Summary:
Zip code 20776, located in Harwood, Maryland, is home to a single high school, Southern High, which serves grades 9 through 12 and is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district.
Southern High presents a fascinating academic paradox. The school is a standout performer in English Language Arts (ELA), with 64.5% of students proficient in the 2025-2026 school year, significantly outpacing both the district (55.9%) and state (51.7%) averages. However, it faces a critical challenge in mathematics, where only 5.2% of students achieved proficiency—a stark contrast to the district (29.3%) and state (27.1%) rates. This extreme disparity suggests uneven instructional strengths or student aptitude. Despite these low math scores, the school maintains a strong graduation rate of 92.6% and a low dropout rate of 3.2%, both better than district averages. The school's state ranking has declined from 45th to 95th over recent years, though its percentile rank has remained relatively stable.
Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern, with a rate of 25.5% that is higher than the district average of 19.9%, which could be a factor in the school's math struggles. With a per-student spending of $19,270, the school appears well-funded, making the contrast between high ELA and low math performance even more puzzling. The school serves a student body where 41.48% qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic disadvantage. For parents, Southern High offers a strong language arts education and a high graduation rate, but the severe math proficiency gap is a critical area to investigate further.
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