- Youths Benefit Elementary — Grades K–5 · 1,151 students
- Homestead/Wakefield Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 1,071 students
- Old Post Road Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 850 students
- Church Creek Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 732 students
- Deerfield Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 708 students
- Red Pump Elementary School — Grades K–5 · 696 students
- Abingdon Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 641 students
- Hickory Elementary — Grades K–5 · 635 students
- Havre de Grace Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 593 students
- Emmorton Elementary — Grades K–5 · 584 students
- Prospect Mill Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 579 students
- Meadowvale Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 552 students
- Magnolia Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 545 students
- Ring Factory Elementary — Grades K–5 · 541 students
- G. Lisby Elementary at Hillsdale — Grades PK–5 · 528 students
- Bel Air Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 521 students
- Joppatowne Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 495 students
- Riverside Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 481 students
- Jarrettsville Elementary — Grades K–5 · 467 students
- North Bend Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 467 students
- William S. James Elementary — Grades K–5 · 463 students
- Bakerfield Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 460 students
- Forest Hill Elementary — Grades K–5 · 451 students
- Forest Lakes Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 447 students
- Roye-Williams Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 444 students
- + 8 more elementary schools
- Southampton Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,192 students
- Bel Air Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,080 students
- Aberdeen Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,071 students
- Fallston Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,068 students
- Edgewood Middle — Grades 6–8 · 936 students
- North Harford Middle — Grades 6–8 · 849 students
- Patterson Mill Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 716 students
- Magnolia Middle — Grades 6–8 · 689 students
- Havre de Grace Middle — Grades 6–8 · 617 students
- Edgewood High — Grades 9–12 · 1,440 students
- Aberdeen High — Grades 9–12 · 1,396 students
- Bel Air High — Grades 9–12 · 1,341 students
- C. Milton Wright High — Grades 9–12 · 1,291 students
- North Harford High — Grades 9–12 · 1,204 students
- Fallston High — Grades 9–12 · 1,036 students
- Harford Technical High — Grades 9–12 · 954 students
- Joppatowne High — Grades 9–12 · 882 students
- Patterson Mill High School — Grades 9–12 · 839 students
- Havre de Grace High — Grades 9–12 · 822 students
- Swan Creek School — Grades 2–12 · 368 students
- Harford Academy at Campus Hills — Grades 1–12 · 141 students
- Center for Educational Opportunity — Grades 6–12 · 122 students
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| Metric | Harford County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 54 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $17,400/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Harford County Public Schools
If you live in ZIP 21078 — Harford, Maryland — your assigned public schools are operated by Harford County Public Schools. Its 6/10 rating is roughly in line with the Maryland average across the funding and enrollment measures NCES tracks. The district covers Pre-K – 12th. Check the rating breakdown and map above, and confirm your specific school assignment directly with the district — boundaries and open-enrollment rules change year to year.
Funding and Resources
Harford County Public Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $17,400 per year, placing it near the Maryland state average of approximately $16,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With multiple schools, Harford County Public Schools operates as a district of unknown size serving students from Pre-K – 12th. Contact Harford County Public Schools to learn about available programs and services.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
Harford County Public Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 6/10, placing it in the average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Harford County Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 21078
Children in zip code 21078 are assigned to Harford County Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 21078, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Harford County Public Schools at (410)838-7300 or visit www.hcps.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maryland districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Harford
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Harford County Public Schools serves zip code 21078, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 21078 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maryland, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Harford County Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 21078.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Harford County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 21078 data.