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Downtown Hagerstown on Franklin StreetPhoto: Charlotte Jackson · CC BY 4.0
B
Schools in Hagerstown · Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown’s public schools outscore 64% of Maryland districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Hagerstown, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Hagerstown, 28% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Maryland average (25%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maryland, not nationally.

#93of 261 Maryland townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
49%
▲ 4 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▲ 3 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 5 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.5K
▼ 14% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.1
MD 14.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
18
9,437 students on the public path
In brief

Hagerstown’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 70 Maryland towns with household incomes within a quarter of Hagerstown’s, its schools beat 79%, higher than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 28% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,516 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Six elementary schools, then three middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Mary Catholic School (private), Hagerstown Childrens School (private), Truth Christian Academy (private) and MD Intl School of Sustainability & Technology (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Hagerstown’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 64% of Maryland school districts, #93 of 261 Maryland towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Maryland average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (70)Better than 79%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 10,861 test results and a graduating class of 1,687 could put Hagerstown anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Hagerstown’s students in the tested grades sat them (10,827 in math, 10,895 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hagerstown, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–56 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to A−
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+

Hagerstown’s public schools are run by Washington County Public Schools, which also serves Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Funkstown and Hancock and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Washington County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 42 schools · 22,772 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$17,516MD $20,258 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 45.1% · 10895 students tested
Math28%
State average 24.6% · 10827 students tested

Hagerstown vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share Hagerstown’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HagerstownBWashington County
Funkstown—Washington County

Every school in Hagerstown

18 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maryland’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Hagerstownby address
Pangborn Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
749 students13:1Rate it →
Salem Avenue Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
713 students14:1Rate it →
Jonathan Hager Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
498 students15:1Rate it →
Bester Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
490 students11:1Rate it →
Fountaindale Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
413 students15:1Rate it →
Emma K. Doub Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
389 students18:1Rate it →
Western Heights Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
883 students12:1Rate it →
E. Russell Hicks Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
841 students14:1Rate it →
Northern Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
841 students14:1Rate it →
South Hagerstown High
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,690 students18:1Rate it →
North Hagerstown High
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,583 students19:1Rate it →
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
High · Grades 9–12
A+
347 students14:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Marshall Street School
Grades PK–12
C−
Special Education
47 students4:1Rate it →
Washington County Job Development Center
High · Grades 12
A+
Special Education
38 students6:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Mary Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
187 students10:1Rate it →
Hagerstown Childrens School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
120 studentsRate it →
Truth Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
95 students10:1Rate it →
MD Intl School of Sustainability & Technology
High · Grades PK–11
Private · Nonsectarian
8 students3:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Evening High School).

Questions about Hagerstown’s schools

Are Hagerstown’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Maryland: the public schools Hagerstown children attend outscore 64% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #93 of 261 Maryland towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 79%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Hagerstown in?

Washington County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 22,772 students in 42 schools (2024–25).

Where do Hagerstown kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: South Hagerstown High, North Hagerstown High and Barbara Ingram School for the Arts.

What is Hagerstown’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Washington County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does Hagerstown spend per student?

$17,516 in Washington County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Hagerstown?

Yes: St. Mary Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 187 students), Hagerstown Childrens School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 120 students), Truth Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 95 students) and MD Intl School of Sustainability & Technology (nonsectarian, grades PK–11, 8 students).

Parents talk

What Hagerstown families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hagerstown → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maryland. Stars are from neighbors.