HCPSSNews Stories
SECAC Gladiator Awards Nominations Open Through May 15, 2026
April 29th, 2026
Nominations are now open for the Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) 3rd Annual Gladiator Awards.
Three HCPSS Schools Recognized as 2026-2028 Purple Star Schools
April 28th, 2026
Bellows Springs (BSES), Thunder Hill (THES) and Veterans (VES) elementary schools have been named Purple Star Schools by the Maryland State Department of Education in recognition of their strong services and support for students from military-connected families. BSES, THES and VES are three of 27 schools across the state to achieve this distinction, which they will hold […]
HCPSS Names 2026 Principal and Teachers of the Year
April 20th, 2026
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Superintendent William J. Barnes on April 20 announced the recipients of the school system’s annual principal and teachers of the year award: Principal of the Year: Dan Notari, Cradlerock Elementary Teacher of the Year: Samantha Mathis, West Friendship Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Kacy Valentine, Lake Elkhorn Middle […]
Spring College Fair, April 29, 2026
April 10th, 2026
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) will host a college fair, Wednesday, April 29 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Howard Community College (HCC) Galleria of the Academic Commons Building, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Attendees will have the opportunity […]
HCPSS Students Named 2026 Carson Scholars
March 18th, 2026
Thirty-one Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) students have been recognized as 2026 Carson Scholars for demonstrating outstanding commitment to academics, leadership and serving others. The HCPSS honorees include 12 first-time Carson Scholars and 19 Recognized (returning) Scholars.
HCPSS Seeks Resident Members for Ethics Panel by April 8, 2026
March 12th, 2026
The Howard County Board of Education is seeking to fill multiple openings on the Howard County Public School System’s Ethics Panel. The Ethics Panel oversees the school system’s Ethics Regulations, advises the Board on matters related to conflict of interest and financial disclosure, and provides advisory opinions to employees on the applicability of the Ethics […]
Class of 2026 Graduation Dates Forthcoming
March 10th, 2026
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) high school graduation ceremonies have long been held at Merriweather Post Pavilion (MPP). HCPSS is fortunate to have a local venue like Merriweather that allows graduation ceremonies to be held under cover providing protection from rain, and shade in sunny and high temperature days, etc. Ceremonies at MPP also […]
Get to Know Sophia Quirk, Instructional Facilitator, Community Schools and Title I
February 27th, 2026
The HCPSS Get To Know series features school system leaders who answer a mix of personal and professional questions in an effort to let employees, students and families get to know them better. Why did you choose to work in education? I’ve always known I’d wanted to be an educator. I was first inspired to […]
Special Education Resource Fair, March 14, 2026
February 3rd, 2026
HCPSS will host a Special Education Resource Fair on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Cedar Lane School (11630 Scaggsville Road, Fulton). The free event will provide families with information from the community and HCPSS to support their students receiving special education and related services. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect […]
HBCU College and Career Fair, March 7, 2026
February 3rd, 2026
Open to all interested students and families, HCPSS will host its second annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College and Career Fair Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Guilford Park High School, 8500 Ridgelys Run Road, Jessup. HBCU representatives will be onsite to provide students and families with information on admissions, scholarships, […]