About Bladensburg High School

Bladensburg High School is a four-year Comprehensive High School located in Bladensburg, Maryland inside the Washington Beltway only a few miles from Washington, DC. The mission of our school is to prepare all learners to excel in an information-based, technologically advanced society. We are committed to Excellence in Academics and Service in all of our endeavors.

The total student enrollment is 1,792. This student population is diverse; fifteen percent of the school population is ESOL from 25 different countries speaking 20 different languages. There are 144 members of the instructional staff with 36% holding Advanced Professional Certification, 62% holding Standard Certification and 9% holding Conditional Certification.

At a glance ...

• 1770 - James Hart opened the first Early Learning Academy in Bladensburg.
• 1795 - The Reverend Samuel Knox, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, supervised the school (acting like the principal). Trustees were Benjamin Lownes, John Stewart, and David Ross. It has been determined that they were the first organized Board of Education.
• 1815 - The Bladensburg Academy, located on the corner of Edmonston and Annapolis Road, was incorporated.
• 1855 - The Bladensburg Academy closed and became part the Public School System.
• 1925 - The Academy burned to the ground. Bladensburg Primary School replaced it.
• 1930 - Willis White became principal. The school contained sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth graders on the hill where the current Bladensburg Elementary School is.
• 1933 - Robert Wilson became principal.
• 1935 - Thomas V. Warthen became principal.
• 1936 - BHS, located off Annapolis Road, became a four- year high school. There was an impressive inauguration ceremony held to dedicate this milestone.
• 1937 - The first high school graduation was held.
• 1939 - The high school expanded with the addition of a library and art rooms. This year the building officially became a high school because the 7th and 8th grades were moved to the new Bladensburg Grammar School.
• 1941 - A new, modern cafeteria opened for the first time in a high school.
• 1942 - Truman S. Klein became the principal. The first full time librarian was assigned to the school.
• 1943 - C. Paul Barnhart became principal. A fresh coat of paint was applied to the school.
• 1949 - The vocational wing was built on the Tilden Rd. site.
• 1951 - A new Bladensburg High School had been built and opened in the fall of 1951.
• 1952 - Wilbur Jones became principal. The first class graduated from the then new BHS.
• 1956 - Kalmar Vozar became principal.
• 1964 - David L. Dean became principal.
• 1977 - Dr. James V. Foran became principal.
• 1983 - John Whittington became the first African-American to be appointed principal.
• 1985 - Ronald B. Cunningham became principal.
• 1988 - Dr. David S. Stofa became principal.
• 1995 - Dr. Joseph Lupo became CEA/principal.
• 1997 - Thomas Keeley became principal. He was removed from this position in May by the superintendent for inappropriate behavior while in office.
• 1998 - Marvel Smith became the first female to be appointed as the school's principal.
• 2000 - Dr. David S. Stofa returned to BHS as its principal.
• 2001 - In June, Bladensburg High School closed its doors permanently in preparation for the long-awaited construction of a new BHS building. During that summer, BHS moved into its temporary quarters at 3021 Belair Drive, Bowie, MD.
• 2001 - Bladensburg High School was torn down to make room for the new high school.
• 2002/2003 - The Bladensburg family continued to cope with a larger student population in its small temporary quarters and waited for the new building to be completed and opened.
• 2005 - Bladensburg High School opened it's new building