AMS Community

Our Community
Arbutus Middle School is located in the southwest area of Baltimore County, close to UMBC and Catonsville Community College. Arbutus Middle School, opened in 1958 and partially renovated in 1995 and 2007, continues to educate students in creative and caring ways. Our School Improvement Team ensures the involvement of staff, students, parents, and the community in decision-making necessary to continue to provide a quality education. Our goals are the same goals as all schools in Baltimore County:

-To improve achievement for all students
-To maintain a safe and orderly learning environment
-To use resources effectively and efficiently

Arbutus Middle School is organized into three grave level teaching teams: grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8. In addition, Arbutus Middle School has disciplinary teams of Art, World Languages, Music, Physical Education, and Student Services. Students at all grade levels are able to take Physical Education and Health. Depending on students instructional needs, all students take Music and/or Art. Select students in grades 7 and 8 take World Languages. In addition to the academic offerings, our students are encouraged to participate in a variety of extra-curricular programs.

Our Staff
Arbutus Middle School has a diverse and enthusiastic staff. With experience ranging from one to thirty years, there is a balance of new perspectives and established traditions. The staff provides a variety of academic, extracurricular, and support programs for students. Many staff members reside and are active in the community, while others travel from neighboring areas in the city as well as in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, and Howard counties. Our staff members are committed to providing the very best educational opportunities possible for our students, and firmly believe that All Must Succeed.

Our Students
Simply put, we have the greatest kids in the county. Most of our approximately 800 students come from Arbutus, Catonsville, Halethorpe, Hillcrest, Relay, and Westowne Elementary Schools and go on to Catonsville High School and Lansdowne High School. A portion of outgoing grade 8 students apply, are accepted, and attend various BCPS magnet schools or private schools. The use of strong interdisciplinary and disciplinary teams provide for the varied abilities, interests, and needs of students at each grade level. Arbutus Middle School was one of the first middle schools in the county to pilot an inclusion program, now operating on all three grade-levels. We also service students from the southwest area of Baltimore County in our three self-contained special education programs: Behavior Learning Support, Adaptive Learning Support, and Funcational Academic Learning Support. A variety of extra-curricular programs and organizations are in place to support student growth and leadership.

AMS Student Code of Conduct – P.R.I.D.E.
I will Persevere
I am Respectful
I have Integrity
I am Dependable
I am Empathetic

Our Community
The Arbutus Middle School community looks with confidence toward the future while maintaining traditional values. The community is stable and many of our students' parents (and a few grandparents) attended AMS. We have a strong PTA that is committed to supporting school goals and programs that help students achieve these goals. Education and support of education have always been high priorities for our parents.  

In the 2002-2003 school year, AMS began building a strong connection with UMBC as a Professional Development School. We continue to use this community partnership to enhance the programs we offer our students.