Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is the public school district serving all of Harford County, Maryland. As the eighth-largest school system in the state, HCPS educates approximately 38,000 students across 55 schools, supported by 5,645 dedicated employees and 2,142 classrooms.

HCPS is led by Superintendent Dyann R. Mack, who has served in the role since 2026. HCPS is managed by the Board of Education (BOE) 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 Lauren Paige, President, and Wade A. Sewell 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. - Text list

Schools Elementary schools There are thirty-three (pre K–5th) elementary schools in Harford County. Homestead-Wakefield and Old Post Road Elementary schools are two-building campuses housing primary students (Kindergarten-2nd Grade) in one building and intermediate students (3rd Grade-5th Grade) 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 (grade 6–8) 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 and High School, Bel Air Southampton Middle School, Bel Air

High schools There are currently ten (grades 9–12) 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 and High School, Bel Air High School Advanced Placement Scores 2015 High School High School Enrollment AP Exams AP Exams 3+ AP Exams 3+ % Aberdeen 1444 658 488 74.2% Bel Air 1668 550 318 57.8% C. Milton Wright 1425 564 430 76.2% Edgewood 1318 189 65 32.80% Fallston 1076 589 360 61.1% Harford Tech 1022 230 90 39.0% Havre de Grace 581 245 85 34.7% Joppatowne 696 139 41 29.5% North Harford 1297 402 270 67.2% Patterson Mill 871 314 203 64.6%

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 (HVAC) Cyber Security Computer-Aided Machinery (CAM) Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Electrical Horticulture Carpentry Culinary Welding Cosmetology Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) Joppatowne High School: Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Aberdeen High School (Maryland)|Aberdeen High School Science and Math Academy (SMA) Havre de Grace High School Information Technology Oracle Academy (ITOA) North Harford High School Large Animal Science Small Animal Science Plant Science Natural Resource Science Edgewood High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM)

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 (~59%), followed by Black or African American students (~21%), Hispanic or Latino students (~9%), and smaller groups of Asian (~3%) and Mixed Race students (~7%). A small percentage of students (~1%) belong to other ethnicities. About 51% of students are male and 49% female.

HCPS also serves a significant number of English Language Learners (ELL), 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 (around 70%). There are also Black (15%), Hispanic (10%), and Asian (5%) 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 (MSDE).

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

See also Harford Glen Environmental Education Center Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center

References

External links Official website Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference