Southern High

Summary:

Southern High is a public high school in Harwood, Maryland, serving grades 9-12 and part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district. While the district is ranked 10th out of 25 in Maryland, Southern High has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from 45th out of 146 Maryland high schools in 2023-2024 to 87th out of 127 in 2022-2023.

One key differentiator is Southern High's racial makeup, with a significantly higher percentage of white students (63.88% in 2022-2023) compared to nearby schools like Annapolis High, which has a majority Hispanic and African American student body, and Crofton High, which has a higher percentage of white students. Additionally, Southern High's test scores, particularly in mathematics, are significantly lower than the county and state averages, with only 5.8% of students proficient or better in MCAP/Mathematics in 2023-2024, compared to 27.6% in the district and 24.1% statewide. However, the school's English Language Arts (ELA) scores are stronger, with 67.4% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in 2023-2024, compared to 63.2% in the district and 55.3% statewide.

Another notable difference is the higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Southern High (39.68% in 2022-2023) compared to nearby schools like South River High (19.1%) and Crofton High (13.8%), indicating a higher proportion of students from lower-income families. Despite the higher per-student spending at Southern High ($15,901 in 2020-2021) compared to schools like South River High ($13,274) and Annapolis High ($13,957), the school's academic performance, particularly in mathematics, is still lagging behind the county and state averages.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 4400 Solomons Island Rd
       Harwood, MD  20776-9504


(410) 867-7100

District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
45th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,659 Help


Feeder schools for Southern High:

Elementary:    Deale Elementary
    Lothian Elementary
    Shady Side Elementary
    Traceys Elementary
Middle:    Southern Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  15.2 Help
Number of students:  1,066

Racial breakdown:

White:
63.9%
Hispanic:
21.9%
African American:
8.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  39.7% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Southern High ranks better than 69.2% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 7th among 11 ranked high schools in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.13. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Southern High freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.9%), Hispanic (21.9%), African American (8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 39.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southern High is 15.2, which is the 2nd best among 11 high schools in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Southern High employs 69.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southern High is $17,659, which is the highest among 14 high schools in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools District!
Schooldigger Rankings:

Southern High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Southern High 45th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Southern High in the ranking list.)

Anne Arundel County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Anne Arundel County Public Schools 10th of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Southern High

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 48.63 85th 201 57.7%
2005 54.56 84th 204 58.8%
2006 66.16 55th 204 73.0%
2007 67.37 60th 209 71.3%
2008 82.71 18th 214 91.6%
2009 80.88 21st 213 90.1%
2010 77.43 48th 220 78.2%
2011 69.86 61st 183 66.7%
2012 70.63 64th 187 65.8%
2013 70.44 66th 185 64.3%
2014 76.76 61st 231 73.6%
2015 61.52 70th 233 70.0%
2016 67.93 53rd 233 77.3%
2017 64.55 43rd 180 76.1%
2018 62.98 44th 197 77.7%
2019 55.35 57th 138 58.7%
2022 49.89 69th 225 69.3%
2023 38.19 87th 127 31.5%
2024 53.13 45th 146 69.2%
See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Southern High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Southern High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 754 154 8 0 0 n/a n/a -9 907
1990 740 154 9 0 0 n/a n/a -8 895
1991 725 135 2 0 0 n/a n/a -24 838
1992 715 157 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 874
1993 756 168 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 925
1994 793 178 2 3 0 n/a n/a 0 976
1995 925 198 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1132
1996 925 198 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1132
1997 946 197 3 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1149
1998 1228 230 3 4 1 n/a n/a 0 1466
1999 1230 210 3 7 1 n/a n/a 0 1451
2000 1280 185 5 8 1 n/a n/a 0 1479
2001 1231 188 3 7 3 n/a n/a 0 1432
2002 1280 214 3 13 1 n/a n/a 0 1511
2003 1280 214 3 13 1 n/a n/a 0 1511
2004 1027 180 4 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1226
2005 1024 189 4 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1232
2006 1023 190 8 16 1 n/a n/a 0 1238
2007 1014 163 8 22 2 n/a n/a 0 1209
2008 993 164 10 22 3 n/a n/a 0 1192
2009 950 166 11 26 4 n/a n/a 0 1157
2010 916 182 9 32 2 n/a n/a 0 1141
2011 872 170 12 38 2 1 39 0 1134
2012 847 147 11 45 4 2 42 0 1098
2013 827 121 10 48 5 3 45 0 1059
2014 847 114 7 38 6 4 50 0 1066
2015 835 116 9 50 4 4 53 0 1071
2016 813 110 11 44 4 3 62 0 1047
2017 819 114 14 53 3 1 59 0 1063
2018 755 96 13 88 2 0 56 0 1010
2019 757 80 10 94 1 1 54 0 997
2020 729 75 7 132 1 1 51 0 996
2021 719 73 10 176 0 1 53 0 1032
2022 712 70 7 180 2 1 57 1 1030
2023 681 85 4 233 2 1 59 1 1066

