Harford County Public Schools’ 2025 four-year graduation rate saw a 0.44 percentage-point increase from the previous year, setting the rate at 92%, the highest for the district since the state moved to the current cohort model in 2011, according to a statement from the school system.

Harford’s rate ranked 10th among Maryland’s 24 public school districts, according to data released Tuesday by the Maryland Department of Education.

Over the past five years, Harford County Schools has seen a slight increase in four-year graduation rates, despite a drop in 2022. In 2024, the district’s rate sat at 91.56%, a slight increase from the year prior, which was 90.83%.

“HCPS is proud of this tremendous progress and remains focused on sustaining momentum so every Harford County student earns a high school diploma,” the school system’s statement said.

This year, the county’s rate is 5.6 percentage points above the state average of 86.4%. In 2024, Harford’s rate was 4.01 percentage points higher than the state average of 87.55%.

The county also saw an increase in graduation rates in four student groups. African American students’ rate increased from 84.15% to 90%; multiracial students’ rate went from 88.61% to 89.20%; economically disadvantaged students’ rate increased from 80.46% to 85.13%; and multilingual learners’ rate increased from 58.14% to 64.77%.

Harford Tech, Bel Air, Fallston, C. Milton Wright and North Harford high schools all experienced graduation rates of greater than or equal to 95%.

Patterson Mill High sat at 94.97%, Havre de Grace High was 93.14%, Aberdeen High was 91.18%, Edgewood High was 88.24% and Joppatowne High was 84.4%.

The Center for Education Opportunity, an alternative school within the district, ranked as the school system’s lowest graduation rate at 42.31%. There was no rate listed for Harford Academy.

2025 marked the first cohort of graduates whose education was uninterrupted by COVID-19, Assistant State Superintendent Timothy Guy said, contributing to a larger number of students in the system. Of 72,702 students in the cohort statewide, 62,842 received a high school diploma in four years.

Although graduating in four years is the expectation, some students may stay an extra year to complete credits. From 2020 to 2022, Harford County saw a decrease in five-year graduation rates from 91.36% to 90.66%. In 2023, that rate increased significantly to 92.23%. Rates continued to increase into 2024 to 93.4%. 2025 five-year graduation rates are not yet available.

Graduation rates factor into the district’s Maryland School Report Card evaluations. The report card determines a school’s success in areas like academic achievement, student and teacher life and MCAP scores, among other factors.

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