U.S. President:
States in the Union:
37
Population of Baltimore:
~268,000
The Evolution
of McDonogh School
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:
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.
Purchase the 150th Anniversary Book
Becoming McDonogh School tells the captivating story of McDonogh’s first 150 years.
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