Top High Schools in the Annapolis, MD Area: How They Compare for College Admissions

If you are raising a college-bound student in the Annapolis, Maryland area, you are operating in one of the most academically accomplished secondary-school markets on the East Coast. Annapolis is the state capital, home to the United States Naval Academy, and situated between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, two of the country’s most education-focused metropolitan areas. That geography, in turn, shapes everything: the density of highly educated families, the expectations built into local school culture, and the ambition that college-bound students bring to the admissions process.

The Anne Arundel County Public Schools district is consistently ranked among the top public-school districts in Maryland. Furthermore, the Annapolis area is home to two strong NAIS-member independent schools, a nationally recognized Catholic high school, and a specialized charter option. Each of these environments, however, differs in ways that matter meaningfully for college admissions:

• Academic model and depth of advanced coursework
• How selective colleges interpret and contextualize transcripts from each school
• Counseling bandwidth and individualized application support
• Internal competition and the density of high-achieving peers
• Institutional visibility with admissions offices at selective national universities

The sections below, accordingly, examine the leading Annapolis-area high schools through a college admissions lens. Each profile is grounded in verifiable data and shaped by the strategic realities of this particular market.

The Annapolis Admissions Context: A Market with Military Roots and Selective Ambitions

One feature of the Annapolis market that distinguishes it from most comparable communities is the presence of the United States Naval Academy. The Naval Academy’s influence permeates the educational culture here in distinctive ways. Several area private schools were founded, at least in part, to prepare students for service academies. Military service is a genuine and respected post-secondary pathway that Annapolis-area students pursue at higher rates than in most comparable markets. Admissions offices at selective universities recognize this, and students who articulate a clear service-oriented motivation in their applications often benefit from the authenticity that background brings.

Maryland’s overall academic profile also shapes the competitive context. Maryland is routinely ranked among the top five states in the country for public school quality. Specifically, approximately 39% of Maryland high schools rank in the top 25% nationally, the fourth-highest ratio in the nation behind Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey. That baseline means that even mid-tier Anne Arundel County schools offer stronger academic environments than their national rankings might suggest. Admissions offices, moreover, apply that contextual understanding when evaluating Maryland transcripts.

That said, the Annapolis area is genuinely competitive internally. At the strongest public and independent schools, highly qualified students compete for limited slots at selective institutions each year. Consequently, differentiation matters at every level of the process, from course selection and extracurricular focus to the specificity of the personal statement.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools: Top Performers

AACPS Public High Schools at a Glance

School	MD State Rank	National Rank	Enrollment	AP Participation	Graduation Rate
Severna Park High School	#6	#384	~1,817–1,842	74%	97–98%
Chesapeake Science Point Charter	#13	—	~1,183	—	—
South River High School	#15	—	~1,634	—	96%
Broadneck High School	#19	#913	~2,000+	59%	97%
Crofton High School	#27	—	—	—	—
Annapolis High School	#59	#3,039	—	59%	—

Severna Park High School (Anne Arundel County Public Schools)

Public · Severna Park, MD

Metric	Data
MD State Rank (U.S. News)	#6
National Rank (U.S. News)	#384
Enrollment (Grades 9–12)	~1,817–1,842
Student-Teacher Ratio	20:1
AP Courses Offered	32
Honors Courses Offered	54
AP Participation Rate	74%
AP Exam Pass Rate (Score 3+)	72%
Math Proficiency (MCAP)	68–76%
Reading Proficiency (MCAP)	76–82%
Average SAT	1280
Average ACT	30
Graduation Rate	97–98%
Recognition	National Blue Ribbon School; Green School

Academic Strength and Course Depth

Severna Park High School is the highest-ranked traditional public high school in Anne Arundel County and the sixth-ranked public high school in Maryland by U.S. News & World Report. It is a two-time National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and serves approximately 1,817 to 1,842 students in grades 9 through 12. The school’s 74% AP participation rate is one of the highest of any large comprehensive public school in Maryland. Additionally, 32 AP courses and 54 honors courses give motivated students an exceptionally broad menu of rigorous academic options.

The school’s academic outcomes are equally strong. With a 72% AP exam pass rate, an average SAT of 1280, and an average ACT of 30, Severna Park consistently outperforms Maryland state averages by significant margins. Math proficiency on the MCAP stands at 68% to 76% and reading proficiency at 76% to 82%, both far above Maryland state averages of 27% and 45%, respectively. The school further participates in Project Lead The Way and offers dual enrollment through Anne Arundel Community College, expanding options for students who want college credit while still in high school.

