Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) is implementing a multi-year security hardware initiative to enhance safety across school buildings by upgrading door locks and frames in older campuses. This proactive effort is designed to improve security measures and ensure staff can more effectively secure classrooms and office spaces in emergencies.
Since the project announcement in March 2025, City Schools has adjusted the project plan to better align with available funding and installation capacity. For the 2025-26 school year, the Operations Office will begin design of the intruder lock hardware projects, beginning at 18 high schools in 14 buildings:
Northwestern Building
Achievement Academy at Harbor City High School (Northern Building)
Career Academy (Harlem Park Building)
National Academy Foundation (both buildings)
Bard High School Early College (Lemmel Building)
ConneXions: A Community-Based Arts School (Lemmel Building)
NOTE: Schools co-located on the high school campus will be a part of this project.
These upgrades will equip classrooms, media centers, auditoriums, cafeteria, and gymnasiums with enhanced locking mechanisms that allow doors to be locked from the inside, addressing a critical safety need.
Future phases, including kindergarten through grade 8 and traditional middle schools, will be scheduled later, contingent upon funding availability and contractor resources.
NOTE: Schools that have recently undergone modernization through the 21st Century Schools Buildings Program or have existing security hardware are not included in this upgrade.