Harford Day School in Bel Air | Military Town Advisor

Posted: January 10, 2026

My children did not feel supported at the school. They were both bullied terribly because they were not in the popular kid crowd. They self reported multiple times and while bullying in the lower school is somewhat addressed the middle school is a joke. My sons feet were literally peed on under the bathroom door and the head of the school laughed it off. He did not feel supported in the school at all. My younger child had special learning needs so we left because she got more support in our public school. They do have lots of events to get parents in the school. They always ask for donations during these events. We were satisfied with the majority of the teachers but if you had to move up the chain of command, it was a waste of time. We were asked to sign an NDA when we left the school because of the ways my child was treated. We did not sign anything. They didnt push it because they knew we had enough information to damage their reputation. We joined a group of 5 families and reported on ways neurodivergent kids are treated. It is my mission for people to really ask around before assuming kids with learning differences get better assistance in a private school.

Posted: March 12, 2025

The admissions process is very subjective. Decisions are not objective or made based on a students academic history or potential. You can have straight As and high ISEE scores (90th percentile), great transcripts, and letters of recommendation, but if you arent a good culture fit or the teachers are biased toward your child, they wont be successful (in the school administrators own words).

Posted: March 12, 2025

Posted: December 17, 2024

I wish I could shout from the rooftops about how children with ADHD and anxiety are treated by the administration at this school. If your children are not white, I would also reconsider. There isnt enough time or space allotted to describe the multiple incidences of bullying that we experienced. If you are a big donor of the school your children are given a pass on bullying behavior. The current middle school head is a joke. He is so out of touch with the activities of children in that age range. I will also add, you cannot publicly speak about happenings at the school or they will sue you. Its not all complete hell, the lower school teachers are good and helpful as long as you dont need the administration to intervene.

Posted: October 31, 2023

As an alumni of Harford Day, I do not recommend this school. While it did have good teaching and learning, my experience there was poor. There was an unbelievable amount of racism and homophobia. While I was there a teacher called home because my sister was talking about how people can be transgender. As a member of LGBTQIA+ Community I find this extremely unprofessional and offensive.

As for racism there were times while I was there that people would be engraving the N word on the bleachers or using it in a sentence. The administration's approach was to show my whole grade a picture of the corpse of Emmett Till. Overall this was unacceptable behavior for everyone.

For all the parents who may see this, I request that you look for alternative schools.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: May 24, 2023

My son transferred to HDS in second grade and continued through 8th grade. His engagement in school and attitude toward learning blossomed during his years here. The small class sizes allow teachers to really get to know their individual students. In general, I'd say the teachers were absolutely amazing - smart, dynamic, inspiring, and most of all they genuinely care about the students! HDS provided a challenging academic curriculum and plenty of extra-curricular activities. I highly recommend this school and am grateful for our time there.

Posted: May 24, 2023

Posted: March 6, 2023

Overall our experiences at HDS were positive. My children made a lot of friends there. They attended school for 4 years at HDS. The school is great for middle school sports and afterschool activities. They have a lot of hands-on projects.
The school said they embraced diversity, but in k-8 the curriculum doesn't cover the United States 1800s. They don't teach the Trail of Tears, Westward Expansion, Transcontinental Railroad, slavery, underground Railroad, or Civil War. It is as this part of history isn't taught at Harford Day School when it is so significant to our culture and country. I don't care about politics, I just don't understand the reason why in all the years children spend at HDS they don't learn American History.

Posted: March 6, 2023

Posted: December 7, 2022

My daughter has been attending Harford Day school going on two years. We absolutely love it. They offer first year scholarships for children of latin decent and children of military members. I love that they embrace culture and diversity and each year I have seen a more diverse group of students at the school. As for education my daughter has loved her teachers each year and has thrived in the smaller classroom setting that they provide. I really see the sense of family at this school and how everyone tries to be inclusive of all families. I have had the honor of serving on the Parent Associtation board for 2 years which thus far has been a great experiance and has aloud me to have an awesome working relationship with other parents and staff. We plan to keep our daughter in this school until she graduates 8th grade and look forward to enrolling our youngest when she is of age. We are so grateful to be apart of harford day school.

Posted: December 7, 2022

Posted: April 24, 2022

Im a student at HDS. Next year I will be going to another school because I dislike it so much. The academics here are really good but everything else not so much. Its an extremely cliquey school. I watch other kids get bullied and I get bullied a bit too. Nothing is done about it. Completely destroyed the rest of my mental health. Dont recommend.