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southern High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 907 53.2 17.0 n/a
1990 895 52.9 16.9 1.1
1991 838 52.8 15.8 2.1
1992 874 50.3 17.3 3.5
1993 925 56.1 16.5 3.4
1994 976 57.5 17.0 4.6
1995 1132 63.7 17.8 4.8
1996 1132 63.7 17.8 4.8
1997 1149 62.6 18.4 5.7
1998 1466 76.5 19.2 4.6
1999 1451 76.6 18.9 5.4
2000 1479 76.2 19.4 6.6
2001 1432 75.5 19.0 6.3
2002 1511 76.4 19.8 7.2
2003 1511 76.4 19.8 7.2
2004 1226 66.0 18.6 8.2
2005 1232 69.0 17.9 8.1
2006 1238 72.0 17.2 10.3
2007 1209 72.0 16.8 11.8
2008 1192 70.7 16.9 13.2
2009 1157 67.0 17.3 14.7
2010 1141 56.1 20.3 17
2011 1134 67.5 16.8 18.6
2012 1098 69.0 15.9 19.8
2013 1059 66.3 15.9 19.7
2014 1066 64.1 16.6 23.3
2015 1071 65.0 16.4 24.5
2016 1047 64.0 16.3 22.3
2017 1063 64.9 16.3 20.9
2018 1010 63.1 15.9 21.9
2019 997 61.9 16.0 21.9
2020 996 59.8 16.6 24.5
2021 1032 66.0 15.6 29.7
2022 1030 67.1 15.3 31.7
2023 1066 69.8 15.2 39.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southern High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 907 53.2 17.0 n/a
1990 895 52.9 16.9 1.1
1991 838 52.8 15.8 2.1
1992 874 50.3 17.3 3.5
1993 925 56.1 16.5 3.4
1994 976 57.5 17.0 4.6
1995 1132 63.7 17.8 4.8
1996 1132 63.7 17.8 4.8
1997 1149 62.6 18.4 5.7
1998 1466 76.5 19.2 4.6
1999 1451 76.6 18.9 5.4
2000 1479 76.2 19.4 6.6
2001 1432 75.5 19.0 6.3
2002 1511 76.4 19.8 7.2
2003 1511 76.4 19.8 7.2
2004 1226 66.0 18.6 8.2
2005 1232 69.0 17.9 8.1
2006 1238 72.0 17.2 10.3
2007 1209 72.0 16.8 11.8
2008 1192 70.7 16.9 13.2
2009 1157 67.0 17.3 14.7
2010 1141 56.1 20.3 17
2011 1134 67.5 16.8 18.6
2012 1098 69.0 15.9 19.8
2013 1059 66.3 15.9 19.7
2014 1066 64.1 16.6 23.3
2015 1071 65.0 16.4 24.5
2016 1047 64.0 16.3 22.3
2017 1063 64.9 16.3 20.9
2018 1010 63.1 15.9 21.9
2019 997 61.9 16.0 21.9
2020 996 59.8 16.6 24.5
2021 1032 66.0 15.6 29.7
2022 1030 67.1 15.3 31.7
2023 1066 69.8 15.2 39.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southern High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $461 (3.2%) $14,169 (96.8%) $14,631
2020 $528 (3.5%) $14,546 (96.5%) $15,074
2021 $841 (5.3%) $15,060 (94.7%) $15,901
2022 $1,306 (7.7%) $15,552 (92.3%) $16,858
2023 $1,546 (8.8%) $16,113 (91.2%) $17,659

Data source: Maryland Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southern High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 57th of 138 High schoolsRanks 87th of 127 High schools
 27.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students9971066
 6.9%
African American8085
 6.3%
American Indian12
 100%
Asian104
 60%
Hispanic94233
 147.9%
Pacific Islander11
White757681
 10%
Two or More Races5459
 9.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients21.9%39.7%
 17.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Southern High

Students at Southern High are 64% White, 22% Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Southern High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Deale Elementary
Elementary : Lothian Elementary
Elementary : Shady Side Elementary
Elementary : Traceys Elementary
Middle : Southern Middle

Southern High ranks 45th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,066 students attended Southern High.


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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.





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