Harford County Public Schools


Harford County Public Schools is the public school district serving all of Harford County, Maryland. As the eighth-largest school system in the state, HCPS educates approximately 39,000 students across 55 schools, supported by 5,645 dedicated employees and 2,142 classrooms.
HCPS is led by Superintendent Sean Bulson, who has served in the role since 2018. HCPS is managed by the Board of Education of Harford County, which is an independent and distinct state agency from HCPS and the Harford County Government. The BOE consists of 6 elected members, 3 appointed, and 1 elected student. The BOE is led by Aaron Poynton, President, and Lauren Paige as Vice President.
As of 2024, HCPS is ranked 9th in Maryland for academic performance, and in Niche's 2025 rankings, it holds the 3rd position for both "Best School Districts for Athletes" and "Districts with the Best Teachers," and is ranked 5th for "Best Places to Teach in Maryland.
Harford County Public Schools operates within the same geographic boundaries as Harford County itself.

Schools

Elementary schools

There are thirty-three elementary schools in Harford County. Homestead-Wakefield and Old Post Road Elementary schools are two-building campuses housing primary students in one building and intermediate students in the other building. Homestead-Wakefield Elementary school is in the process of being rebuilt as a single-building campus. Youth's Benefit Elementary school was formerly a two-building campus, but was rebuilt as a single-building campus in 2014.
  • Abingdon Elementary School, Abingdon
  • Bakerfield Elementary School, Aberdeen
  • Bel Air Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Church Creek Elementary School, Belcamp
  • Churchville Elementary School, Churchville
  • Darlington Elementary School, Darlington
  • Deerfield Elementary School, Edgewood
  • Dublin Elementary School, Street
  • Edgewood Elementary School, Edgewood
  • Emmorton Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Forest Hill Elementary School, Forest Hill
  • Forest Lakes Elementary School, Forest Hill
  • Fountain Green Elementary School, Bel Air
  • George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale, Aberdeen
  • Hall's Cross Roads Elementary School, Aberdeen
  • Havre de Grace Elementary School, Havre de Grace
  • Hickory Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Homestead/Wakefield Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Jarrettsville Elementary School, Jarrettsville
  • Joppatowne Elementary School, Joppa
  • Magnolia Elementary School, Joppa
  • Meadowvale Elementary School, Havre de Grace
  • Norrisville Elementary School, White Hall
  • North Bend Elementary School, Jarrettsville
  • North Harford Elementary School, Pylesville
  • Old Post Road Elementary School, Abingdon
  • Prospect Mill Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Red Pump Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Ring Factory Elementary School, Bel Air
  • Riverside Elementary School, Joppa
  • Roye-Williams Elementary School, Havre de Grace
  • William S. James Elementary School, Abingdon
  • Youth's Benefit Elementary School, Fallston

    Middle schools

There are 9 middle schools in Harford County:
  • Aberdeen Middle School, Aberdeen
  • Bel Air Middle School, Bel Air
  • Edgewood Middle School, Edgewood
  • Fallston Middle School, Fallston
  • Havre de Grace Middle School, Havre de Grace
  • Magnolia Middle School, Joppa
  • North Harford Middle School, Pylesville
  • Patterson Mill Middle/High School, Bel Air
  • Southampton Middle School, Bel Air

    High schools

There are currently ten high schools in Harford County, including one technical high school.
  • Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen
  • Bel Air High School, Bel Air
  • C. Milton Wright High School, Bel Air
  • Edgewood High School, Edgewood
  • Fallston High School, Fallston
  • Harford Technical High School, Bel Air
  • Havre de Grace High School, Havre de Grace
  • Joppatowne High School, Joppatowne
  • North Harford High School, Pylesville
  • Patterson Mill Middle/High School, Bel Air
High School Advanced Placement Scores 2015
High SchoolHigh School EnrollmentAP ExamsAP Exams 3+AP Exams 3+ %
Aberdeen144465848874.2%
Bel Air166855031857.8%
C. Milton Wright142556443076.2%
Edgewood13181896532.80%
Fallston107658936061.1%
Harford Tech10222309039.0%
Havre de Grace5812458534.7%
Joppatowne6961394129.5%
North Harford129740227067.2%
Patterson Mill87131420364.6%

Magnet programs

Three HCPS high schools also have or are preparing for magnet programs. Although the Science and Mathematics Academy is a separate institution, it is hosted by and shares some facilities with Aberdeen High School, and Harford Technical High School is in itself a magnet school for academic and technical programs. Edgewood High School is in the beginning stages of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, in which the school will offer college-preparatory courses for its students, who will graduate with an internationally recognized high school diploma..
  • Harford Technical High School:
  • *Nursing
  • *Sports Medicine
  • *Printing & Graphic Communications
  • *Automotive
  • *Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
  • *Cyber Security
  • *Computer-Aided Machinery
  • *Computer-Aided Design
  • *Electrical
  • *Horticulture
  • *Carpentry
  • *Culinary
  • *Welding
  • *Cosmetology
  • *Teacher Academy of Maryland
  • Joppatowne High School:
  • *Pathways in Technology Early College High School
  • *Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps
  • Aberdeen High School |Aberdeen High School
  • *Science and Math Academy
  • Havre de Grace High School
  • *Information Technology Oracle Academy
  • North Harford High School
  • *Large Animal Science
  • *Small Animal Science
  • *Plant Science
  • *Natural Resource Science
  • Edgewood High School
  • *International Baccalaureate
  • *Teacher Academy of Maryland