Posted: April 24, 2022

Posted: September 8, 2021

I'm not writing about the conduct on this school itself but rather the horrible pick-up / drop-off practices that backed up Moores Mill Rd. onto Conowingo Rd. for a ridiculous amount of time. I was late picking up my kid due to the traffic jam caused by allowing parents to line up on a two lane street to pick up students before the buses have even left. Therefore all of us NOT trying to turn into Harford Day School were stuck in an endless line which backed up both directions of two different roads and a major intersection. Something needs to be done. Parents should not be allowed to "park" on a MAIN road. Times should be enforced to wait until AFTER the buses leave since there is not adiqut room to allow that volume of traffic and is not fair to other travelers of the road whom also have appointments to get to and kids to pick up. Very inconsiderate, extremely rude and totally self centered.

Posted: September 8, 2021

Posted: June 26, 2020

ADHD...no, Anxiety...no, Learning Disabilities...no. One student had extreme anxiety and after a parent stressed that he was overwhelmed and dealing with issues at home ... the Head pretty much said "Oh Well". I was told by the Head of School that maybe my son should try out prescriptions.

Posted: June 26, 2020

My child's experience was terrible after the first year due to harassment by teachers and administration. My daughter's was terrible after her second year when her class doubled and she had 30 students in a Kindergarten class. Unfortunately, HDS is part of a monopoly. There is only one non-denominational school in Harford County. Watch out, tuition keeps rising, classes are starting to become flooded, bias exist, and good teachers keep quitting.

Posted: June 26, 2020

The first year my son attended he had too much homework and was constantly overwhelmed. In his second year that changed and then I felt that the school overcompensated by giving little to no homework. In his final year he received home assignments from teachers that did not support what he was learning in the classroom and just felt unnecessary as though the teachers were forced to give something.

Posted: June 26, 2020

Some of the teachers TRULY care about the students and are highly qualified. However, most were not qualified to teach and could not handle basic classroom behaviors. Often they feared students because they were not even trained as teachers. HDS is a revolving door for teachers, most leave after one to two years. Furthermore, they do not want to put in the extra time required for a private school teacher. Again, many, not all. There are still some excellent teachers at HDS who just don't speak up, which makes them just as ineffective.

Posted: June 26, 2020

The students themselves develop this and are great people. Sadly, they have few role models.

Posted: August 19, 2018

I was a student here in 6th and 7th grade. It has been the best of the four schools I've attended in my lifetime. Apart from some odd rules and a lot of homework, its a really great school and it makes you really smart.

Posted: August 19, 2018

Posted: August 17, 2018

Some teachers are amazing and super friendly to each student and loved each and every one of them. But, most teachers are not even state certified! They hire very young, fresh out of college teachers that do not understand child pedagogy or how to teach age appropriate curriculum.

Posted: August 17, 2018

Doesnt seem like children are really being taught things for their character, etc. The school administration allows bullying to occur and does not follow proper due process when investigating students that are victims or those that are accused.

Posted: August 17, 2018

The administration is absolutely terrible, the school lost their whole administration in 2 months! There was a ton of issues with children in being accused of things that didnt even make any sense. I was told that a child was accused of harrassment when the school didnt even know what harrassment meant. Hopefully the upcoming administration is great like when it was under Sue Harris. My hope is that they make Ms. Wilkes permanent head of school and do not seek out an outsider that does not appreciate or understand the schools historical culture of excellence versus the last few years of absolute misguided and lack of vision administrative nonsense.

Posted: August 17, 2018

There is a ton of issues with teachers not knowing how to handle students with ADHD or Special Needs. None of the teachers are certified in teaching these types of children.

Posted: August 17, 2018

There has been a lot of issues with bullying in HDS. Most of the bullying wasnt even investigated but they prefer to sweep things under the rug.

Posted: August 17, 2018

It is not what people think. When parents tour the school they make the school seem outstanding but is more average for a private education rating. In regard to the teacher exposing a fellow colleague as disgruntled... it just shows the lack of professionalism and maturity of the staff at the school. People are entitled to their reviews, feelings, and personal experiences with the school. The ratings are those persons experience and shouldnt be discounted. The only way you will truly understand the education, culture, and professionalism at HDS is to experience it for yourself.

Posted: August 17, 2018

The school assigns too much homework for the students. It is way more than an hour each night! Its ridiculous.

