Cross Country Elementary School

6900 Park Heights Avenue

School District

Baltimore City Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Baltimore City Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 19, 2021

I would recommend this school to anyone it is an amazing school in baltimore city the staff is awesome and they truly care about your children the communication is great. The principle goes above a beyond for the children that come in her building the teachers as well. They keep the school clean and safe for your children.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2017

I totaly give 10of10 for this scholl.For three years my child and my family was respected.My child have the best teachers and he learn a lot.No discrimination,no bulling.I higly recomend this school for everyone.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2015

I love everything about Cross Country Elementary! My child has been enrolled for the past 2 years and I am excited about her academic progress. The school has wonderful programs that encourage growth and learning amongst the student body. The curriculum and the teachers challenge and stretch my daughter so that she is confident enough to perform at her best! Her teacher was insightful enough to recognize her potential and recommended her for testing in the gifted and talented program. Next year will be her first year in the program and we are so excited to see how she learns and grows at Cross Country!The principal is tough, but it is apparent that it comes from a place of love and concern for the students. I appreciate the firm, but loving approach he takes with the students. It teaches them respect for themselves, adults, and their school. Keep up the good work, Mr. Durham!I am also looking forward to actively participating in the remodel/rebuilding process for the school. My family and I are excited about the new state of the art facility in the works for Cross Country. What a wonderful school!!
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2014

The principal at this school is a bully. He demeans the children and frightens the young ones. He is offensive in his announcements as he tries to deal out "tough love". Some of us parents are shocked at what he says in his morning assembly and on the intercom. He needs to be observed by someone from the Board of Education, where I will also, like another parent, report him for the atmosphere he has created at this otherwise lovely school.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2014

This school is great the instructors and staff are all about business and the students learning..Keep up the great work CCEM!
Submitted by other on July 28, 2014

School hasn't moved to its full potential in 4 yrs. The school leader is too loud, rude, and disrespectful towards parents and even colleagues. In any other district, he would have been out of a job a long time ago, but in Baltimore, he goes around acting like he's untouchable.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2013

Love this school I am an alumni of cross country myself. Principle & teachers are great it's my child's second home.
Submitted by other on October 08, 2013

My great nephew attended Cross Country Elementary /Middle School and his last year kindergarten teacher was extraordinary to say the less!!
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2013

I am not impressed by this school, kids run wild, I even heard the kids singing (RICK ROSS) while in class. My child will be transfering asap!!
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2013

This is a wonderful school. The teachers put the students 1st. I get frequent updates on how my child is doing and what he can do if he needs additional help & instruction as well as what I can do to assist at home.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2012

Again, this year I am impressed with the curriculum provided to my daughter at Cross Country. She is extra excited about the sciences she is learning this year. Experiments are an everyday thing with her. Being a third year parent, my daughter is in grade 4, I am not comfortable with the children having to stand in the school yard until 8:45 - 9:00 every morning. Even in inclement weather they leave the children outside. This is not a good look for the staff who normally are caring and nurturing to the children. Also, this year there seems to be quite a bit of bullying with the children, especially the girls and this should be addressed immediately before it gets out of hand. My child has been hurt twice this school year from bullying. The next incident I will bring in the police. However, overall the school teachers are doing extremely well academically with the children. Another issue I want to raise is to give all children a chance to be involved in school activities, not just your upper graders. Open up an academic debate team and choose children from each grade to represent the school.
Submitted by other on September 24, 2012

One one of the worse school I've had. Children are wana-be gangsters, teachers in the middle school level treat kids like they're in elementary school. However I will admit, Mr. Horne and Ms. Erwin are the only two teachers who truely teach in the school. But worst of all.... Mr. Durham. I'd rather stab myself with a pencil than have him as a principle next year. His voice is the most atrocious thing you will ever hear in your life, and I had to endure it every morning afternoon and all lunch times. He is the reason this school went to the dumps. I'm in highschool now and I was thinking that it would've been the same as middle school, the teachers following me outside of class, everyone walking in line, the administrators having to be everywhere, but no it was excellent. If I was late, I was late I get marked as late and if you get marked as late three times you automatically fail that subject for that quarter. But if I got marked late in this school, nothing would happen no consequence dealt. I could go on all day about this pitiful school, but I don't have the words in the english dictionary to explain how disgusted I feel when I say " I attended cross country for middle school."
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2011

This how we do it, Cross Country!!! Keep up the good work!!! The students are counting on you!!!
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2011

Looking forward to my children starting another enriching year at a wonderful institution of learning. Mr. Durham and his team are already on the ground running. Looks like great things are on the horizon!
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2011

My son will be in 4th grade this year and he is looking forward to returning to school. He had such a positive experience with his new teacher last year even though she was new to the school. I'm greatful for such a wonderful public school right in my neighborhood. The principal and staff are working very hard to create a culture where all the students can thrive.
Submitted by other on July 01, 2011

I witnessed a proud moment at Cross Country Elementary School last evening. The principal and I were standing in front of the school following a meeting that had not gone particularly well. When up walks a gentleman recognizing Mr. Durham from an event he spoke at a few weeks ago. The man was full of praise remarking how Mr. Durham inspired him to volunteer with at risk teen boys and be more involved in his community. He spoke of the change he noticed at the school over the last year. The way students conducted themselves at the end of the day. The change was so great for this parent that he asked for the process of transferring his 1st grader to CCEMS.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2011

Cross Country shines! Congratulations on a wonderful year. The Chess Team did great and there were many new and exciting initiatives, like the college tour and a middle school dance. The 8th grade class even enjoyed a "prom". Good job to Mr. Durham and his team!
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2011

I am the proud parent of a second grade boy. I am very pleased with the academic standards at Cross Country and look forward to many years of paren, teacher and student interaction.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2011

I'm glad to be part of the innovative ideas and projects on the horizon for CCEMS. I think that Principal Durham is a breath of fresh of air with new ideas and the teachers and parents need to give him the support he needs in order to move our children and the school forward in a positive direction.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2010

My child has been going to Cross Country since Kindergarden and I have to say I loved the old principal-he truly made the students remember that school is for learning. As for the new principal, I feel he is not as involved in the school as he should be, if does not make him look good to the Board of Education then he does not spend too much time of dealing with the issue. I think test scores speak for themselves and test scores have dropped tremediously since the "new" principal. In addition, some of the new teachers are very young and do not have the same passion as they did years prior. I am so happy City Counsel implemented the new" grading system" for teachers. As a result, of so many negative changes, my child will not be attending this school next year, which is sad because the original teachers who are still at Cross Country are good teachers and parents are very much involved with their children.