Carver Center History
There is a long Baltimore County Public School (BCPS) tradition of excellence within our campus. The original building, opened in 1939, was built to function as a segregated high school for African American students, Carver High School. It was closed approximately 20 years later. During the following three decades, the facility received several additions and renovations to allow it to serve a variety of functions including Towsontown Junior High School, Central Vocational Technical High School, and offices and shops for the BCPS Division of Physical Facilities.
Reaching into the county history for its name, Carver Center for Arts and Technology opened in 1993 with its name standing as a tribute to the original school on this location in 1939, Carver High School, and the great educator and scientist, George Washington Carver, for which it was named. In 2007, under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Joe Hairston, the Board of Education of Baltimore County unanimously signed a resolution to recognize and acknowledge Carver Center by its formal and official name: George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.
George Washington Carver personified the mission of Carver Center. He was an artist, an academician, and a technician. At Carver Center, every student is gifted in one of those three areas. Many, like George Washington Carver are gifted in more than one area. Every faculty member delivers a program that integrates the arts, the academics, and technology. We all live the mission that George Washington Carver embodied.
George Washington Carver said: “When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”
Carver Center, in its 32 years of existence, lives this vision espoused by George Washington Carver. Carver Center has established a tradition of excellence and a culture of collaboration and respect, all based upon a vital and realistic mission that underlies all facets of life within the school: to cultivate life-long learners whose passion for their craft empowers them to be creative, successful, inspiring contributors to society and the world.
Our Mission: The Carver Center Community provides a transformative experience in a safe and academically challenging environment. Students expand their craft, talents, and passions, allowing them to embrace their individuality and innovate in the wider world.
Our Vision: All Carver Center graduates will acquire the knowledge, skills, passion, and perspectives that enable them to be equity-minded, visionary, and courageous leaders in an increasingly dynamic and interdependent world.
Our Beliefs: The administration, faculty, staff, parents, and students share a common vision and operate on the following beliefs:
- Equitable outcomes are attainable for all students.
- Students deserve a supportive, nurturing environment where issues of equity and cultural bias impacting them are discussed openly.
- Examining issues of equity and cultural bias through a variety of lenses promotes positive change.
- Open communication and honoring multiple perspectives among all stakeholders is essential in achieving the goals of education.
- Students possess a gift and talent in their chosen field that deserves to be cultivated.
- The collaborative study of the arts, technology, and academics fosters the growth of students’ interests and talents.
- Students possess multiple intelligences and varied interests.
- Students can reach levels of intellectual and aesthetic excellence.
- Challenging expectations increase individual student performance, self-discipline, and perseverance.
- Students flourish in a creative, challenging supportive, and safe community.
- Respect for others and their work is paramount.
- Success in a dynamic and changing society requires life-long learning.
- Partnerships with the arts, business, and college communities prepare Carver Center students for college and career.
- Connections with professionals in their field, area of interest, or interdisciplinary studies provides students with validation for their work.