Posted: July 15, 2018

I have had two children at HDS. One was academically gifted and had a great experience at HDS and was educated under Sue Harriss leadership. The education this child received was exceptional. My other child was an average student and the experience has been completely the opposite. My second child was educated under Gray Smiths leadership. The curriculum has been adjusted to allow everyone to succeed with less effort. The school has seen an influx of children that need smaller class size in order to learn and assist with learning challenges. It is cheaper than the Highlands School. Each class has been different as far as bullying and student dynamics. My hope is for the administrations and staff to stabilize at HDS and the school become a premiere education again with families and children here that want to learn beyond what is available in public school.

Posted: July 15, 2018

Homework enforces concepts learned in the classroom.

Posted: July 15, 2018

Not all teachers are effective. School is attracting teachers with little to no teaching experience over the last few years. So it is hit and miss. Teaching staff is very unstable and many vacancies exist every year. School administration is unstable; the head of schools suddenly leaving and the head of middle school leaving in 2018.

Posted: July 15, 2018

This school attempts to develop a strong positive character however the student body is changing with the lack of enrollment and these values are being lost with an emphasis now on decipline issues and learning challenges.

Posted: July 15, 2018

Leadership at the school has been unstable. Time will tell as they search for a new head of schools and head of middle school.

Posted: July 15, 2018

Harford Day School used to provide an eduacation for children that desired an academically challenging school. Students with learning difficulties did not get accepted. However to keep seats filled they are now accepting students with learning challenges and attempting to provide staffing and services for such.

Posted: July 15, 2018

Bullying is dealt with on a case by case basis. A child that is bullying from a family which provides monitory money to the school are allowed to continue their poor behavior. Money talks.

Posted: April 10, 2017

Send your child here. If you are like me you will never regret that decision.

Both of my children are Harford Day graduates. One in college, one in high school. They excel academically and had a quiet confidence as they they transitioned to the Baltimore schools or college. They tell us how much they loved HDS and how well prepared they were for their next steps in life, whether it was college or high school. We often hear we learned that in Harford Day (even in college). The community is wonderful. Perhaps the one of the best parts of our lives as parents was sending these two boys to HDS and seeing them easily develop a lifelong love of learning and seeing them grow into respectful and caring young men.

Thank you Harford Day, Thank you Su Harris. Thank you Gray Smith for continuing the tradition.

God Bless Harford Day!

Posted: April 10, 2017

Posted: July 12, 2016

Our daughter's first year at HDS has exceeded our expectations. The small class sizes, enthusiastic and engaged teachers, innovative and creative learning opportunities as well as the after school extracurricular activities have provided her a well rounded and fun experience. We are also delighted that there is an emphasis on grammar and writing skills that was not present in the public school system.

Posted: June 16, 2016

My daughter is a student in the lower school at Harford Day, and I have been very impressed by the caring, nurturing teachers that she has been lucky to have since she entered the school in K-Prep. Her teachers know her strengths and her weaknesses, and work hard to meet her needs. There are plenty of hugs available on a bad day, and high fives on a good one. That is priceless.

Posted: June 10, 2016

Harford Day School has been an absolutely tremendous decision for my children. I'm consistently amazed by the academic progress they make every day thanks to the tremendous, dedicated faculty coupled with small class sizes. Frequent in-school assemblies where outside parties come in to perform / present are an enrichment feature you don't get everywhere else. Frequent off-campus field trips, especially with the younger ages, serve to integrate learning and experience with their curriculum. Music and arts offerings are evolving quickly, along with a long-standing tradition of elaborate theater performances that cover all grades throughout the year. Also, the middle school sports teams manage to be both incredibly inclusive of students who want to partake, AND incredibly successful at the same time (which is not always an easy combination). Recent years have seen the arrival of additional athletic / performance space, along with new science labs. An annual review of the school yearbook shows that Harford Day students en masse go on to all of the most prestigious / well-regarded high schools in the area. The school's investment in the children, and the results we see every day, every year, make our decision so rewarding...

Posted: June 10, 2016

One of the things we love about HDS is that students from a very early age are taught to be respectful of their teachers and their peers. Topics such as honesty, sportsmanship, and kindness are addressed formally in large group formats, more informally in the classroom setting (for example kindness coins used in the 2nd grade) and in small daily doses (greeting students with a handshake upon arrival to school and again before entering their classroom).

Posted: June 10, 2016

We are about to enter our fifth year at HDS and continue to be incredibly happy. The curriculum is challenging, but the teachers and staff are incredibly supportive. The small class size creates the opportunity for them to really get to know their students and I love the way the faculty really seems to know what makes my children tick. This past year has seen the addition of more clubs, sports programs and leadership opportunities for students and I'm excited to see these new programs take hold and continue to grow. I would strongly encourage families looking for an academically challenging but nurturing environment to look at HDS.

