The Agoge Project

For children in Baltimore City, the path to graduation is uncertain, with a lack of resources, a history of inequity, and generational poverty placing obstacles along the way. Census data show 24% of people living below the poverty line, Baltimore City Public Schools serves a population with 55% of students directly certified to receive assistance for low-income families --- a percentage that significantly under-represents the actual poverty rate of our students.

In a school district that has been under-funded for decades, hard choices have too often meant resources have been deployed unevenly, leaving school communities to compete among themselves for small pieces of a too-small pie. 

We have had enough.

Ultimately, Baltimore’s young people, have not had access to everything they could and should have to pursue their dreams and maximize their full potential.


The Agoge Project has been empowering the youth of Baltimore by way of mentoring and accountability through an out-of-school Boxing and MMA program. 

Launched 5 years ago by a Baltimore City Public School Teacher, everybody has bought into the program - the students and families involved, as well as the surrounding community. So much so, that The Agoge Project will be moving into a new 2000 SqFt space in Belair Edison LATER THIS YEAR!

We all know it's rare to find a golden opportunity for the children of Baltimore, so just like we teach our kids, we want to come together as a community, put in the work and make some dreams come true.

Through the generosity of local partners and our own staff's contributions, most of the equipment has been secured, even construction! We are in dire need of proper mats though. Please consider contributing to our organization and pushing this new space past the finish line.


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Key Outcomes:

- 300+ hours of out of school programming per student per year. 
- 100% of our students are enrolled in public schools and holding a 98% or higher attendance rate. 
- 100% of our students feel that they are better equipped to solve problems or challenges in their lives in a non-violent manner.
- 100% of our participants parent's and or guardians feel that their child's self esteem has improved, with 90% feeling that the increase in self esteem can be seen in all other aspects of their lives. (Visual)
- 91% of our participants feel that they are more equipped to engage in healthy and productive relationships with their peers after participating in The Agoge Project

More information about The Agoge Project:

The Agoge was the rigorous education and training program mandated for all male Spartan citizens (except for the firstborn son in the ruling houses, Eurypontid and Agiad.) The training involved cultivating loyalty to the Spartan community, military training, hunting, dancing, singing, and social preparation.

The Agoge Project is an after school academic support and physical fitness program located in Baltimore, MD. As in the ancient Spartan Agoge, our students are pushed and forged in the heat of rigorous hard work in both their education and their physical and mental fitness training. The Agoge Project aims to produce proud, supportive, and contributing members of society by teaching them what the village or community mentality is all about.

Once a week each student confers with one of the Agoge Coaches/Mentors to review their weekly progress report. The student progress report is completed by the student’s teachers and it highlights both academics and conduct for the week; it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that it is completed and to come prepared to debrief with their coaches during Saturday’s practice.

Student Athletes in the Agoge Project develop their skill set for self-empowerment through the study of boxing, MMA, strength and conditioning, nutrition and healthy eating, team building, leadership training, and relationship development.

Our goal at The Agoge Project is for each and every student who comes through our doors to leave with a skill set to not only become good at whatever they set their minds to, but to cultivate the community around them to be able to do the same.