6.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Hagerstown, Maryland

34 schools · 17 Elementary · 3 Middle · 7 High · 7 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 22

Private: 12

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 6.5/10

Estimated Scores: 3%

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Choosing a school in Hagerstown?

Use this page to compare every school in Hagerstown by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High · Washington County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Washington County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Hagerstown for 2026 are Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (9.1/10), Fountaindale Elementary (8.5/10), and St James School (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 32 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Jonathan Hager Elementary

Rates 8.1/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Hagerstown schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Hagerstown

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (32 of 34). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Barbara Ingram School for the Arts	9.1 / 10	High	+0.7	94th
2	Fountaindale Elementary	8.5 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	87th
3	St James School	8.5 / 10	High	—	97th
4	Jonathan Hager Elementary	8.1 / 10	Elementary	+1.8	80th
5	Emma K. Doub Elementary	7.9 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	78th
6	Paramount Elementary	7.5 / 10	Elementary	-0.1	70th
7	Northern Middle	7.5 / 10	Middle	+1.0	70th
8	Washington County Job Development Center	7.5 / 10	High	+1.1	70th
9	Old Forge Elementary	7.3 / 10	Elementary	-0.7	67th
10	Mt Aetna Adventist School (maas)	7.2 / 10	Elementary	—	77th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.5/10
Median household income: $69,972
Median home value: $260,850
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Avg commute: 27 min
Owner-occupied homes: 61%

How Hagerstown compares

Maryland rank

#64 of 141

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.2

above Maryland avg (6.3)

Median household income

$70k

63% of Maryland median

Schools in this city

33

About Schools in Hagerstown, Maryland

Hagerstown, Maryland gives families 22 ranked public schools to evaluate, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10 across the city. That average sits in the solid-but-uneven range — meaningful spread exists between the city's best and lowest performers, so school selection here pays off more than it might in uniformly strong markets. Parents who do the legwork can land their children in schools well above the city mean.

The elementary tier is where Hagerstown stands out most clearly. Rockland Woods Elementary leads the city at 8.6 out of 10, making it the benchmark against which everything else is measured. Potomac Heights Elementary follows at 8.4, and Old Forge Elementary rounds out the top three at 8.0. Paramount Elementary (7.9) and Pangborn Elementary (7.8) add two more strong options in the same tier, giving families a cluster of competitive choices at the elementary level. All five score meaningfully above the city average.

The broader picture shows genuine polarization. Ten of the city's 22 ranked schools — 45% — score 7.0 or higher, which means nearly half the public options clear a meaningful performance threshold. The remaining 55% pull the city average down to 6.5, so the gap between the top half and the bottom half is real. Families zoned for higher-scoring schools are in a strong position; families zoned elsewhere should weigh open enrollment options, magnet programs, or private alternatives against their local assignment.

Practically, parents researching Hagerstown should prioritize elementary placement. The data shows the strongest performance concentration at that level, and the five schools above 7.8 all compete well on an absolute basis. Check enrollment boundaries early — Rockland Woods and Potomac Heights draw consistent attention, and boundary lines can determine access. Middle and high school data for the area warrants a separate look since the provided rankings center on elementary performance. Use the school-level scores alongside visit days and test score breakdowns to build a complete picture before committing to an address.

Filter by Level: All Levels (34) Elementary (17) Middle (3) High (7)

Filter by Type: All Types (34) Public (22) Private (12)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (34) Academics (22) Growth (21) Diversity (21) Resources (22)

Filter by ZIP: 21740 (24) 21742 (10)

Elementary Schools

17 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Fountaindale Elementary 414 students · Pre-K–5th	414	Pre-K–5th	8.5
2	Jonathan Hager Elementary 490 students · Pre-K–5th	490	Pre-K–5th	8.1
3	Emma K. Doub Elementary 370 students · Pre-K–5th	370	Pre-K–5th	7.9
4	Paramount Elementary 416 students · Pre-K–5th	416	Pre-K–5th	7.5
5	Ruth Ann Monroe Primary 584 students · Pre-K–2nd	584	Pre-K–2nd	7.4
6	Old Forge Elementary 353 students · Pre-K–5th	353	Pre-K–5th	7.3
7	Lincolnshire Elementary 500 students · Pre-K–5th	500	Pre-K–5th	7.0
8	Rockland Woods Elementary 643 students · Pre-K–5th	643	Pre-K–5th	7.0
9	Fountain Rock Elementary 302 students · Pre-K–5th	302	Pre-K–5th	6.6
10	Salem Avenue Elementary 705 students · Pre-K–5th	705	Pre-K–5th	6.4

