Bel Air High School (Bel Air, Maryland)

Bel Air High School is a high school in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, United States. The current building opened in 2009, though the school's antecedents date back to 1815. It ranks as the #2 High School in Harford County and #98 in Maryland overall. History Bel Air High School began as the Harford County Academy when it was formed by an act of the Maryland General Assembly in 1811. The first school building was a stuccoed stone building built at 24 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, and the name was soon changed to the Bel Air Academy in 1815. In 1867, while the Bel Air Academy was operating independently, a one-room wooden schoolhouse was constructed on Main Street, serving as the county's primary public school. In 1882, a brick public school was built at 45 East Gordon Street. The school was renamed the Bel Air Academy and Graded School as the old academy merged with the public school system. This building housed classes for all students above the third grade. Additions to the building were made in 1897 and 1910. This building became solely a grade school in 1924 and headquartered the Harford County Board of Education after 1951. Bel Air High School, named thus for the first time, was established in 1907, and classes were initially held at the Gordon Street building and the Pennsylvania Avenue building. The past facility at 100 Heighe Street was opened in 1950, with additional renovations made in 1954, 1968, and 1983. The building had a design capacity of 1,423 students; as a result, 11 "portables" were in use to provide additional classroom space. The current Bel Air High School building was constructed in 2009, adjacent to the old high school on Heighe Street, which was subsequently demolished. Some new features of the school are its auditorium/stage, cafeteria, library, and multiple sports facilities, including Bobcat Stadium, part of which is on the site of the previous high school. Students The student body over time: Year Students 2022 – 1,489 2018 – 1,544 2017 – 1,564 2012 – 1,647 2011 – 1,574 2010 – 1,431 2009 – 1,380 2008 – 1,403 2007 – 1,683 2005 – 1,636 2004 – 1,647 2003 – 1,573 2002 – 1,573 2001 – 1,587 2000 – 1,555 1999 – 1,524 1998 – 1,440 1997 – 1,383 1996 – 1,312 1995 – 1,295 1994 – 1,272 1993 – 1,238 Notable alumni Andrew Berry, General Manager of the Cleveland Browns John Wilkes Booth, Actor, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln James H. Broumel (died 1948), Maryland delegate Richard Cassilly, Metropolitan Opera NYC William A. Clark, former Maryland Delegate (1983–1990) Joseph H. Deckman, elected to National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1965. Donald C. Fry, former Maryland Senator and Delegate. William C. Greer (died 2001), Maryland delegate James M. Harkins, former Maryland Delegate (1990-1998), Harford County Executive (1998-2005), & leader of Maryland Environmental Services (2005–present). W. Dale Hess (1930–2016), Maryland delegate J. Robert Hooper, Maryland State Senator (1936 - 2008) Julienne Irwin Finalist on the NBC show America's Got Talent Walter R. McComas (1879–1922), Maryland delegate and state's attorney Winton B. Osborne (died 1998), Maryland delegate and businessman Donna Stifler, Delegate for District 35A Robert Shek, former college and professional lacrosse player elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2016 Brandon Scott Jones, class of 2002, actor, writer, comedian Controversy Scrabble Day In early October 2017, a group of Bel Air High School students posed and spelled out a racial slur across their chests. The incident led to serious criticism of the school's policies from parents and organizations, including the Harford County chapter of the NAACP. After the incident, a Change.org petition was formed calling for "Zero Tolerance for Racism in the School." References External links Bel Air High School – official website School State performance report