Partnerships

University of Maryland
In 1992, Western High School formed a partnership with the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program.  The program has grown from initially providing mental health services to students in four Baltimore City schools, to currently serving over twenty schools in Baltimore.  At Western, the program provides mental health treatment to those students with serious mental health needs as well as a range of prevention services, including classroom-based presentations and a multitude of support groups designed to help students struggling with a wide variety of family, school, and personal issues, from trauma and loss to pregnancy and relationship issues.  This partnership benefits not only Western's students, but the staff and parents as well; over the years, the clinicians have provided mental health training and support to Western's faculty, and they meet with parents through the PTA as well as through their work with individual children.  The clinicians also play a valuable role on our Student Support Team and our School Improvement Team, helping to emphasize the importance of psychological and emotional health in the overall health of individual students and the overall school environment.
Maryland General Hospital and Coppin State University
Maryland General Hospital and Coppin State University formed a joint program with Western High School that will provide academic support and mentoring to students interested in pursuing a nursing career.
Towson University: The Teacher Academy of Maryland
The Teacher Academy is a state-approved career completer program of study, designed to prepare high school students for future careers in the education profession. Students who wish to explore possible careers as teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, child psychologists, youth workers, and camp directors will develop fundamental knowledge, skills, and dispositions to prepare them for an education degree and career. Western High School and Towson University collaborate to provide this unique educational experience for students and related professional development experiences for faculty and staff.