Pre-K Center May Close Year Early In Baltimore County

GWYNN OAK, MD — Baltimore County Public Schools wants to close a disability-focused pre-kindergarten center a year early.

BCPS announced Friday that it aims to close Gwynn Oak's Campfield Early Learning Center at the end of this school year. The original plan was to close Campfield at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

"With fewer than 60 students projected to attend Campfield in the 2025-26 school year, it has been determined that students' needs can be better met by transitioning programs and students to their home schools or to nearby regional programs at the end of the current school year," BCPS said in a press release. "BCPS staff affected by the new timeline would be prioritized as transfers this spring."

The Baltimore County Board of Education will hear the proposal at its Tuesday meeting. There will be a public hearing on March 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Milford Mill Academy. The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on March 11.

"The updated proposed closure supports the school system's comprehensive strategy to improve learning environments for elementary school students in the county's northwestern communities," the BCPS release said.

WYPR reported that the school board approved the closure by a 6-5 vote in September 2023.

At the time, WYPR said one-third of Campfield's then 377 students had disabilities and over half came from families with low incomes.

WYPR said those supporting the closure say the school is in poor condition and students would be better served at more modern facilities. Support programs for Campfield students would continue at their new schools. Closure opponents think Campfield students need individualized attention, which is more difficult in a full elementary school, WYPR said.

Campfield is located at 6834 Alter St.