Aug. 31 marks the first day of classes for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) students for the 2026-27 academic year. For students and parents, the return to school means adjusting morning and after-school routines, including transportation, sports practices and games, work schedules, and homework.
One of the biggest changes this school year is new leadership for the 108,000-student school system.
Bill Heiser is the new BCPS superintendent, succeeding Myriam Rogers, who retired last year. Heiser most recently served as chief operating officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Previously, he was president of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore City, principal of Catonsville High School, and principal of North County High School in Anne Arundel County. The Maryland State Department of Education recognized him as Maryland Principal of the Year steering a turnaround in academic achievement, graduation rates and scholarship attainment at North County High.
As he begins his tenure at BCPS, Heiser has identified four priorities: academic excellence, operational readiness and financial sustainability, talent identification, and community engagement. He said his decision-making, particularly when it comes to increasing student achievement and providing pathways that prepare students for college, careers and life, will be guided by one question: “What is best for students?”
This school year also brings the opening of two new school buildings at Deer Park Elementary School in Owings Mills and Lansdowne High School.
Deer Park is Maryland’s first net-zero energy elementary school, meaning it is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes annually. The two-story replacement school increases the number of student seats by 70%, to 735, and expands the building footprint by the same percentage, to 102,000 square feet.
At Lansdowne High, the new three-story, 318,461-square-foot building accommodates 1,759 students.
Whether you have children in BCPS or are simply interested in how students are being educated, here are some updates and takeaways from Heiser’s Aug. 24 press conference and other meetings outlining his expectations and plans for the new school year.
Recruitment and Retention
- BCPS is nearly fully staffed, with about 28 vacancies remaining as of Aug. 28. A total of 143 schools has no vacancies, while 29 schools have two or fewer openings.
Curriculum and Instruction
- Teachers will continue to focus on strengthening reading, writing and vocabulary skills while sharpening students’ mathematical thinking.
- Following a successful pilot program last year, cursive writing will be taught systemwide in Grades 2 and 3.
- Each Friday morning, BCPS will continue sending attendance reports through Focus and grade reports through Schoology.
- BCPS Curriculum Night will be held Sept. 16 at Pikesville Middle School. Families will have an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and instruction in English language arts, mathematics, early childhood education, English Language Development and special education. They also can speak one-on-one with staff.
- Improving daily attendance remains a priority. Last year, 148 schools reduced chronic absenteeism.
Operations
BCPS also spent the summer preparing school buildings and facilities for the new academic year.
- The school system worked on more than 54 capital projects this summer, including three school construction projects, HVAC replacements, parking lot resurfacing, roof and boiler work, electrical and mechanical upgrades, track replacements, and other improvements.
- During the summer, 422,000 meals were served to thousands of students through the Summer Food Service Program. BCPS will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all students at all schools, with no application required.
Safety and Social-Emotional and Mental Health Resources
Student safety and mental health also remain priorities for BCPS.
- BCPS will continue partnering with more than two dozen community mental health providers across its schools to provide comprehensive services and support for students. Students ages 13 and older also can continue to access free virtual therapy and online support through Talkspace.
- Last spring, BCPS announced the launch of the Rising Together Schoolwide Mental Health Screening Program. Offered in 15 BCPS schools, the program connects students ages 8-18 with confidential mental health and wellness screenings designed to identify depression, anxiety and other risk factors early. Schools receive data-driven insights to help guide interventions, referrals and ongoing support for students and families.
- Baltimore County Police Department School Resource Officers will continue to be present in schools to help keep students safe. Safety assistants also will work with school staff and SROs to foster positive relationships within school buildings.
- Omnilert and the OpenGate detection system will continue to be used in schools and at athletic events to provide an additional layer of safety.
- Under the “Off and Away, Every School, Every Day” policy, cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day in all BCPS elementary and middle schools. Cell phone use is restricted during the instructional day in all BCPS high schools.
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program
The latest state assessment results also provide a snapshot of student performance heading into the new school year.
- The Maryland State Department of Education released 2026 state assessment data in July. For the third consecutive year, BCPS students made gains in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics.
- A total of 103 BCPS schools saw increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient in both ELA and math. Students also made gains on 13 of 16 ELA and mathematics assessment data points.
