Born from social action, The Stadium School opened its doors in September 1994. The effort was led by a cadre of founders: Jay Gillen, Jerry Levin, Pat Halle, Liz Lowengard, Marcus Ampadu, Alexzine Campbell, Hathaway Ferrebee, Gwendolyn Jones, Ruby Tate, Margaret Saunders, Rena Myers, Wicki MacColl, and Ronald Shelley. With the support of parents, students, community members and politicians, they petitioned the then Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners for a community school with autonomy and site-based control, along with strict accountability measures. For all intents and purposes, The Stadium School began the first quasi-Baltimore City Public School .

The social action began three years prior to the school's opening with countless rallies, various protests, and myriad speeches before commissioners, city council persons, the mayor, state delegates and even the governor. There was also a letter writing campaign that was worthy of two dissertations. One can draw parallels between the fortitude, perseverance, and faith of the founders and the widow woman who troubled the Un-Just Judge , a Jewish parable of an un-just judge, who avenges a widow woman, not because he has compassion or understanding, but as he states, “ Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

For eleven years the school has had to continue on this course of urgency, and assurance, overcoming displacement, changes in administration, and steady growth of the school's population. In September of 2004 the school moved to its present site, 1300 Gorsuch Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. But for ten years the school was housed five miles from its community, causing havoc with transportation and deferring community-based initiatives and extended day programming. This produced a quagmire of up and down test scores and volatile moments at The Stadium School.

While the school has had only an eleven-year history it has had three distinct directors or head of the school. Dr. Jay Gillen , notably the chief architect and visionary was the teacher-director from 1994-1997. Dr. Gillen, among others, is credited with the civil rights work necessary to not only open the school, but to advocate for relocation and the re-design of Abbottston Elementary as a permanent home for The Stadium School.

Jerry Levin , another founder, became the next teacher-director from 1997-1999. Mr. Levin was instrumental in securing funds from the state of Maryland and then Governor of Maryland Parris N. Glendening for the renovation of Abbottston Elementary, totaling $8,000,000 . The curriculums were also revised and strengthened under Mr. Levin, who led eighth grade students to all regular productions at Baltimore's Center Stage, and spearheaded the idea that students need first-hand experience of the community's strengths to be successful.

Ronald N. Shelley , a founder also, became the teacher-director of The Stadium School in the fall of 1999 and soon after became The Stadium School's first full-time director. Under Mr. Shelley's executive leadership the administrative model has been changed to include a director of instruction, and a community liaison position. Mr. Shelley is also responsible for implementing and revolutionizing project-based learning at TSS, specifically known as the Community-Based Experiential Teaching Model. Under Mr. Shelley's tenure the school has expanded its population served two-fold, while tripling its faculty and staff and maintaining its ratio of 1:10 . Mr. Shelley's vision is to continue The Stadium School's tradition of excellence and community, while at the same time developing programs that will enhance opportunity and ensure success for The Stadium School students and graduates in the areas of mathematics, science, technology, and the arts.

Today, The Stadium School is a beacon with in the realm of Baltimore City. Parents call from all over the state inquiring how to enroll their children. Its myriad of programs and services make it truly one of Baltimore's best community schools.