When each school began to plan their important work based on AACPS’s 2018-2023 Strategic Plan during the spring of 2018, school teams reflected on their school culture, their community, and the key factors contributing to student achievement.  Each school was then asked to consider which Strategic Plan Indicators would have the greatest positive impact for their students. School leadership teams selected indicators and developed plans to focus and guide their efforts.  Please come with us on our journey as we describe why, what, and how we do our work to serve our students and families of our school.

Belle Grove is located in the northern part of Anne Arundel County, bordering Baltimore City, in the community of Brooklyn Park, Maryland.  For over sixty years, Belle Grove has been a community school with the homes of students located within walking distance. Built in 1952, Belle Grove was renovated in 2011 to modernize and reconfigure the school for more effective curriculum delivery and operations for today’s students.  All finishes, equipment, and building systems were replaced. Two additions expanded the school, providing program space and creating a more prominent entry accessible from a new entrance road that better circulates traffic through the surrounding neighborhood and school site. 

Belle Grove is recognized as a Title I school with over 70% of students receiving free or reduced lunch. The federal funds that Belle Grove receives provide funding for additional instructional positions, parent outreach activities, materials for students, and professional development.  In 2014, Belle Grove was named a National Title I Distinguished School for its sustained academic progress. This is the only school in Anne Arundel County that has received such an honor.

Belle Grove Elementary School participates in the Arts Empowered Minds Initiative (AEMI) program that is utilized to increase access to high-quality arts-integrated learning opportunities for students and teachers.  Belle Grove participates in smART residencies through Young Audiences that invites artists to create hands on experiences for students.  Through AEMI, teachers increase their capacity to use arts integration in the classroom through professional development opportunities at the Chesapeake Arts Center. We know that learning through the arts engages students at high levels which correlates greatly with increases in achievement across the disciplines.