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Patterson Mill High School

Q: Is Patterson Mill High School a good school?

Patterson Mill High School ranks 75 th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

75^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 67% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Patterson Mill High School is a mid-sized high school in Bel Air, MD, serving 839 students in grades 9-12 within the Harford County Public Schools district, and it stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) performance and high student engagement, though it faces a significant challenge in mathematics.

Patterson Mill is a top-tier school for English, with 68.2% of students proficient in ELA, well above the district (61.1%) and state (51.7%) averages. This strength is matched by a low chronic absenteeism rate of 14.0%, the second-lowest among nearby schools, and a strong graduation rate of 94.9%. However, the school has a critical weakness in math, with only 12.1% of students proficient—the lowest rate among all standard high schools in the area, including Bel Air High (20%) and Fallston High. This math deficit is most pronounced in Geometry, where the school recorded a 0% proficiency rate. Despite spending $18,348 per student—the highest among standard high schools in the comparison group—Patterson Mill's math outcomes lag behind, suggesting a need for targeted resource allocation.

Compared to nearby schools, Patterson Mill offers a unique profile. While Harford Technical High, a magnet school just 4 miles away, outperforms in nearly every metric, Patterson Mill excels in fostering student attendance and engagement. Its ranking history shows resilience, rebounding from a drop to the 39th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 67th percentile in 2025-2026. For parents, this school offers a strong community and excellent ELA instruction, but the math weakness is a key consideration that the school has the resources and student buy-in to address.

839

Students ?

17.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,348

Per pupil spending ?

23.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

85 Patterson Mill Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015

(410) 638-4640

District: Harford County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Patterson Mill High School:

Elementary:	Ring Factory Elementary
Middle:	Patterson Mill Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.8%

Hispanic:

9.4%

African American:

8.2%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Patterson Mill High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2015 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate within 4 years

✓Above the Maryland median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (32% vs 38% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 28 percentile points since 2015

!Geometry scores 44 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg41%

Maryland avg38%

75^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From top 24% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 11High Schools in the Harford County Public Schools

11^th of 25Harford County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	48.7	75 of 227	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.6	52 of 220	76.4%	★★★★☆
2024	39.8	89 of 146	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.0	28 of 127	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	41.1	108 of 225	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.7	31 of 138	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	56.5	61 of 197	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	68.1	33 of 180	81.7%	★★★★☆
2016	67.4	57 of 233	75.5%	★★★★☆
2015	80.2	12 of 233	94.8%	★★★★★
2014	80.1	34 of 231	85.3%	★★★★☆
2013	77.1	36 of 185	80.5%	★★★★☆
2012	78.9	33 of 187	82.4%	★★★★☆
2011	78.5	32 of 183	82.5%	★★★★☆
2010	79.0	37 of 220	83.2%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts68%+16 vs state

Algebra II42%+15 vs state

Mathematics12%-15 vs state

Algebra I7%-14 vs state

Geometry0%-44 vs state

1.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a student
Sunday, December 19, 2021

Pathetic, mismanaged place, cramming 2 schools into barely enough space for one, and proceeding to fill it with largely incompetent instructors and bumbling administration (with a few exceptions) Close Quote

