WALDORF, Md. — The Board of Education of Charles County voted 8-1 on April 28, 2025, to rename General Smallwood Middle School as Glymont Middle School, effective July 1, 2025. The decision, with one abstention, follows community concerns about the historical legacy of Gen. William Smallwood, a Revolutionary War general, and reflects the area’s rich history as a former port on the river.
Board Member Jamila Smith, who moved to approve the name Glymont Middle School, highlighted the town of Glymont’s significance as a bustling river port destination in the late 1800s and early 1900s for the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Board Member Brenda Thomas seconded the motion. Both represent District 2, where the school is located in Indian Head. Smith said at the meeting, “The history about the town of Glymont and how it once served as a popular river port destination in the late 1800s/early 1900s for the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area” inspired the choice.
The renaming process, guided by Board of Education Policy 7230, began in fall 2024 with a committee reviewing 41 community-submitted names, including Glymont Middle School. The committee proposed three options in March—Potomac Ridge, West Charles, and West Side middle schools—but the Board opted for Glymont, citing its geographical and historical resonance. Thomas referenced the former Glymont School, noting, “Before the population shifted and bigger schools were built, there was a Glymont Colored School and Glymont Two-Room School, which was historically known as the Glymont Colored School, then the Glymont School, and lastly as the Glymont Two-Room School.”
According to Our Legacy — One- and Two-Room Schools of Charles County, edited by John and Roberta Wearmouth in 2009, the Glymont Colored School enrolled 38 to 40 students in grades 1 through 7. Students often walked or were transported in a donated U.S. Navy Yard ambulance. After a fire, the Glymont Two-Room School was built, now serving as the Williams Funeral Home in Indian Head.
The decision to rename stemmed from community feedback in 2024 about Smallwood’s history, prompting Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) to initiate the process. The Board’s April 8 meeting featured discussions by Smith and Thomas on Glymont’s historical context, reinforcing the choice. CCPS will implement the name change for the 2025-2026 school year, updating signage and materials by July 1.
Charles County, with a population of approximately 170,000, has 22 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 7 high schools in its public school system. Glymont Middle School, serving approximately 500 students, will carry forward the legacy of a community once central to regional trade and education. CCPS encourages community engagement through its website.