- Several student groups, including multilingual learners, Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic and multiracial students, demonstrated increased proficiency in various subject-area assessments across several grades.
Best High Schools Rankings
BCPS schools also received recognition in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
- U.S. News & World Report released its 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings, with BCPS schools once again ranking among the best in Maryland and the nation.
- Eastern Technical High School was named the best high school in Maryland. Western School of Technology was ranked No. 8, while Carver Center ranked No. 10, placing all three among Maryland’s top 10 high schools.
- In U.S. News’ ranking of the top 50 high schools in Maryland, Hereford High School ranked No. 25 and Towson High School ranked No. 32.
Communications
As the school year gets underway, BCPS reminds families that they are required to review the 2026-27 Student Handbook and Transportation Handbook.
Recruitment and Retention
- BCPS is nearly fully staffed, with about 28 vacancies remaining as of Aug. 28. A total of 143 schools has no vacancies, while 29 schools have two or fewer openings.
Curriculum and Instruction
- Teachers will continue to focus on strengthening reading, writing and vocabulary skills while sharpening students’ mathematical thinking.
- Following a successful pilot program last year, cursive writing will be taught systemwide in Grades 2 and 3.
- Each Friday morning, BCPS will continue sending attendance reports through Focus and grade reports through Schoology.
- BCPS Curriculum Night will be held Sept. 16 at Pikesville Middle School. Families will have an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and instruction in English language arts, mathematics, early childhood education, English Language Development and special education. They also can speak one-on-one with staff.
- Improving daily attendance remains a priority. Last year, 148 schools reduced chronic absenteeism.
Operations
BCPS also spent the summer preparing school buildings and facilities for the new academic year.
- The school system worked on more than 54 capital projects this summer, including three school construction projects, HVAC replacements, parking lot resurfacing, roof and boiler work, electrical and mechanical upgrades, track replacements, and other improvements.
- During the summer, 422,000 meals were served to thousands of students through the Summer Food Service Program. BCPS will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all students at all schools, with no application required.
Safety and Social-Emotional and Mental Health Resources
Student safety and mental health also remain priorities for BCPS.
- BCPS will continue partnering with more than two dozen community mental health providers across its schools to provide comprehensive services and support for students. Students ages 13 and older also can continue to access free virtual therapy and online support through Talkspace.
- Last spring, BCPS announced the launch of the Rising Together Schoolwide Mental Health Screening Program. Offered in 15 BCPS schools, the program connects students ages 8-18 with confidential mental health and wellness screenings designed to identify depression, anxiety and other risk factors early. Schools receive data-driven insights to help guide interventions, referrals and ongoing support for students and families.
- Baltimore County Police Department School Resource Officers will continue to be present in schools to help keep students safe. Safety assistants also will work with school staff and SROs to foster positive relationships within school buildings.
- Omnilert and the OpenGate detection system will continue to be used in schools and at athletic events to provide an additional layer of safety.
- Under the “Off and Away, Every School, Every Day” policy, cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day in all BCPS elementary and middle schools. Cell phone use is restricted during the instructional day in all BCPS high schools.
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program
The latest state assessment results also provide a snapshot of student performance heading into the new school year.
- The Maryland State Department of Education released 2026 state assessment data in July. For the third consecutive year, BCPS students made gains in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics.
- A total of 103 BCPS schools saw increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient in both ELA and math. Students also made gains on 13 of 16 ELA and mathematics assessment data points.
- Several student groups, including multilingual learners, Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic and multiracial students, demonstrated increased proficiency in various subject-area assessments across several grades.
Best High Schools Rankings
BCPS schools also received recognition in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
- U.S. News & World Report released its 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings, with BCPS schools once again ranking among the best in Maryland and the nation.
- Eastern Technical High School was named the best high school in Maryland. Western School of Technology was ranked No. 8, while Carver Center ranked No. 10, placing all three among Maryland’s top 10 high schools.
- In U.S. News’ ranking of the top 50 high schools in Maryland, Hereford High School ranked No. 25 and Towson High School ranked No. 32.
Communications
As the school year gets underway, BCPS reminds families that they are required to review the 2026-27 Student Handbook and Transportation Handbook.
