When Autumn Walker arrived at the Sisters Academy of Baltimore four years ago to begin fifth grade, she thought she could get by and not have to study “too hard.”
But she was wrong.
Classes at the all-girls, faith-based school start at 7:30 a.m. and end late in the day ? at 5 p.m.
“I found it was totally different than public school,” Autumn, 14, said of her new Catholic environment. “That first year was hard because I wasn?t used to being pushed so hard to excel.”
However, when she participates in the first of the academy?s eighth-grade graduation ceremonies, Autumn will be among just 10 of the original 22 students who enrolled four years ago.
Sister Delia Dowling says the West Baltimore school, founded in 2004, now enrolls 57 students. The school is part of the Network of Nativity Miguel Schools, which educates more than 4,400 middle-school students in urban areas of the country.
The majority of the academy?s students are black and live in nearby neighborhoods struggling with crime and poverty.
“There was no other Catholic school in that area of the city, as the last one closed 30 years ago,” Dowling said. “We did a study
and came up with a concept for middle-school girls and enrolled the first class of fifth-graders. Every year after that we?ve enrolled another class of about 22 students,” who are recommended by staff at city public schools. Most students? families pay a small fee; donations from corporate and individual sponsors as well as grants cover most of the $12,000-per-student cost.
Dowling said her graduating students will be moving on to other selective institutions, including McDonogh School and Mercy and Cristo Rey Jesuit high schools. Autumn will be enrolling at the Friends School of Baltimore.
Her mother, Yolanda Campbell, also has a 9-year-old daughter poised for admission.
“The teachers, parent volunteers and everyone connected to the school have been awesome in helping these young girls blossom in the right environment.”
