 When it was founded in March 1839 as the flagship school of what later became the Baltimore City Public Schools , Baltimore City College was charged with providing a unique <unk> and liberal arts @-@ based course of study and with holding all members of its school community to the highest standards of academic achievement and personal development . The school 's mission is to prepare its students to succeed in the best colleges In the United States . The faculty and staff of the school strive to engage every student in a rigorous university preparatory study of liberal arts , provide strong extended academic and social support services , and to develop students who enjoy studying and learning . The school 's ultimate goal is to produce competitive graduates who have an appreciation for scholarship , perform well on meaningful assessments , make meaningful contributions to society , behave with civility and respect , and perform as reasonable leaders . 