Posted: May 24, 2016

I have had three children attend Harford Day School, with three different academic abilities. Harford Day did a wonderful job meeting the needs of each child. The small class size helped my oldest child receive the help he needed, while the challenging academic environment prepared my middle child to excel at the high school level. My third child will be graduating in June and I am sad to be leaving this wonderful school that nurtured my children academically as well as emotionally.

Posted: May 23, 2016

Our daughters first year at HDS has exceeded our expectations. The small class sizes, enthusiastic and engaged teachers, innovative and creative learning opportunities as well as the after school extracurricular activities (both sports and various clubs) have provided her a well rounded and fun experience. We are also delighted that there is an emphasis on grammar and writing skills at HDS that was not present in the public school system.

Posted: May 23, 2016

Posted: February 19, 2014

My kids went there for 4 & 3 years in the last decade before we moved out of state. Mixed feelings on the school. Older child- academically HDS was very good. There was bullying issues the now retiring head of school swept away. Kids should have been expelled and stayed there because of legacy (child or sibling of alumni). Younger child- not as academically gifted as older child and therefore was academically overlooked. HDS was not good in this case. One teacher told my child "college is not for everyone." All because my left-handed child had lousy penmanship. I'll admit it was bad. However, they offered no solution. When we moved to another state, we were able to pinpoint OT problems and we got treatment. As far as diversity, for my older child's class, around 1/4 of his class was mixed ( Hispanic parent/ Anglo parent, Asian parent/white parent, black parent/white parent). Pakistani/Indians were overrepresented.

Posted: November 5, 2013

Academically, HDS is a very challenging school . The teachers are amazing. Your child will work hard in this school and will have an extreme advantage over other students after graduation. Socially, the friends my children have made at HDS will last a lifetime. If you take the education of your child seriously, HDS should be first on your list to visit.

Posted: July 8, 2013

I write this from the view point of a minority family. Don't waste your time or money. They do not want you in this school or the community. GO ELSEWHERE.

Posted: June 2, 2012

Extremely cliquey and very judgmental. The preschool and elementary are great but drop out before middle school.

Posted: May 28, 2012

My daughter went to this school last year, and believe me, it was excruciating for her. Not only do we get the feeling that the teachers there are pretentious show-offs, the education provided for my daughter was very unsatisfactory. We're switching schools.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Laurel Woods	Condominium/Townhouse	Abingdon	MD	4.7 mi
2	Eaton Square	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Rosedale	MD	14.3 mi
3	The Greens at Locust Chapel	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Ellicott City	MD	31 mi
4	Landing	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Elkridge	MD	31.5 mi
5	Westridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Severna Park	MD	34.1 mi
6	Cape Arthur	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Severna Park	MD	34.1 mi
7	Lake Village Town Homes	Apartment Complex	Severn	MD	34.9 mi
8	Carrollton Manor	Area of Town	Severna Park	MD	35 mi
9	Canterbury Village	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Arnold	MD	35.3 mi
10	The Provinces	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Severn	MD	35.3 mi
11	Shelter Cove Luxury Apartments	Apartment Complex	Odenton	MD	37 mi
12	Midway Common	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fort Meade	MD	37.1 mi
13	Harvest Run	Condominium/Townhouse	Odenton	MD	39.2 mi
14	Piney Orchard at Pinedale Courts	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Odenton	MD	39.4 mi
15	Phythian Apartments	Apartment Complex	United States Naval Academy	MD	39.5 mi
16	Bay City	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Stevensville	MD	39.9 mi
17	Tidewater Colony	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annapolis	MD	40.1 mi
18	Maple Lawn	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fulton	MD	40.2 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Baltimore	Baltimore	MD	22.8 mi
2	Anne Arundel County	Pasadena	MD	31.3 mi
3	Severna Park	Severna Park	MD	34.1 mi
4	Severn	Severn	MD	34.3 mi
5	Cape St Claire	Cape St Claire	MD	35.6 mi
6	Annapolis	Annapolis	MD	40.1 mi
7	Annapolis	Annapolis	MD	40.1 mi

Base	Distance
Aberdeen Proving Ground	12.7 mi.
Coast Guard Curtis Bay	26.8 mi.
Fort Meade NSA	37.7 mi.
Annapolis Naval Station	39.1 mi.
US Naval Academy	39.8 mi.

Harford Day School

Bel Air, MD 21014

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Harford Day School

Bel Air, MD 21014

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