McDONOGH CELEBRATES 150

The entire community is invited to this once-in-a-lifetime event. The festivities kick off on Thursday, November 2 with an original arts production. On Friday, enjoy dinner and dancing at a celebratory gala. The fun continues on Saturday at the 107th McDonogh vs. Gilman football game.

1873

McDonogh School opens its doors as a semi-military, farm school to 21 scholarship boys from Baltimore on November 21. Colonel William Allan is the first Principal.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

U.S. PRESIDENT:

STATES IN THE UNION:

37

POPULATION OF BALTIMORE:

~268,000

1874

Three students are the first to complete their McDonogh education.

1880

The McDonogh Alumni Society is established.

1883

First issue of the school newspaper, The Week, is published.

1889

Duncan C. Lyle is appointed Principal.

1893

James T. Edwards is appointed Principal.

1898

Sidney T. Moreland becomes Principal.

1914

Morgan H. Bowman, Jr. becomes Principal. The school strengthens the military program.

1921

William T. Childs is elected Principal.

1922

Due to the depressed post-war economy and rising operating costs, the first pay student is admitted with tuition and boarding set at $500.

1926

Major Louis “Doc” E. Lamborn becomes Headmaster. A Lower School is established; for the first time 12 grades are taught.

1927

The Board of Trustees authorizes day students. McDonogh becomes accredited, allowing graduates to enter colleges and universities without additional training.

1928

After a devastating fire destroys the Main Building, the school sets out to build a new McDonogh. The curriculum has four tracks: college prep, business training, mechanical arts, and agriculture.

1929

For the first time, pay students outnumber scholarship students.

1952

Robert “Bob” L. Lamborn '35 becomes Headmaster. The school is reorganized into three divisions (Lower, Middle, and Upper), each with four grades to offer students an education more tailored to their age and development.

1959

The process of gradual racial integration begins with the admission of one Black student in first grade.

1960

McDonogh transforms into a college preparatory, liberal arts school and discontinues the vocational training program.

1970

The process of gradual racial integration is completed with Black students in every grade.

1971

A. Ludlam “Lud” Michaux is appointed President. The school discontinues the military program.

1975

The school becomes coeducational with the addition of 138 girls.

1976

William C. Mules is elected President and Headmaster.

1979

A prefirst grade is added forming a transitional year between kindergarten and first grade.

1985

McDonogh agrees to rezone 225 acres for a newly developed office research park.

1988

The demerit system, a tradition since the school’s founding, is completely phased out.

1992

W. Boulton “Bo” Dixon becomes Headmaster.

2007

Charles W. Britton becomes Headmaster.

2009

The Character Compass is introduced, focusing on the four virtues of honesty, respect, kindness, and responsibility with service at the center.

2014

The LifeReady vision for teaching and learning is launched to help each student prepare for a life of character, civic duty, service, and success. Prekindergarten is introduced.

2015

The 100th McDonogh vs. Gilman football game is played.

2018

David J. Farace '87 becomes the Head of School.

2019

Greatest Good McDonogh is launched to teach students best practices in service-learning, philanthropy, community engagement, and social innovation.

2022

The Memorial to those Enslaved and Freed is dedicated on campus.

2023

McDonogh School celebrates 150 years.

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