Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School


Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School is a public high school located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is one of the two premiere vocational-technical high schools of the city, the other being rival Carver Vocational-Technical High School, on Presstman Street, on the other side of the city in West Baltimore.
Mervo was opened in 1953, established as a vocational-technical school that is named after printer Ottmar Mergenthaler, the inventor of the linotype machine which revolutionized the printing and newspaper industries.
The school, according to its website, uses its curriculum to "educate students to function in an industrial and challenging technological society." All students must apply and meet certain standards of entrance criteria for acceptance to the school.
In 2008, "Mervo" had been named by the U.S. News and World Report magazine, as a "Bronze Medal" school.
In 2012, The Mervo Mustangs Alumni Association was established. The association has united classmates from the 1970s to the present.
Mervo also has accelerated curriculum which has both Advanced Placement courses and Honors Classes in all areas of education.
Mervo has 22 state-approved trades courses for students to enter into, including: Accounting and Finance, Allied Health, Auto Body and Repair, Automotive Technology, Business Management, CADD, Carpentry, Childcare, CISCO Networking Academy, Commercial Baking, Cosmetology, Electrical Construction, Food Services, Graphic Arts and Printing, Law and Leadership, Masonry, Plumbing, Project Lead The Way, Teacher Academy and Welding.

Graduating rates

Mervo has one of the highest graduating rates in the several high schools of the Baltimore City Public Schools system. The average graduating rate is above 85%. The students rather get into college or pursue their trade of choice and make a career out of it as soon as they graduate out of Mervo.

Attendance rate

Mervo's student attendance rate is on average 85% and higher. This has been true especially through the 2011–2013 school years. This rate continues to keep growing as it is one of the highest rates in the Baltimore City Public Schools system.

Football field

The football field was named Art Modell Field at Mervo in honor of Art Modell, the longtime owner of the former Cleveland Browns professional football team franchise in the National Football League, that later relocated in 1995 to become the Baltimore Ravens. The field's renovation was spearheaded by The Ravens All Community Team Foundation, successor Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, CB Chris McAlister and the NFL Youth Football Fund. The $1 million project includes installation of a Sportexe turf field, additional bleachers on the home/away sides, a ticket booth, and upgrades to the restrooms and concession stand. Serving as the primary home to the Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School football team "Mustangs", the stadium will also host the nearby Northwood Youth Football league and the Baltimore Nighthawks of the Independent Women's Football League. The new $1 million football stadium will bear the name of deceased former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell.

Mervo clubs

Mervo has many clubs for their students to be involved in and support groups. There are over 28 clubs after school for the student body too keep busy and help them be
Homecoming Parade.
Mervo has won championships against other schools and its football rival, Carver Vocational-Technical High School.
Recently entering into the city conversation as a football powerhouse after reeling several city titles and playoffs appearance from 2013-2016. However, Mervo is historically a Track & Field and Cross Country powerhouse with a massive amount of MSA A & B Conference Regular Season and Championship Meet titles. When Baltimore City public schools were entered into the MPSSA to compete with county public schools their dominance continued. Mervo Track boasts the only State Titles in school history 95,96 and 98. Led for decades by Coach Fred Hendricks Mervo was always in the conversation for championships and on the national stage, stellar Penn Relay performances. Mervo did not have a track of its own which made this success profoundly noteworthy.
Mervo Football
Mervo Baseball
Mervo Wrestling
Mervo Girls Basketball
Mervo Basketball
Mervo Tennis
Cheerleading Championship
Mervo Cross Country
The official Mergenthaler crest is a blue and gold cogwheel for 10th-12th graders, which is representative of the original printing heritage and now vocational and technical industries that Mervo prepares its students for. The official Mergenthaler Vo-Tech uniform shirts for 9th graders is a gold shirt with a blue cogwheel.

School song

The Mergenthaler School song was penned by the president of the senior class of 1955. The Song is performed by the Mergenthaler Mass Choir before each school assembly.
Following the playing and singing of the national anthem of the United States with the "Star-Spangled Banner" - composed in Baltimore by Francis Scott Key during the British attack on Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore, September 12-13-14th, 1814, during the War of 1812.
The lyrics of the M.V.-T.H.S. school song are as follows:

Notable alumni