Greenstreet Academy

Our integrated campaign drove over 1,000 applications and 300% enrollment growth, securing $1M in grants for Green Street Academy.

When Green Street Academy set out to open its new public charter school in West Baltimore, the stakes were high. The school needed to meet ambitious enrollment targets in order to secure more than one million dollars in state and federal grant funding. As construction began on the $23 million restoration of the historic Gwynn Falls High School building, the leadership team turned to What Works Studio to build a campaign that could spark community interest, reach families across the city, and drive applications during the school’s inaugural year.

What Works Studio designed an integrated campaign that combined research, creative storytelling, and bold on-the-ground engagement. We began with focus groups to understand what parents and students most valued in a new school. From there, we developed a suite of marketing assets, landing pages, social media content, digital ads, and radio spots that introduced the community to Green Street Academy’s vision. To generate excitement and make an impression at key events, we also executed guerrilla tactics—including hiring hip-hop artists and staging an impromptu performance at the Baltimore School Choice Fair. The goal was simple: bring the school to life, energize families, and inspire them to apply.

The response exceeded expectations. Green Street Academy received more than 1,000 student applications, increasing enrollment by over 300 percent and securing the critical grant funding required to open its doors. Following the success of the enrollment campaign, What Works Studio continued to support the school with the development of a new website, collateral for its capital campaign, environmental graphics, signage, and materials for community events and ongoing recruitment.

A bold, community-driven campaign that transformed a new charter school into one of Baltimore’s most sought-after educational options.

Key Outcomes

• Enrollment increased by 300%

• More than 1,000 student applications collected

• Over $1 million in federal and state grants secured

• Elevated Green Street Academy as a leading charter school and community anchor in West Baltimore