 The creation of a high school " in which the higher branches of English and classical literature should be taught exclusively " was unanimously authorized by the Baltimore City Council on March 7 , 1839 . Accordingly , the Board of School Commissioners rented a townhouse structure on a small narrow by @-@ way of what was then called Courtland Street ( now on the east side of Saint Paul Street / Place . The High School , as it was first called , opened its doors on October 20 , 1839 , with 46 students and one teacher / professor , Nathan C. Brooks ( 1809 – 1898 ) , who also served as first principal . 
