2027-2028 FAFSA Now Open: Free Help Available for Harford County Families
The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open. Completing the FAFSA is the first step for students to apply for federal financial aid for college, including grants, work-study, and student loans.
Whether your family is completing the FAFSA for the first time or just needs a refresher, free help is available this school year.
Fall Information Sessions
Harford Community College (HCC) will host four financial aid and FAFSA information sessions this fall. These sessions are a great opportunity for students and families to get their questions answered and learn more about paying for college.
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Wednesday, October 14, 6 to 8 p.m. Financial Aid Information Session, Harford Community College, CWC 198. Register here
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Monday, November 2, 6 to 8 p.m. FAFSA Information Session, North Harford High School. Register here
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Thursday, November 5, 6 to 8 p.m. FAFSA Information Session, Aberdeen High School. Register here
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Thursday, November 5, 6 to 8 p.m. FAFSA Information Session, Joppatowne High School. Register here
January FAFSA Completion Days
In January, staff versed in financial aid will visit several high schools during the school day to help students complete the FAFSA one on one. Evening sessions will follow to help parents and families complete the FAFSA and answer any questions.
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Date
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Time
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Location
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Session
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January 12, 2027
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8 to 10 a.m.
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Joppatowne High School
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Student FAFSA Completion
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January 13, 2027
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8 to 10 a.m.
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Aberdeen High School
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Student FAFSA Completion
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January 14, 2027
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8 to 10 a.m.
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Aberdeen High School
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Student FAFSA Completion
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January 19, 2027
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8 to 10 a.m.
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Havre de Grace High School
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Student FAFSA Completion
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January 19, 2027
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6 to 8 p.m.
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Havre de Grace High School
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Evening Family FAFSA Assistance
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January 21, 2027
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6 to 8 p.m.
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Aberdeen High School
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Evening Family FAFSA Assistance
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January 25, 2027
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8 to 10 a.m.
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North Harford High School
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Student FAFSA Completion
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January 25, 2027
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6 to 8 p.m.
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North Harford High School
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Evening Family FAFSA Assistance
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January 26, 2027
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6 to 8 p.m.
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Joppatowne High School
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Evening Family FAFSA Assistance
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Students and families can complete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov. For more information, contact your student's school counselor.
9/28/2026 10:22 AM
Xello Family Accounts
The following emails were sent to Middle and High School families on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
Middle School:
Harford County Public Schools is excited to share that Xello, our college and career readiness platform, is now available to families of students in grades 6-8. Xello replaces Naviance and was used in a limited pilot during the 2025-2026 school year.
Parents and guardians are granted access to Xello to allow them to support their students' future plans. Parents and guardians have full access to their students' profile, where they can see student goals, interests, career exploration activities and future plans. Students in grades 6-8 work with their counselor to explore their interests, discover career pathways, and learn about a variety of future opportunities.
Earlier today, you should have received an email from noreply@Xello.world titled Welcome to the Xello Family with information on how to activate your account. You have 17 days after receiving the email to activate the account. If you can’t find the email, please check your SPAM folder.
Click here for more information about logging in and navigating Xello.
Click here to learn more about Xello, and how it benefits your student.
High School:
Harford County Public Schools is excited to share that Xello, our college and career readiness platform, is now available to families of students in grades 9-12. Xello replaced Naviance and was used in a limited pilot during the 2025-2026 school year.
Parents and guardians are given access to Xello to allow them to support their students' academic, career, and post-secondary planning throughout high school. Parents and guardians have full access to their students' profile where they can learn about their students' goals, interests, career exploration activities and course planning. Students in grades 9-12 work with their school counselors to revisit and refine their goals each year, exploring college, career, military, apprenticeship and workforce pathways as they develop a personalized plan for life after graduation.
Earlier today, you should have received an email from noreply@Xello.world titled Welcome to the Xello Family with information on how to activate your account. You have 17 days after receiving the email to activate the account. If you can’t find the email, please check your SPAM folder.
Click here for more information about logging in and navigating Xello.
Click here to learn more about Xello, and how it benefits your student.
9/22/2026 12:00 PM
Harford Glen Open House for 5th Grade Families
The following message was sent to all 5th grade families on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via email and text message:
This year, your student will participate in the Fifth-Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. This program is an integral part of their Environmental Stewardship Unit in Science.
Before your child's experience, you are invited to attend an Open House at Harford Glen. These sessions are self-guided and last approximately 30 minutes. Harford Glen staff will be available to answer questions.
The first Open House is on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Click here to see a full listing of all open house dates and times.
If Harford County Public Schools closes schools for any of the scheduled dates, the Open House will be canceled.
For more information about Harford Glen, click here.
9/3/2026 5:00 PM
Applications Open for Maryland Page Program
Applications are now open for the 2027 Maryland General Assembly Page Program. Since 1970, this program has given high school seniors the chance to serve alongside Maryland legislators during the annual legislative session in Annapolis. Each year, only 105 Pages and 36 alternates are selected statewide, offering students a firsthand look at the legislative process and state government in action.
This opportunity is a strong fit for seniors with leadership experience, civic engagement, responsibility, strong communication skills, or an interest in government and public service.
