Ready to explore a place of learning and creativity? Let’s dive into the story of James Hubert Blake High School. This school isn’t just a place for classes. It’s a hub of arts, academics, and community spirit.
James Hubert Blake High School is located in Cloverly, Maryland. It stands as a public high school within the Montgomery County Public Schools system. The school is known for its signature program in fine arts and humanities. This focus sets it apart.
Blake High School is part of the Northeast Consortium. This group includes Springbrook High School and Paint Branch High School. Students can choose a school based on its special program.
Back in the mid-1990s, Sherwood High School was getting too crowded. A new high school was needed to ease the pressure. James Hubert Blake High School was built to solve this problem. The state and federal governments paid for the construction. The school had a capacity for 1215 students.
Choosing a name for the new school was a challenge. The community considered two Maryland artists. One was jazz legend James Hubert “Eubie” Blake. The other was Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. Jim Henson won a straw poll. But the Jim Henson Foundation declined the honor. So, the school was named after James Hubert Blake.
James Hubert Blake High School opened on August 31, 1998. It started with about 819 students in ninth and tenth grades. Eleventh and twelfth grades were added later. Carole C. Goodman was the first principal. The school newspaper was first called Blake Blank. It was later officially named Blake Beat.
James Hubert Blake High School has received many awards. Mary Wagner was named Outstanding Technology-Using Educator of the Year in 2002. She was honored for her work with instructional computing. Barbara Jeweler was named Montgomery County Teacher of the Year in 2003. She directed the school’s television production program.
In 2004, Mary Wagner won The Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award. She was recognized for her innovative teaching methods. These methods included field trips and mock congresses. Wagner also started the school’s Gay/Straight Alliance.
Sally Lok won the Student Television Award for Excellence in 2004. She created a video documentary about music piracy. In 2004, Principal Carole C. Goodman received the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award. This was for the school’s community involvement and arts program.
Michael Braun, a junior, won the Jeopardy Teen Tournament in 2005. Teresa Carbonell received The Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award in 2007. She raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims with a jazz concert.
The Maryland Association of School Libraries gave James Hubert Blake High School the Mae I. Graham Award. This was for its library media program in 2008-2009. In 2015, a team of students won awards at the local Globe Game Jam. They created a game called Second Chance.
James Hubert Blake High School students compete in It’s Academic. The school won the D.C. area championship four years in a row from 2012-2015. The team also won in 2021 and 2024.
Some notable alumni include singer Bibi Bourelly and journalist Robert Klemko. NFL player Cam Brown also attended.
Today, James Hubert Blake High School continues to thrive. It offers a strong academic and arts education to its students. The school has about 1,784 students and 102 teachers. Shanay Snead is the current principal.
James Hubert Blake High School’s colors are black, blue, white, and silver. The mascot is Benny the Bengal. The school’s rivals include Paint Branch High School, Springbrook High School, and Sherwood High School.
As we conclude our visit to James Hubert Blake High School think about the many students and teachers who have walked these halls. Their stories contribute to the school’s rich history. The school’s commitment to arts and academics makes it a special place in the community.