Schools Near Patterson Mill High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)				MCAP English Language Arts (2026)					MCAP Algebra I (2026)	MCAP Algebra II (2026)	MCAP Geometry (2026)	MCAP Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Patterson Mill High School	Public	9-12	85 Patterson Mill Rd	Bel Air	21015	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4640	839	49	17.0	23.7%	569 (67.8%)	69 (8.2%)	79 (9.4%)	57 (6.8%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	60 (7.2%)	48.7	75^th of 227 public high schools	67.0%		54.6	52^nd of 220 public high schools	76.4%	23				12.1				68.2	68.2	7.3	42.1	0.0		$18,348	$1,384	$16,964
Bel Air High	Public	9-12	100 Heighe St	Bel Air	21014	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4600	1,341	87	15.5	22.7%	897 (66.9%)	151 (11.3%)	129 (9.6%)	103 (7.7%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (4.1%)	53	62^nd of 227 public high schools	72.7%		54.2	54^th of 220 public high schools	75.5%	8				20.0				78.2	78.2	16.6	52.7	0.0		$16,287	$1,327	$14,960
C. Milton Wright High	Public	9-12	1301 N Fountain Green Rd	Bel Air	21015	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4110	1,291	80	16.2	25.3%	975 (75.5%)	99 (7.7%)	81 (6.3%)	63 (4.9%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	66 (5.1%)	50.3	69^th of 227 public high schools	69.6%		47.6	81^st of 220 public high schools	63.2%	12				16.1				78.2	78.2	13.7	38.9	6.8		$16,355	$1,151	$15,204
Harford Technical High	Public, Magnet	9-12	200 Thomas Run Rd	Bel Air	21015	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 638-3804	954	58	16.4	20.9%	676 (70.9%)	136 (14.3%)	63 (6.6%)	25 (2.6%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (4.9%)	56.1	56^th of 227 public high schools	75.3%		56	47^th of 220 public high schools	78.6%	9				21.5				85.0	85.0	21.8	32.2	11.8		$16,393	$1,071	$15,322
Fallston High	Public	9-12	2301 Carrs Mill Rd	Fallston	21047	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4120	1,036	62	16.8	15.4%	850 (82.0%)	60 (5.8%)	46 (4.4%)	29 (2.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (4.5%)	51	67^th of 227 public high schools	70.5%		54.7	50^th of 220 public high schools	77.3%	17				10.4				75.9	75.9	3.6	34.1	9.1		$16,666	$1,304	$15,362
Edgewood High	Public, Magnet	9-12	2415 Willoughby Beach Rd	Edgewood	21040	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 612-1500	1,440	96	15.0	59.4%	375 (26.0%)	673 (46.7%)	235 (16.3%)	39 (2.7%)	7 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	110 (7.6%)	31.6	139^th of 227 public high schools	38.8%		34.6	124^th of 220 public high schools	43.6%	15				10.9				51.8	51.8	11.9	10.4	0.0		$16,600	$1,544	$15,055
Joppatowne High	Public, Magnet	9-12	555 Joppa Farm Rd	Joppa	21085	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 612-1510	882	56	15.8	65.5%	198 (22.4%)	459 (52.0%)	122 (13.8%)	21 (2.4%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.6%)	76 (8.6%)	19.2	176^th of 227 public high schools	22.5%		18.8	175^th of 220 public high schools	20.5%	1				3.4				40.1	40.1	3.5	8.7	0.0		$17,351	$1,941	$15,410
Aberdeen High	Public, Magnet	9-12	251 Paradise Rd	Aberdeen	21001	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 273-5500	1,396	99	14.1	51.6%	404 (28.9%)	575 (41.2%)	210 (15.0%)	65 (4.7%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	135 (9.7%)	31.2	140^th of 227 public high schools	38.3%		36.9	118^th of 220 public high schools	46.4%	22				12.5				50.0	50.0	7.3	63.5	4.5		$16,192	$1,452	$14,741
Center for Educational Opportunity	Public, Virtual	6-12	253 Paradise Rd	Aberdeen	21001	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(410) 273-5594	122	19	6.5	66.4%	52 (42.6%)	39 (32.0%)	15 (12.3%)	2 (1.6%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (10.7%)	26.5	153^rd of 227 public high schools	32.6%		15.4	194^th of 220 public high schools	11.8%	41	0.0	8.7	0.0	2.0	24.0	56.7	20.0	51.3	37.4	1.9			9.8
Perry Hall High	Public	9-12	4601 Ebenezer Rd	Baltimore	21236	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 809-5108	2,012	118	17.0	46.4%	716 (35.6%)	768 (38.2%)	129 (6.4%)	290 (14.4%)	8 (0.4%)	5 (0.2%)	96 (4.8%)	28.3	149^th of 227 public high schools	34.4%		28.9	140^th of 220 public high schools	36.4%	9				6.5				50.8	50.8	6.1	11.3	5.3		$16,693	$1,185	$15,508

Frequently Asked Questions about Patterson Mill High School

What schools feed into Patterson Mill High School?

Patterson Mill High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ring Factory Elementary
Middle : Patterson Mill Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Patterson Mill High School?

Students at Patterson Mill High School are 68% White, 9% Hispanic, 8% African American, 7% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

Is Patterson Mill High School a good school?

Patterson Mill High School ranks 75^th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Patterson Mill High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 839 students attended Patterson Mill High School.

What district is Patterson Mill High School in?

Harford County Public Schools

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.