Key Details:
- Application deadline: October 5, 2026
- Students who advance in the HCPS selection process will be invited to an in-person interview on October 19, 2026, at C. Milton Wright High School. Only students available on that date will be considered.
- Selected Pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the legislative session, January through April.
- Pages support the daily operations and schedule of the legislative chamber.
- Pages receive a $55 per day stipend. Housing is available for students who live outside Anne Arundel County.
- The Maryland General Assembly will notify HCPS of selected students in late November. Selected Pages and their families will be recognized at a Student Page Breakfast in early December.
Watch the informational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPUSI2wI4yw&t=1s
Apply here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/9wCrLghVj0
Questions may be directed to Dr. Erin Lange, Supervisor of Social Studies, at Erin.Lange@hcps.org or 410-588-5222.
9/2/2026 9:30 AM
Open Gate Technology will be used throughout the School Year
Open Gate technology has been utilized at HCPS athletic events and in select schools over the last year. As shared previously, students in middle and high schools will see it in use at other times during the school day, including during arrival, this school year.
Your student may see Open Gate in use at different events, different times of the day, and at any point in the school year. The use of the Open Gate technology is another layer of safety and security; its use during the school day does not indicate a specific threat or concern. It is a proactive measure to better ensure student safety.
As has been the practice of Harford County Public Schools, if there is a specific threat or concern to a school, that information will be communicated directly with that school community.
9/2/2026 8:03 AM
Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!
The following message was sent to all families on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message, and push alert:
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! We are excited to see all students in 1st grade through 12th grade on Monday, August 31, 2026. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students start with a gradual entry. Please click here for more information.
We invite you to explore our Back-to-School checklist on hcps.org. There you will find information on everything from where to find required forms and documents, to when bus routes for the 2026-2027 school year will be available, and everything in between. It is your one-stop-shop for anything you need to know for the 2026-2027 school year.
Don't forget to bookmark your school's website to stay up to date with the latest information. Click here to see a complete list of all HCPS school websites.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep up with the latest system-wide news.
Finally, before the school year begins, we hope you will join us at the Back to School Bash on Monday, August 24, 2026, at IBEW Local 24 Union Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Come and meet some of our community partners, play catch on the outfield, meet Dr. Dyann R. Mack, and enjoy an IronBirds baseball game as we kick off the school year together as a community! Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
We hope you have a fantastic 2026-2027 school year!
8/11/2026 5:00 PM
Board of Education of Harford County Signs Superintendent Contract with Dr. Dyann R. Mack
On June 22, 2026 the Board of education of Harford County Board formally approved and signed the contract for Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) with Dr. Dyann R. Mack, marking a significant milestone for the school system and the community it serves.
During the Board’s meeting, members also presented Dr. Mack with a special proclamation recognizing her historic achievements and deep-rooted connection to Harford County. Dr. Mack is the first graduate of Harford County Public Schools to return as Superintendent, the first graduate of Joppatowne High School to serve in the role, and the first Black Superintendent in HCPS history.
“Dr. Mack’s journey from HCPS student to Superintendent is both inspiring and historic,” said Board of Education President Lauren Paige. “Her leadership reflects a deep understanding of our schools, our students, and our community. We are proud to welcome her into this role and confident in her vision for the future of Harford County Public Schools.”
Dr. Mack’s appointment underscores HCPS’s commitment to fostering leadership from within and celebrating excellence across the district. In accepting the proclamation, Dr. Mack expressed gratitude and a strong commitment to continuing the work of strengthening HCPS for all students.
“It is an incredible honor to serve as Superintendent of the school system that helped shape me,” said Dr. Mack. “I am deeply grateful to the Board for their trust and to this community for its support. Together, we will continue to build on our successes and ensure every student is Ready by Design.”
The Board’s proclamation highlights not only Dr. Mack’s professional accomplishments but also the significance of representation and the powerful message her leadership sends to current and future students across Harford County.
Dr. Mack will begin her tenure July 1, 2026, as Superintendent under the newly signed contract, working in partnership with the Board of Education, HCPS staff, students, families, and the broader community, to advance the district’s mission and goals.
6/24/2026 6:50 AM
2026-2027 School Year Calendar UPDATE
The following message will be shared in the Wednesday Wire on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with all families:
On April 27, 2026, the Board of Education of Harford County approved updates to the 2026–2027 school calendar to better plan for inclement weather days.
Three days during the school year—March 1, June 1, and April 12, 2027—have been set aside as potential inclement weather makeup days (in that order). These replace the previous plan of adding makeup days to the end of the school year. *If no weather-related school closures occur before these dates, schools and offices will be closed on those days.
This change follows a resolution from the Maryland State Board of Education, which requires school systems to build inclement weather makeup days into the school year rather than placing them at the end. The state also allows up to three additional inclement weather days to be handled through virtual instruction, for a total of six possible makeup days (three in-person and three virtual).
Making these changes allows HCPS to remain eligible to request a calendar waiver from the state, if needed, and ensures the school system is able to consider virtual instruction as an option for inclement weather. As soon as details regarding potential use of virtual instruction for inclement weather become available, the details will be shared with the HCPS community.
As a result of this update, the last day of school for students in kindergarten through grade 11 will be an early dismissal on Thursday, June 17, 2027.
The full, updated 2026–2027 school calendar is available here. En Español.
4/28/2026 1:16 PM
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