Esse Quam Videri “To Be, Rather Than to Seem”
Esse Quam Videri, the motto of The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, sets a standard of authenticity and sincerity to which all members of our community aspire. It requires character, courage, and compassion, and drives a school that focuses on the individual and celebrates the opportunity to make a difference in the life of each student.
The oldest, non-sectarian school for boys in Maryland, Boys’ Latin enrolls 640 day students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school has grown and moved from the first classroom that Evert Marsh Topping, a Princeton professor, rented in downtown Baltimore in 1844. Today, the Boys’ Latin campus in Roland Park comprises academic buildings for the Upper, Middle, and Lower Schools, as well as state-of-the-art athletic facilities.
Beyond the buildings, Boys’ Latin is a program, a curriculum of academics, athletics, and activities designed to prepare our students, not just for college, but for life. From kindergarten through twelfth grade, we nurture our young men, teaching them how to think for themselves, to be accountable for their actions, and to be responsible for their learning. The concepts of self-reliance, responsibility, and accountability are reinforced in the classroom, on the playing fields, and in the arts. The small class sizes foster strong relationships between faculty and students, and enable thoughtful discourse and intellectual rigor.
At Boys’ Latin, our diverse community of learners and educators includes the youngest student and the oldest alumnus, the parents who supports our mission, and the teachers and administrators who make it happen. At BL, boys become lifelong learners and they develop friendships that last a lifetime. As alumni, they lead successful careers and stay connected to their school, returning for annual events to reconnect with classmates, showing up at athletic competitions to cheer the Lakers, and showing their support in their generous donations to the annual fund and capital campaigns.