Howard County Public High Schools

[Anonymous]

Hi all! I’ve seen the USNWR rankings and have read Niche/Great School ratings, but I’m hoping to get more details on which Howard County public high schools are good and why. Academics are important, but I also want my kids to attend a school with a diverse student body and staff and a friendly/supportive school community. Thank you for your feedback!

https://www.hcpss.org/schools/#direct

[Anonymous]

Follow up question…are Wilde Lake and Long Reach as bad as their ratings indicate? Why or why not? Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

I have only heard positive things about Wilde Lake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

very helpful feedback, thank you! I only mentioned Wilde Lake and Long Reach because there have been a few houses we liked on Zillow that were zoned for those schools and when I looked at their ratings, they were low. Good to hear your positive take on both schools!

I also appreciate your comments about River Hill and Glenelg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

I have only heard positive things about Wilde Lake.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

I have only heard positive things about Wilde Lake.

+ 1- Wilde Lake is beautiful and the principal is amazing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

I have only heard positive things about Wilde Lake.

+ 1- Wilde Lake is beautiful and the principal is amazing!

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

OP- If you are interested in a home in a specific school district, you may want contact the school to see if you can tour or the PTA president at the school to see if the public school meets your requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- If you are interested in a home in a specific school district, you may want contact the school to see if you can tour or the PTA president at the school to see if the public school meets your requirements.

Great suggestion! Once we narrow down our options, we will look into this for sure.

[Anonymous]

A word of warning, HCPSS redistricts often. Happens every five to seven years or so. You don’t sound too picky about your school, but be mentally prepared that it may happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to River Hill. It is rated high because it pulls from a very wealthy demographic. There are very few, if any lower income students. The student body and families make it very competitive and "extra." It can be a tough and stressful environment. It can also hurt with college admissions. Many students from one school are competing for T20 colleges. Funny that you mention Wilde Lake/Long Reach as "bad" schools. I tend to think of them as a great diverse school with a good mix of low income, middle class and upper-class students. I personally as a mixed raced family would not be comfortable sending my kids to glenelg. There have been several well publicized racial issues.

+1
Biracial Howard County resident here. I agree with everything that you said especially the bolded sentence. Glenelg is definitely a school that I will not feel comfortable sending my children to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A word of warning, HCPSS redistricts often. Happens every five to seven years or so. You don’t sound too picky about your school, but be mentally prepared that it may happen.

thank you for the reminder! I have heard about that. Great reminder that we shouldn’t pick a house solely based on the high school the house is currently zoned for.

Is it possible that the high school we’re zoned for could be across town from us or do they at least try to keep it within a “reasonable” distance for commuting purposes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A word of warning, HCPSS redistricts often. Happens every five to seven years or so. You don’t sound too picky about your school, but be mentally prepared that it may happen.

thank you for the reminder! I have heard about that. Great reminder that we shouldn’t pick a house solely based on the high school the house is currently zoned for.

Is it possible that the high school we’re zoned for could be across town from us or do they at least try to keep it within a “reasonable” distance for commuting purposes?

It’s really hard to answer this question because people will always complain it’s a “bad commute” if the proposed redistricting puts them into a “bad” HS. But people will endure the same commute if they are heading to a “good” high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A word of warning, HCPSS redistricts often. Happens every five to seven years or so. You don’t sound too picky about your school, but be mentally prepared that it may happen.

thank you for the reminder! I have heard about that. Great reminder that we shouldn’t pick a house solely based on the high school the house is currently zoned for.

Is it possible that the high school we’re zoned for could be across town from us or do they at least try to keep it within a “reasonable” distance for commuting purposes?

It’s really hard to answer this question because people will always complain it’s a “bad commute” if the proposed redistricting puts them into a “bad” HS. But people will endure the same commute if they are heading to a “good” high school.

good point!