Walbrook High School - History - Bundley Era

Bundley Era

In 1998, several news outlets in Baltimore were reporting the decline of the school, and the system was opting for a new principal. It approached Andrey Bundley, due to his success at Greenspring Middle School. Under Bundley's direction, the school reported record numbers of attendance (95%) and an increase in state test scores. The school also saw the addition of several successful extracurricular activities and sports, including their nationally recognized debate team and basketball team.

In Summer 2004, accusations arose that Bundley had graduated almost 1/3 of Walbrook seniors in 2003, who did not meet Maryland state requirements. In the preceding school year, violence had increased and attendance and school performance had decreased. This led to Bundley's transfer to another school, and an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Baltimore against Martin O'Malley. His transfer was to the dismay of teachers and students, who unsuccessfully petitioned for his return. In October 2004, Shirley Cathorne became principal, and oversaw the restructuring of Walbrook into smaller learning environments. However, Cathorne did not stay long due to family issues, and was replaced by Lamarge Wyatt.

The new administration phased out the school's old academies and curriculum and introduced new ones—the Homeland Security Academy, the Entrepreneurial High School, the Maritime Academy, and the Liberal Arts Academy—that were spread on different floors of the building, each with a different principal, uniform and teachers. The overall school and building is referred to as the "Walbrook Campus", since all of the schools share the same gym and cafeteria, but still refer to it as Walbrook High School.

Eventually, Walbrook was listed as a Title I school. Due to the failed efforts of getting the school under control, it was shut down. Two schools now operate out of the building Baltimore Civitas Middle/High School and Bluford Drew Jemison S.T.E.M. Academy.