International Baccalaureate at North Hagerstown High School
The IB Diploma Programme is a competitive-application magnet open to students from across the county, one of the strongest academic tracks in the region.
Schools with magnets, arts, and a straight line to college
Washington County Public Schools serves roughly 22,700 students across about 44 schools, including 7 high schools, with countywide magnet programs, a celebrated arts high school, and two college options inside Hagerstown. Here is how it works and what homebuyers should ask.
The district at a glance
One county, one district, a full range of programs
Unlike some metro areas where every suburb has its own school system, Washington County is served by a single district: Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), headquartered in Hagerstown. That means a family can move between Hagerstown, Boonsboro, and Smithsburg without changing districts, and magnet programs draw students from across the whole county.
The district runs 25 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 7 high schools, plus a combined school, an alternative center, special education centers, and an outdoor education center. High school names and locations matter less than they do in some regions, because several signature programs are open to any county student who applies.
- 44
- Schools in the district
- 22.7k
- Students served
- 7
- High schools
- 2
- Colleges in town
Signature programs
Four programs that put Hagerstown schools on the map
Magnet admission is countywide and competitive, so the address matters less than the application. Families should ask each program\u2019s office about timelines and entry points.
AP Capstone at South Hagerstown High School
South High hosts the AP Capstone Diploma magnet and the Academic Leadership Academy, alongside AVID and a partnership with Hagerstown Community College.
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
The region’s first arts magnet high school, in the heart of downtown Hagerstown, feeding the Maryland Theatre and the city’s Arts & Entertainment District.
Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School
Washington County’s career and technical education magnet for students pursuing skilled trades and professional certifications.
Beyond the magnets
The district\u2019s neighborhood high schools
Families outside the magnet tracks are served by their attendance-area high schools, each with its own identity and traditions:
- North Hagerstown High
- South Hagerstown High
- Boonsboro High School
- Williamsport High School
- Smithsburg High School
- Clear Spring High School
- Hancock Middle-Senior High
- Boyd J. Michael III Technical HS
Attendance boundaries are assigned by address and can change. We always confirm the current zone for the exact property a buyer is considering.
Higher education in town
Two college campuses inside Hagerstown
Hagerstown Community College
The county\u2019s public community college on Robinwood Drive, with associate degrees, workforce training, and the region\u2019s on-ramp to four-year schools at a fraction of the cost.
University System of Maryland at Hagerstown
A regional center on West Washington Street in downtown Hagerstown offering upper-division and graduate programs from University System of Maryland partner universities, no commute to College Park required.
Homebuyer questions
The school questions buyers actually ask
How do I find out which school my address feeds into?
WCPS publishes attendance areas and enrollment through its registration office, and school assignments depend on the exact address, not the neighborhood name. Misty checks the current zone for every buyer before they make an offer.
Can my child apply to a magnet outside our zone?
Yes. Magnet programs including IB, AP Capstone, the arts school, and the technical high school are countywide and competitive-application, so students travel from across Washington County to attend.
What is it like for students new to the district?
Registration runs through WCPS with proof of residency, and the district provides programs from pre-K through 12th grade. Plain advice: enroll early, ask about the bus route, and tour the school during an open house before you commit to a closing date.