    Mascots

The school mascots are:
  • Aberdeen Eagles
  • Bel Air Bobcats
  • C. Milton Wright Mustangs
  • Edgewood Rams
  • Fallston Cougars
  • Harford Technical Cobras
  • Havre de Grace Warriors
  • Joppatowne Mariners
  • North Harford Hawks
  • Patterson Mill Huskies
  • Magnolia Vikings

    Alternative/charter schools

  • Harford Academy, Bel Air, grades K–12
  • Swan Creek School, Aberdeen, grades K–12

    School feeder systems

The images below outline the elementary and middle schools that feed students into each high school. Harford Technical is fed by students from each school, as entry is by application. The feeder system is not all-inclusive, due to magnet programs at Aberdeen, Edgewood, and Joppatowne.

Demographics

The district educates approximately 39,000 students, with a breakdown across elementary, middle, and high schools. Around 21,000 students are enrolled in elementary schools, 8,500 in middle schools, and 10,500 in high schools.
There is a total enrollment of 6,396 in AP courses, 1,737 students enrolled in a magnet program, and 856 students are dual enrolled. The graduation rate is about 89%.
The majority of students are White, followed by Black or African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, and smaller groups of Asian and Mixed Race students. A small percentage of students belong to other ethnicities. About 51% of students are male and 49% female.
HCPS also serves a significant number of English Language Learners, with about 5% of students receiving language support. Additionally, about 14% of students are enrolled in special education programs, and the district provides a variety of services to support students with disabilities. Around 39% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
As for the teachers, the district has a diverse staff, though like many school systems, the majority of teachers are White. There are also Black, Hispanic, and Asian teachers. Many of HCPS's teachers are highly experienced, with about 45-50% having 10 or more years of teaching experience.

Teacher of the Year

The Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award is an annual recognition honoring excellence in teaching within the HCPS district. The award celebrates educators who demonstrate outstanding dedication to student learning, innovation in the classroom, and leadership within the school community.
Teachers are nominated by peers, administrators, students, and families. Finalists are selected through an application and interview process conducted by a panel of educators and community members. The winner is formally announced each spring and honored at an annual banquet.
The recipient of the HCPS Teacher of the Year award becomes the county’s official nominee for the Maryland State Teacher of the Year competition, organized by the Maryland State Department of Education.

List of winners

  • 2025: Shelby Hultquist, Havre de Grace Elementary School
  • 2024: Erica Richardson, Joppatowne High School
  • 2023: Michael Brogley, C. Milton Wright High School
  • 2022: Ashley Gereli, Churchville Elementary School
  • 2021: Lauren Byrd, Hickory Elementary School
  • 2020: Elizabeth White, Harford Technical High School
  • 2019: Paige Milanoski, Havre de Grace High School
  • 2018: Paula Stanton, Bel Air High School
  • 2017: Amy Mangold, John Archer School
  • 2016: Sharalyn Heinly, North Harford Middle School
  • 2015: Laura Potter, C. Milton Wright High School
  • 2014: Lawrence M. Jehnert, Edgewood Elementary School
  • 2013: Kristin M. Schaub, Havre de Grace Elementary School
  • 2012: Christina D. O'Neill, Bel Air Middle School
  • 2011: Christian S. Slattery, Sr., Hall's Cross Roads Elementary
  • 2010: Lisa C. Mullen, North Harford Middle School
  • 2009: Kimberly Schmidt, Havre de Grace High School
  • 2008: Ronald Wooden, George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale
  • 2007: Christine Roland, Edgewood High School
  • 2006: Susan Healy, North Bend Elementary School
  • 2005: Lorna "Lori" Frendak, North Harford Middle School
  • 2004: Joan M. Hayden, Bel Air High School
  • 2003: Donna M. Clem, Aberdeen High School
  • 2002: Howard E. Eakes, Fountain Green Elementary School
  • 2001: Alberta C. Porter, Riverside Elementary School
  • 2000: Donna M. Zavacky, Ring Factory Elementary School
  • 1999: Craig S. Harvey, Fallston High School
  • 1998: Kurt W. Bittle, Bel Air High School
  • 1997: James L. Mason, North Harford High School
  • 1996: Cathy G. Cerveny, Ring Factory Elementary School
  • 1995: J. Patrick Whitehurst, Bel Air High School
  • 1994: Marybeth Ford, Bel Air High School
  • 1993: Victor Petrosino, C. Milton Wright High School
  • 1992: Martha "Marty" Banghart, North Harford High School
  • 1991: Gemma Hoskins, Magnolia Middle School
  • 1990: Donald R. Osman, Havre de Grace High School
  • 1989: Anthony F. Sarcone, Fallston High School
  • 1988: Robert Handy, Bel Air High School
  • 1987: Paul S. Schatz, Edgewood Elementary School
  • 1977: Laurie K. Neeper, John Archer School