11 Harford Co. Public High Schools Make U.S. News 2024 ?Best? Ranking

HARFORD COUNTY, MD ? Dozens of public high schools in Maryland and several public high schools in Harford County are among the best in the country, according to a new ranking released Tuesday from U.S. News & World Report.

In the 2024 Best High Schools list, Maryland ranks fourth among U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Among the 210 ranked schools in Maryland, 16 are in the top 5 percent nationally, 82 were in the top 25 percent.

Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda was the highest ranked Maryland public school in the nation, placing No. 147 on the national list.

Here are the Harford County public schools on the list that includes traditional, charter and magnet schools:

• Harford Technical High School, Bel Air, Harford County Public Schools, #1 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #54 in Maryland Rankings
• Fallston High School, Fallston, Harford County Public Schools, #2 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #65 in Maryland Rankings
• Patterson Mill High School, Bel Air, Harford County Public Schools, #3 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #70 in Maryland Rankings
• Bel Air High School, Bel Air, Harford County Public Schools, #4 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #89 in Maryland Rankings
• C. Milton Wright High School, Bel Air, Harford County Public Schools, #5 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #90 in Maryland Rankings
• Havre De Grace High School, Havre De Grace, Harford County Public Schools, #6 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #96 in Maryland Rankings
• North Harford High School, Pylesville, Harford County Public Schools, #7 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #97 in Maryland Rankings
• Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen, Harford County Public Schools, #8 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #154 in Maryland Rankings
• Edgewood High School, Edgewood, Harford County Public Schools, #9 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #158 in Maryland Rankings
• Joppatowne High School, Joppa, Harford County Public Schools, #10 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #162 in Maryland Rankings
• Swan Creek School, Aberdeen, Harford County Public Schools, #11 in Harford County Public Schools Rankings, #177-210 in Maryland Rankings

State-by-state performance is based solely on which states have the largest proportion of schools in the top 25 percent. Massachusetts once again leads in the ranking, followed by Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida, respectively.

The top high schools have students who score exceptionally high on math, reading and science assessments, as well strong performance among under-served students. High school graduation rates and college readiness among graduates are also measured.