 and 1992. Dunbar's girls basketball team, the Lady Poets, have excelled as well, winning the state girls basketball title in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2011 and 2012.

## Community partnerships

[edit]

Dunbar is one of the partner schools of Thread, formerly the Incentive Mentoring Program, an organization formed by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine that tutors high school students to help prevent them from failing high school.[7] Struggling students selected by the principal can receive one-on-one tutoring from Thread mentors, as well as social support to address any personal challenges that may be affecting their school performance.[8]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

### Business and industry

[edit]

* Reginald F. Lewis, Chairman & CEO, TLC Beatrice Foods International [9]

### Politics and government

[edit]

* Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals[10]
* Clarence "Tiger" Davis, Maryland House of Delegates, District 45 (1983–2007)[11]
* Ken Harris, Baltimore City Council, District 4[12]

### Music

[edit]

* Tupac Shakur, rapper and actor[13](9th grade only)
* Ultra Nate, musician (class of 1986)

### Film and television

[edit]

* D. Watkins, New York Times Bestselling author, HBO writer

### Sports

[edit]

#### NFL

[edit]

* Calvin Williams, former wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles; associate athletics director, Purdue University
* Tommy Polley, linebacker, St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens[14]
* Bob Wade, defensive back, Washington Redskins[15]
* Tavon Austin, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys[16]
* Delano Johnson, defensive lineman, Houston Texans[17]
* Alfonzo Graham, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers[18]

#### NBA

[edit]

* Muggsy Bogues[19]
* Sam Cassell[20]
* Kurk Lee[21]
* Reggie Lewis[22]
* Reggie Williams[23]
* David Wingate[24]
* Skip Wise[25]
* Keith Booth[26]
* Terry Dozier[27]

## Notable staff

[edit]

The following have coached Dunbar's basketball team.

* Keith Booth, assistant coach of University of Maryland and Loyola University Maryland men's basketball teams[26]
* Bob Wade, head coach of University of Maryland men's basketball team, first African-American head basketball coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference[15]
* Sam Cassell, assistant coach of the Boston Celtics[20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Search for Public Schools - Paul Laurence Dunbar High (240009000298)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
2. ^ Gladden, Elzee; Gladden, Jessie B. (1988). "The Dunbar Chronicle: A Case Study". The Journal of Negro Education. 57 (3): 372–393\. doi:10.2307/2295431. JSTOR 2295431.372-393&rft.date=1988&rft_id=info:doi/10.2307/2295431&rft_id=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2295431#id-name=JSTOR&rft.aulast=Gladden&rft.aufirst=Elzee&rft.au=Gladden,+Jessie+B.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Paul+Laurence+Dunbar+High+School+(Maryland)" class="Z3988">
3. ^ Bowie, Liz (September 1, 2009). "Dunbar opens with complete new look". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 3, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
4. ^ "Paul Laurence Dunbar High in BALTIMORE, MD | Best High Schools | US News". www.usnews.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
5. ^ Pryor, Chastity (2007). "The Collegian" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
6. ^ "MPSSA Football Championships Tournament History" (PDF). Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
7. ^ "Thread". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
8. ^ "Partnership Spotlight: Dunbar Mentoring Project" (PDF). Schools Monthly: 21. January 1, 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
9. ^ "Reginald F. Lewis remembered fondly in ceremony at Dunbar high school".
10. ^ "Maryland Judiciary Press Release". www.courts.state.md.us. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
11. ^ "Richard Jerome Brown, 85, Dunbar High coach, teacher". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
12. ^ "Harris pins high hope on humble beginning". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
13. ^ Lewis, John (September 6, 2016). "Tupac Was Here". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
14. ^ "Tommy Polley Bio". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
15. ^ a b Sun, Baltimore (July 1, 2014). "Dunbar to dedicate basketball court after legendary coach Bob Wade on Tuesday". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
16. ^ "Dunbar's Carlos Austin follows in footsteps of half-brother Tavon Austin". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
17. ^ "Delano Johnson - 2011 Football". bsubulldogs.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
18. ^ Lee, Edward (November 3, 2022). "Dunbar grad Alfonzo Graham thriving in return to Baltimore with Morgan State football: 'Me coming back was a blessing'". The Baltimore Sun.
19. ^ "Muggsy Bogues". Basketball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
20. ^ a b "Baltimore's Sam Cassell, Wizards Players, Alumni and Coaches to Host Clinic at Dunbar High School | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS". www.nba.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
21. ^ "HS Then & Now: Area's Best Roster Keeps On Growing". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
22. ^ Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. (July 28, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing in a Gym". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
23. ^ "Towson Catholic Hires Dunbar Great As Coach". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
24. ^ "David Wingate stands accused, his career, life in limbo". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
25. ^ "Dunbar High School Renowned Athlete Dies". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
26. ^ a b "Keith Booth Bio". Retrieved July 4, 2015.
27. ^ "Perry Dozier gets the best of his twin brother Terry in coaching face-off". Retrieved July 4, 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Paul Laurence Dunbar High School - Maryland Report Card

* v
* t
* e

Baltimore City Public Schools

Selective enrollment high schools|

* Baltimore Design School
* Baltimore School for the Arts
* Bard Early College
* Carver
* City College
* template
* Dunbar
* Edmondson-Westside
* Mergenthaler
* National Academy Foundation School
* New Era Academy
* Poly
* Thomas Medical Arts Academy
* Western

Charter lottery high schools|

* BLSYW
* City Neighbors High
* ConneXions
* Coppin
* Independence School Local 1
* The Reach! Partnership School

Public lottery high schools|

* Academy for College and Career Exploration
* Augusta Fells Savage
* Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West
* Digital Harbor
* Forest Park
* Frederick Douglass
* Patterson
* Reginald F. Lewis
* Renaissance

Alternative/special high schools|

* Achievement Academy-Harbor City
* Career Academy
* Claremont School
* Eager Street Academy
* Excel Academy
* Francis M. Wood
* Youth Opportunity

Elementary/middle schools|

* Mosher
* See list

Defunct schools|

* Alcott
* Banks
* Civitas
* Clifton
* Eastern
* Eastern Female
* Freedom Academy
* Gompers
* Heritage
* Howard Park
* Doris M. Johnson
* Lake Clifton Eastern
* No. 25
* No. 27
* No. 37
* No. 99
* No. 109
* No. 111
* Northern
* Northwestern
* Southern
* Southwestern
* Talent Development
* Thurgood Marshall
* Walbrook
* W.E.B. DuBois

Miscellaneous|

* Desegregation of the Baltimore City Public Schools

Authority control databases: Geographic |

* NCES

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