Baltimore Schools Among Most Dangerous In U.S.

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Three Baltimore City schools are now on the state's list of persistently dangerous schools.

As Gigi Barnett explains, parents are speaking out.

The state calls them persistently dangerous, schools where suspension and expulsion rates are high. This week, state school leaders reveal that Baltimore City has three.

"It's really sad. You don't want to have guns and knives in the school," said Yolanda Phillips, Garrison Middle graduate.

On the list are Baltimore Rising Star Academy, Garrison Middle School and The Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship.

So, what makes a school persistently dangerous? Three years of excessive suspensions for serious crimes like drugs, arson and weapons on campus.

"It's disturbing," said one parent. "I think it paints the school as one color and I don't think that's the whole story."

"I'm surprised. I'm actually surprised," said Chanell Lewis, parent.

Parents and neighbors say there's a reason for violence.

"We need things for the children to do," said Yolanda Phillips, Garrison Middle graduate. "Places for them to go and have fun. Stop closing these recreation centers. Stop closing up places like when it gets too hot that the children can't go swimming."

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, parents of students attending a persistently dangerous school have the option of transferring their children to a safer school.