BALTIMORE — Classrooms at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School were filled with cheers and smiles earlier this week as students were surprised with an Orioles merchandise shopping spree, courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles. The celebration honored the school’s significant academic progress over the past year and marked another milestone in a growing partnership between the Orioles and the West Baltimore school community.

According to the Maryland State Department of Education annual school report cards, Harlem Park improved from a two-star to a three-star rating between 2024 and 2025. The school also recorded a 10-percentage-point increase in its total earned percent, along with gains across every evaluated category: academic achievement, academic progress, progress toward English language proficiency, and school quality and student success.

Students celebrated their accomplishments alongside Orioles leadership, including Catie Griggs, President of Business Operations, and Kerry Watson, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. As students browsed hats, shirts, and other Orioles gear, the moment served as both a reward and a reminder that their hard work in the classroom is being seen and supported.

The visit is part of the Orioles’ Adopt-A-School initiative, launched in 2024, which provides sustained, year-round support to Harlem Park Elementary Middle School. Through this effort, the organization serves more than 430 students by building intentional partnerships among City Schools, the Orioles, and a network of community organizations and supporters. The approach goes beyond one-day events, focusing instead on long-term relationship-building, student motivation, and school-wide engagement.

For Harlem Park students and staff, the celebration underscored what’s possible when community institutions invest deeply and consistently in public education. For the Orioles, it reaffirmed a commitment to Baltimore that extends far beyond the ballpark — one rooted in youth development, academic success, and community pride.

To learn more about the Orioles’ Adopt-A-School partnership with Harlem Park Elementary Middle School, visit Orioles.com/HarlemParkSchool.