Show all 17 elementary schools in Hagerstown

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Potomac Heights Elementary Eastern Elementary Pangborn Elementary Bester Elementary Mt Aetna Adventist School (maas) Private St Mary Catholic School Private Hagerstown Childrens School Private

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Northern Middle 822 students · 6th–8th	822	6th–8th	7.5
2	Western Heights Middle 887 students · 6th–8th	887	6th–8th	6.9
3	E. Russell Hicks Middle 827 students · 6th–8th	827	6th–8th	6.8

High Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Barbara Ingram School for the Arts 330 students · 9th–12th	330	9th–12th	9.1
2	Washington County Job Development Center 35 students · 12th–12th	35	12th–12th	7.5
3	North Hagerstown High 1,558 students · 9th–12th	1,558	9th–12th	6.3
4	South Hagerstown High 1,645 students · 9th–12th	1,645	9th–12th	4.7
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	St James School Private 233 students · 8th–12th	233	8th–12th	8.5
2	Highland View Academy Private 92 students · 9th–12th	92	9th–12th	7.0
3	St Maria Goretti Catholic High School Private 147 students · 9th–12th	147	9th–12th	6.6

Other Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Marshall Street School 53 students · Pre-K–12th	53	Pre-K–12th	2.5
Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Grace Academy Private 286 students · 1st–12th	286	1st–12th	7.1
2	Truth Christian Academy Private 58 students · Pre-K–12th	58	Pre-K–12th	6.4
3	Heritage Academy Private 204 students · Pre-K–12th	204	Pre-K–12th	5.8
4	Emmanuel Christian School Private 102 students · Pre-K–12th	102	Pre-K–12th	5.3
5	Paradise Mennonite School Private 229 students · 1st–11th	229	1st–11th	4.5
6	Hillside Mennonite School Private 171 students · 1st–10th	171	1st–10th	4.5

Schools in Hagerstown

Hagerstown, Maryland · 34 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes

Median Income

$69,972

Median Home Value

$260,850

Median Rent

$1,149/mo

Population

98,254

College Educated

25%

Homeownership

61%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

14.3%

Community Profile

Hagerstown has a median household income of $69,972. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $260,850, with a median rent of $1,149/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Maryland
Elementary: 17
Middle: 3
High: 7
Other: 7

Resources

🔍 Google "Hagerstown schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Hagerstown 📊 Niche Hagerstown Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Washington County Public Schools

43 schools · 22,549 students

Nearby Cities

Maugansville (1 school)

4 mi

Williamsport (5 schools)

5 mi

Boonsboro (5 schools)

9 mi

Smithsburg (3 schools)

8 mi

Sharpsburg (1 school)

13 mi

Myersville (2 schools)

11 mi

Clear Spring (3 schools)

11 mi

Cascade (1 school)

13 mi

Middletown (6 schools)

16 mi

Sabillasville (2 schools)

Brunswick (3 schools)

23 mi

Frederick (42 schools)

23 mi

Other Major Cities in Maryland

Top metros statewide by school count.

Baltimore 350 schools Silver Spring 81 schools Rockville 57 schools Gaithersburg 37 schools Bethesda 36 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Hagerstown, Maryland

How many schools are in Hagerstown, Maryland?

Hagerstown has 34 schools, including 22 public and 12 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hagerstown is 6.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The top-ranked school in Hagerstown on MySchoolScout is Barbara Ingram School for the Arts with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best elementary school in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The top-ranked elementary school in Hagerstown on MySchoolScout is Fountaindale Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The top-ranked middle school in Hagerstown on MySchoolScout is Northern Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.

What is the best high school in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The top-ranked high school in Hagerstown on MySchoolScout is Barbara Ingram School for the Arts with a composite score of 9.1/10.

How many school districts serve Hagerstown, Maryland?

Hagerstown is served by 1 school district: Washington County Public Schools.

What is the education level in Hagerstown, Maryland?

According to Census data, 25% of adults in Hagerstown have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The median household income in Hagerstown is approximately $69,972 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Hagerstown, Maryland?

Yes, Hagerstown has 12 private schools alongside 22 public schools. The top-rated private school is St James School with a score of 8.5/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Hagerstown, Maryland?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hagerstown is 13.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hagerstown, Maryland?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.