Extracurriculars and College Placement

Beyond academics, Severna Park is noted for its competitive “It’s Academic” quiz bowl team, which has appeared multiple times in regional broadcast championships. The school’s athletics program is strong across multiple sports. Approximately 98% of graduates plan to attend college, and the school’s track record at selective universities is well established with admissions offices throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

From a college admissions standpoint: Severna Park is the Anne Arundel County public school most recognized by selective colleges. Its AP depth, strong test score profile, and Blue Ribbon designation carry genuine weight with admissions readers. Nevertheless, the school is large and internally competitive. Students targeting the most selective universities should, accordingly, begin building differentiated profiles early and develop a clear extracurricular focus that goes beyond the school’s already-strong academic baseline.

Broadneck High School (Anne Arundel County Public Schools)

Public · Arnold/Cape St. Claire, MD (suburban Annapolis)

Metric	Data
MD State Rank (U.S. News)	#19
National Rank (U.S. News)	#913
Enrollment (Grades 9–12)	~2,000+
Student-Teacher Ratio	19:1
AP Courses Offered	30
AP Participation Rate	59%
Math Proficiency	~60%
Reading Proficiency	~75%
Graduation Rate	97%
Notable Alumni	Matthew Centrowitz Jr. (Olympic gold medalist)
Special Program	Performing and Visual Arts (PVA) magnet

AP Depth and Special Programs

Broadneck High School ranks #19 in Maryland and offers 30 AP courses, exceeding both the Maryland state average of 18 and the county average of 24. The Washington Post has repeatedly recognized Broadneck as one of the most challenging high schools in the D.C. metro area based on AP course participation. The school was named an AACPS AP Distinguished High School in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and is formally AP Certified. Beyond the standard curriculum, the school offers Calculus III as a test course, access to classes at Anne Arundel Community College, and courses at CAT-South. Additionally, the Performing and Visual Arts (PVA) magnet program is open to all AACPS students countywide, drawing talented students from across Anne Arundel County specifically to Broadneck.

The school’s 97% graduation rate, strong math proficiency, and deep AP catalog position it as a genuine peer to Severna Park in terms of the selective colleges its graduates reach. Notably, Broadneck is consistently ranked in the top 2% of all public high schools nationally by Newsweek, and approximately 98% of its graduates go on to college.

Arts, Athletics, and Notable Alumni

Broadneck’s PVA program produces some of the most distinctive application profiles in the county, particularly for students whose artistic talents are central to their academic identity. The school’s athletics program is perennially competitive, with strong records in football, lacrosse, volleyball, and softball. Notable alumni include Matthew Centrowitz Jr., an Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 meters at the 2016 Rio Games.

From a college admissions standpoint: Broadneck is, in many respects, comparable to Severna Park in terms of admissions weight and college-placement outcomes. Its AP breadth, PVA magnet distinction, and national recognition make it a genuine platform for selective college admission. Students who leverage the PVA program alongside strong AP performance can present unusually specific and compelling application profiles. As at any large school, however, standing out within a highly qualified peer group requires deliberate and early strategic planning.

South River High School (Anne Arundel County Public Schools)

Public · Edgewater, MD

Metric	Data
MD State Rank (U.S. News)	#15
Enrollment (Grades 9–12)	~1,634
Student-Teacher Ratio	16:1
Math Proficiency (MCAP)	60%
Reading Proficiency (MCAP)	66%
Graduation Rate	96%
Notable Programs	STEM magnet, AP, Honors, dual enrollment

South River High School ranks #15 in Maryland and serves approximately 1,634 students in the Edgewater community south of Annapolis. It is, notably, one of the highest-ranked schools in the district and is particularly well regarded for its STEM program, which students and parents consistently describe as one of the most rigorous and well-supported in Anne Arundel County. The STEM curriculum integrates project-based learning, career exploration, internships, and job shadows in ways that produce application profiles with genuine technical depth.

South River’s math proficiency of 60% and reading proficiency of 66% both substantially exceed Maryland state averages. Its 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio, moreover, is more favorable than Severna Park’s and Broadneck’s, enabling somewhat more individualized academic attention across the student body.

From a college admissions standpoint: South River is an underappreciated gem in the AACPS lineup. Its state ranking slightly exceeds Broadneck’s, and its STEM focus gives students with technical interests a strong and specific foundation for college applications. Students who engage deeply with the STEM program, pursue related extracurriculars, and build a coherent academic identity around technology, science, or engineering are particularly well positioned at research-oriented universities.

Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School

Charter · Hanover, MD (serves Annapolis-area students)

Metric	Data
MD State Rank (U.S. News)	#13
Enrollment	~1,183
Student-Teacher Ratio	20:1
Focus	STEM
Admission	Open enrollment lottery

Chesapeake Science Point ranks #13 in Maryland and draws students from across Anne Arundel County through an open enrollment lottery. As a STEM-focused charter, it offers a distinctive academic environment centered on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The school’s small-class culture and focused curriculum create conditions for the kind of deep, specific academic engagement that selective STEM programs at universities reward. For students in the Annapolis area with a strong technical focus and a desire for a more specialized environment than a large comprehensive school provides, Chesapeake Science Point is worth serious consideration.

Annapolis High School (Anne Arundel County Public Schools)

Public · Annapolis, MD

The IB Programme: A Meaningful Strategic Asset

Annapolis High School is the comprehensive public school serving the city of Annapolis itself. It ranks #59 in Maryland and carries a 59% AP participation rate. What is, however, frequently overlooked in discussions of Annapolis High is that it is one of only three schools in all of Anne Arundel County Public Schools to offer the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The other two AACPS IB schools are Meade and Old Mill. That distinction matters considerably for college-bound students who pursue the IB track.

The school offers both the IB Middle Years Programme for grades 9 and 10 and the IB Diploma Programme for grades 11 and 12. The Diploma Programme requires students to complete coursework in six subject areas, pass external examinations assessed by the IBO, complete a 4000-word Extended Essay, take the Theory of Knowledge course, and log 150 hours of Creativity, Activity, and Service. Those requirements, in turn, produce exactly the kind of academically rigorous, globally minded, and independently motivated student profile that selective colleges value. IB students at Annapolis High, moreover, report that the program is genuinely demanding and that counseling support within the IB cohort is strong and personalized.

AP, Extracurriculars, and Admissions Context

Beyond the IB program, the school offers nearly every AP course approved by the College Board, career and technical education programs, a Performing and Visual Arts program, and dual enrollment options at local colleges. The school also publishes a newspaper (The Anchor), a literary and arts magazine (Perception), and produces a student newscast. The Annapolis High math team has won the Anne Arundel County High School Mathematics Competition for four consecutive years.

Admissions offices read Annapolis High transcripts with careful attention to context. Students who pursue the IB Diploma present a meaningfully different and more legible academic signal than the school’s overall ranking might suggest. That distinction is worth understanding clearly before dismissing the school based on its national ranking alone.

From a college admissions standpoint: Annapolis High is a more nuanced school than its ranking indicates, particularly for students who pursue the IB Diploma Programme. A motivated IB student from Annapolis High, with a strong Extended Essay, solid Higher Level exam scores, and a distinctive personal narrative rooted in the city’s history, maritime culture, or civic life, can be genuinely competitive at selective institutions. Students targeting highly selective national universities should additionally pursue outside college counseling support and invest in deliberate test preparation. Nevertheless, the IB track at Annapolis High is one of the most underappreciated college-preparatory pathways in the county.

Independent Schools

Annapolis-Area Independent Schools at a Glance

School	Grades	Enrollment	Student-Teacher Ratio	Avg Class Size	Avg SAT	HYPSM Rate	Affiliation
Severn School	PS–12	~906	—	14	—	—	NAIS, AIMS
Key School	PS–12	~598–664	9:1	13–16	1304–1340	~5%	NAIS
St. Mary’s High School	PK–12	~496–1,286	15:1	20–25	1230	—	Catholic

Severn School

Independent · Arnold/Severna Park, MD

Metric	Data
Grades	Preschool–12
Total Enrollment	~906
Campuses	Two: Chesapeake Campus (Arnold, Lower); Teel Campus (Severna Park, Upper)
Average Class Size	14
AP Courses	Among highest in region
Sports Offered	14 interscholastic sports
Founded	1914
Affiliation	NAIS, AIMS; Maryland State Board of Education approved
Notable Alumni	James Monroe (President); Roger B. Taney (Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court)

History, Campus, and Academic Model

Severn School is the Annapolis area’s most established and comprehensive independent school. Founded in 1914 originally to prepare students for the United States Naval Academy, it has grown into a full college preparatory day school serving approximately 906 students from preschool through grade 12 across two campuses. The Chesapeake Campus in Arnold houses the Lower School, while the 19-acre Teel Campus in Severna Park serves Middle and Upper School students in a state-of-the-art facility that includes the Teel Academic Center, Graw Innovation Center, Stine Environmental Center on the Severn River, and four athletic fields. The school is accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, is a member of NAIS, and has admitted more qualified applicants than available spaces each year, reflecting genuine selectivity.

