Harford County Public Schools, MD

Original Research by School Decision on Harford County Public Schools

Harford County Public Schools is the sole district in Harford County, Maryland, serving all of its public school students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates more than fifty schools, spread across a county that includes towns such as Bel Air, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Edgewood, Fallston, and Forest Hill, each with its own housing market and community character. The district’s enrollment is large, with a student population that is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Black students and a smaller share of Hispanic and Asian students. The district also includes townhomes, apartments, and neighborhoods in communities like Aberdeen and Edgewood that offer lower housing costs compared to the county average, as well as more rural and affluent areas like Monkton and Fallston, where home values are notably higher.

On state assessments, the district’s performance is mixed. In English language arts, the majority of students in tested grades scored at or above the proficient level. In mathematics, science, and social studies, proficiency rates were lower, falling well below half of students tested. A parent interested in how their child’s specific school performs within these subjects may want to look at individual school results, since the districtwide numbers can mask significant variation between schools.

A notable strength of the district is the breadth of its high school offerings. It operates comprehensive high schools across the county, including Aberdeen High, Bel Air High, Edgewood High, Fallston High, Havre de Grace High, Joppatowne High, North Harford High, Patterson Mill High, and C. Milton Wright High, as well as Harford Technical High, which provides a career and technical education pathway. The district also runs alternative and special-education programs, including the Center for Educational Opportunity, Harford Academy at Campus Hills, and Swan Creek School, which serve students who need a different setting than the traditional school environment. The district has no magnet schools or charter schools.

Information on program offerings, such as Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment, or career and technical education pathways, was not available in the data. Similarly, data on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner enrollment were not available, so it is not possible to describe the district’s economic diversity or the share of students receiving additional support.

In terms of recent changes, a parent-relevant capital improvement is underway at Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School in Bel Air, which is being rebuilt as a single-building campus, consolidating from a two-building setup. This affects school assignment and campus experience for families in that area. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the state-mandated Keep Students In Class law brought changes to attendance and behavioral expectations, which shifts how absences and disciplinary actions are handled across all Maryland districts, including Harford County. The district does not hold bond referendums, so no such items are on the ballot.

The county’s housing market reflects a wide range. Home values are highest in the northern and western parts of the county, in areas like Monkton, Fallston, and Baldwin, while the southern communities such as Edgewood, Joppa, and Aberdeen have more affordable home prices. Rental rates follow a similar pattern, with the most expensive rents in Bel Air and Abingdon, and more affordable options in Havre de Grace and Edgewood. The county’s housing costs are above the national median, and the price-to-income ratio is elevated, meaning buying a home requires a higher multiple of household income than the national average. Rents are relatively more affordable, with the estimated rent-to-income share below a typical threshold.

Overall, this is a large, comprehensive district covering a wide socioeconomic and geographic range, with strong high school options and a performance picture that varies by subject and likely by school. Families moving to the county should expect variation in both school experience and housing affordability depending on which town or neighborhood they choose.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

38,105

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 9%

Black 21%

White 58%

Asian 3%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

43%

71%

Gr 4

40%

68%

Gr 5

38%

69%

Gr 6

41%

75%

Gr 7

44%

73%

Gr 8

35%

62%

Gr 38

40%

70%

Math

Gr 3

30%

62%

Gr 4

22%

50%

Gr 5

20%

46%

Gr 6

11%

35%

Gr 7

19%

Gr 8

Gr 38

17%

41%

Science

Gr 5

15%

40%

Gr 8

19%

42%

Gr 38

17%

41%

Social studies

Gr 8

24%

51%

Schools in this District

55 schools are officially reported under this district.

Abingdon Elementary

Fountain Green Elementary

Church Creek Elementary

Center for Educational Opportunity

Emmorton Elementary

Aberdeen Middle

Aberdeen High

Bakerfield Elementary

Bel Air Elementary

Southampton Middle

Bel Air High

Churchville Elementary

Darlington Elementary

Forest Lakes Elementary

Halls Cross Roads Elementary

Harford Technical High

Havre de Grace Elementary

Havre de Grace Middle

Havre de Grace High

Hickory Elementary

G. Lisby Elementary at Hillsdale

Homestead/Wakefield Elementary

Jarrettsville Elementary

Harford Academy at Campus Hills

Joppatowne Elementary

Joppatowne High

Magnolia Elementary

Meadowvale Elementary

Norrisville Elementary

North Harford Middle

North Harford High

Roye-Williams Elementary

Prospect Mill Elementary

Riverside Elementary

William S. James Elementary

Old Post Road Elementary

Youths Benefit Elementary

Magnolia Middle

C. Milton Wright High

Bel Air Middle

North Harford Elementary

Patterson Mill High School

Patterson Mill Middle School

Red Pump Elementary School

Swan Creek School

Forest Hill Elementary

Ring Factory Elementary

Fallston Middle School

North Bend Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

32%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

60%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

33%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

43%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$481,936

Year-over-year change+2.1%

Range across 21 ZIP codes$266K to $722K

vs. state typical1.12x

vs. national typical1.31x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (21 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
21154	Street	$542K	+4.0%	9.4%
21015	Bel Air	$486K	+0.8%	7.4%
21078	Havre de Grace	$406K	-0.0%	7.2%
21001	Aberdeen	$347K	-0.1%	7.1%
21050	Forest Hill	$506K	+1.3%	6.9%
21034	Darlington	$446K	+3.7%	6.3%
21161	Whitehall	$559K	+2.8%	6.2%
21084	Jarrettsville	$553K	+3.5%	5.7%
21047	Fallston	$574K	+2.8%	5.4%
21132	Pylesville	$549K	+2.3%	5.3%

Showing top 10 of 21 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,893/mo

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$1,527 to $2,262/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
21015	Bel Air	$2,262	+1.1%	7.4%
21078	Havre de Grace	$1,527	—	7.2%
21001	Aberdeen	$1,892	+0.1%	7.1%
21050	Forest Hill	$1,883	—	6.9%
21085	Joppa	$1,912	—	4.3%
21014	Bel Air	$1,762	+3.4%	3.3%
21009	Abingdon	$2,171	+7.6%	2.7%
21040	Edgewood	$1,729	+4.5%	2.3%
21017	Belcamp	$1,792	—	0.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,432/mo

Home price / national median income5.8x

Annual rent / national median income27.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$539/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$431,934 (+0.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.