Both individual schools and the district have plans in place to make sure that emergency or crisis situations are handled effectively and efficiently. 

The districtwide plan is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. At the school level, each year schools establish an on‑site emergency team that includes school administrators and staff. Schools are also required to update their emergency safety plans following the School Emergency Management Guide, which are then reviewed and approved by the district’s Health and Safety Department. Schools are required to practice fire evacuation drills and various other drills throughout the year, so that staff and students are prepared to respond depending on the situation.

For more information about the emergency safety plan in place at your school, please contact the principal.

The safety and well-being of our students is one of our highest priority. City Schools practices regular emergency drills and constantly reviews our safety procedures. Working together, we can ensure that all students remain safe in any situation. 

If there is an emergency, your school or the district will share information with parents through all available and appropriate channels, including automated phone calls, text messages, website, and social media updates.  

Families should ensure their school has up-to-date contact information at all times, including emergency contact numbers so that they can be reached with important information. You can update your contact information via the Annual Student Verification process on the Campus Portal. 

At Baltimore City Public Schools, the safety and well-being of our students is one of our highest priorities. City Schools practices regular emergency drills and constantly reviews our safety procedures. This guide explains how we will communicate with you during various emergencies. Working together, we can ensure that all students remain safe in any situation. 

View the full Emergency Guide:

The following drills are practiced in all schools, so that staff and students will be ready if there is ever a real emergency.

Evacuation: When it's safer outside the building (such as when there may be a fire, gas or chemical leak inside the building, or a bomb threat), staff and students gather at designated places outside the building.

Alert: When there's police activity or a potentially dangerous situation in the neighborhood around the school, the doors are locked and staff and students stay inside (this is sometimes called a reverse alert or reverse evacuation).

Severe weather: When there is a weather warning (such as for a possible tornado), everyone moves quickly to the designated area in the building.

Drop, cover, and hold: When there is an earthquake or other danger to the building structure, everyone takes cover under desks, tables, or other heavy furniture.

Shelter in place: When there is a gas or chemical leak outside a building, everyone moves to a designate area in the building, away from the affected area.

Lockdown: When there is a potential danger inside the building or outside on school grounds, all doors are locked, everyone moves to a classroom or other secure area and locks the doors, and staff and students stay together quietly in a protected area of the room.

Adding a layer of safety protection for our school community, weapons detection scanners will be operational in traditional, alternative, and transformational high schools. This new system will enhance the ability to screen for potentially dangerous weapons. Located at each school’s main and student entrances, all students, parents/guardians, and visitors will walk through the weapons detection scanners. Schools may also utilize scanners for sports games and other large events. 

Feedback from students and staff members noted a desire for increased preventative safety measures. During a trial test of the new weapons detection scanners, there was strong support for the new system over the current metal detectors.

The weapons detection scanners utilize Evolv Technology, which employs extremely low frequency radio waves similar to those found in retail settings. Learn more about the system and view City Schools' updated school building entry management protocols below:

Frequently asked questions: