Here are answers to your most frequently asked questions:

What is Civitas all about?
We are part of the City School Transformation initiative. We were created in partnership with our operator the Center for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University. Our mission is to graduate students ready for college and careers in public service.

Who can attend the Civitas School?
In 2010 – 2011 we are serving students in grades 6 – 11 and will be a full 6th – 12th grade school in the 2011 – 2012 school year. We accept students entering any of the grades that we currently have as long as there are openings. We accept any student who qualifies for attendance in the City system

What is the application process?
Students attending the middle grades (for 2011 - 2012 that is grades 6, 7 and 8) need to take part in the middle school choice process. An application and explanation can be found by clicking here. Students attending the high school grades (for 2011 - 2012 that is grades 9 - 12) need to take part in the high school choice process. An application and explanation can be found by clicking here

Where is the school located?
When we began Civitas we were housed at the former Roland Patterson  complex at 4701 Greenspring Ave in the Park Heights neighborhood. During the summer of 2010 we moved to the newly renovated Walbrook building located at 2000 Edgewood Street in the Wabrook Junction neighborhood. There are many bus routes that allow our students to arrive on time. Please check the MTA Web site for specific routes.

We are excited to be sharing this facility with the Bluford Drew Jemison West STEM school  (http://www.bdjacademy.org) as well as other partners such as The Baltimore Urban Debate League.

What makes Civitas special?

• There are many answers to this question, here are a few:
• A mission driven focus that is grounded in the idea that public service is an integral part of an engaging school experience
• A dedication to have student, family and community voice as a part of our culture
• Small class sizes – a maximum of 75 students per grade level and 25 students per class.
• A culture of reflection and excellence for all members of our community.
• Multiple opportunities for students to engage in all aspects of public service including:
• Wednesday electives such as Reading for Others, Baltimore Urban Debate for middle and high school student, Urban Gardening, and robotics just to mention a few
• Internship opportunities at Sinai Hospital, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and in the Baltimore City government.
• A staff dedicated to each child and to our mission.
• A small community that when fully enrolled will total 525 students in grades 6 – 12
• A standards based curriculum built around the mission of public service
• A fabulous new facility in which City Schools has spent 8.2 million dollars during the 2010 – 2011 school year
• An operator, CSOS (www.csos.org)  with years of researched based experience and expertise in high quality, results based education.

What about the name of the school?
It’s pronounced CIV-i-tahs. Civitas means citizen or community

Are Civitas students part of the public school system?
Yes! The Baltimore Civitas School is a part of the Baltimore City Public School System and as such all students are City School Students. We are funded with City School dollars on par with other City Schools. We are NOT a charter school, but we have some of the same freedoms and responsibilities as other schools created with a contract between the city and the school

Is Civitas a uniform school?
Yes! Middle grades students wear green pants, shorts or for the girls, a skirt (any color green is fine ) and a grey Civitas uniform shirt which is available in the main office. 9th and 10th grade students wear a Civitas uniform shirt (available at the main office) and black pants. 10th and 11th grade wears the Civitas High School uniform shirt (available at the main office) and khaki pants