The interest form was to gauge interest for planning purposes. HCPSS wants to provide all families the opportunity to complete the priority enrollment form by the May 5, 2021 deadline. If you answered “no” on the interest form, you do not need to complete any additional steps to continue your child’s enrollment at their designated home school for the 2021-2022 school year.

The Superintendent and Board of Education members have stressed that they consider the return to normalized, five-day, in-person learning this fall to be essential for the majority of HCPSS students, however, an official decision on the 2021-2022 academic year has not yet been made.

The Digital Education Center does not begin until the 2021-2022 school year. It has no bearing on the current 2020-2021 school year. 

Yes. Teachers will provide extensions and enrichment options where possible. Additionally, some GT course offerings will be available for middle and high school students. Details on sample course lists is forthcoming.

HCPSS is committed to providing an educational and work environment that is free from discrimination, fosters equitable opportunities, and values diversity and commonality. 

Please visit our LGTBQIA+ Youth webpage.

In collaboration with the County Executive’s office, the Howard County Health Department, and Merriweather Post Pavilion, several measures have been implemented to allow commencement events to be held on site while maintaining COVID-safe practices. At this point, and in consultation with the Health Department, each graduating senior’s family will initially be provided two guest tickets for lawn seating.

The last day for seniors will be Friday, May 28, with the first graduation ceremony occurring that afternoon.

Schools will communicate specific details around senior last day and related information.

All ceremonies are scheduled to take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, with the exception of Cedar Lane School, which will be held at that school.

The schedule of graduation ceremonies is as follows:

HCPSS is required to maintain a mandatory permanent pupil record (“official record”) that includes a student’s legal name and legal gender. According to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the only official school records are Student Records Cards (1-7), transcripts and diplomas. On all documents and records other than those listed in the previous sentence, HCPSS shall use the name and gender preferred by the student with a process for masking.

High school interscholastic athletics are managed by the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association (MPSSAA) as part of the Maryland State Board of Education. The MPSSAA has determined that: