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 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 (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 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. [3]
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.[4] 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.
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. .[8]
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
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.
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.
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)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