The academic program spans a full range of AP courses and is, notably, ranked among the top 20% of Maryland private schools for most AP courses offered, highest average SAT, and highest average ACT. The Upper School’s signature Fellows project allows seniors to pursue a year-long passion project on a topic of their own choosing, supported by faculty mentors. That program, in turn, produces the kind of independently motivated and intellectually specific senior thesis work that resonates deeply with selective college admissions offices. Furthermore, the school offers 14 interscholastic sports and an extensive extracurricular catalog, giving students ample opportunities to build the kind of multi-dimensional profiles that selective admissions offices value.

Financial Aid and College Placement

Severn awarded nearly $3 million in need-based financial aid last year, making the school more financially accessible than the sticker price alone suggests. Admission is selective, and each year there are more qualified applicants than available spots. College placement reflects strong outcomes: graduates regularly attend selective universities across the country, and admissions offices at Ivy League and top-20 institutions are familiar with the school’s academic profile.

From a college admissions standpoint: Severn is the most comprehensive independent school option in the Annapolis area. It is well suited to students who want the full breadth of a traditional independent school experience, including strong athletics, extensive AP access, and a supportive, college-counseling-focused environment. The Fellows project, in particular, is a distinctive differentiator for students who engage with it seriously. Admissions offices at selective colleges know Severn well, and students who combine strong academics with genuine extracurricular depth and a well-developed personal narrative are well positioned at a wide range of institutions.

Key School

Independent · Annapolis, MD

Metric	Data
Grades	Preschool–12
Enrollment	~598–664
Student-Teacher Ratio	9:1
Average Class Size	13–16
Average SAT	1304–1340
Average ACT	29
Graduation Rate	100%
HYPSM Rate	~5%
Top-25 University Rate	~17%
Research 1 University Rate	~42%
Merit Scholarships (graduates)	84%+
Affiliation	NAIS member; progressive, inquiry-based model
Campus	15 acres, 4 miles from downtown Annapolis

Academic Philosophy and Outcomes

Key School is Annapolis’s premier progressive independent school and one of the most academically distinctive institutions in the region. Founded in 1958 and situated on a 15-acre campus four miles from downtown Annapolis, the school serves approximately 598 to 664 students from preschool through grade 12 with a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio and average class sizes of 13 to 16. Key is, notably, a member of NAIS and operates on an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary academic model that differs meaningfully from the traditional AP-heavy approach of most area schools.

The school’s academic outcomes are striking. Approximately 5% of recent graduates have enrolled at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, or MIT; another 17% have attended top-25 national universities; and about 42% have enrolled at Research 1 universities. Moreover, over 84% of graduates receive merit scholarships from their colleges, a figure that reflects both strong academic preparation and successful positioning in the admissions process. The average SAT of 1304 to 1340 and average ACT of 29 further signal consistent academic strength. Key emphasizes grit, tenacity, and resourcefulness as dispositions alongside intellectual depth, and its college counseling program builds those qualities into the application process from the earliest grade levels.

What Sets Key Apart for Admissions

Key School is particularly well suited to students who thrive in discussion-driven, project-based environments and who bring genuine intellectual curiosity to their work. The school’s progressive model means that students’ transcripts will look different from standard AP-heavy applications. That difference, when contextualized well, is not a liability. On the contrary, admissions offices at selective colleges that know Key understand the rigor of its program and value the independence of thought it cultivates. Students, however, should be prepared to articulate their learning experience clearly in essays and interviews.

From a college admissions standpoint: Key School is among the strongest independent school options in the region for students targeting highly selective colleges. Its HYPSM placement rate, merit scholarship outcomes, and NAIS membership place it in the same tier as other top independent schools in the Mid-Atlantic. Students who choose Key and are targeting the most selective universities should engage closely with the school’s college counseling program from ninth grade and should build external recognition through competitions, research, and community engagement that supplements the school’s rigorous but non-AP curriculum.

St. Mary’s High School

Catholic · Annapolis, MD

Metric	Data
Grades	PK–12
High School Enrollment	~496
Student-Teacher Ratio	15:1
Average Class Size	20–25
Faculty with Advanced Degrees	80%
Average SAT	1230
Average ACT	27
Average GPA	3.62
Graduation Rate	100%
Four-Year College Attendance	92%
Affiliation	Catholic (Archdiocese of Baltimore); Cognia accredited

Block Schedule, Faculty, and Academic Model

St. Mary’s High School is Annapolis’s leading Catholic college preparatory school, serving approximately 496 high school students in the heart of downtown Annapolis. Founded in the tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it is accredited by Cognia and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The school’s distinctive block schedule, in which students attend four 85-minute classes per day, is a hallmark that alumni consistently credit as a significant factor in their college success. That format, in turn, allows for deeper engagement with course material, extended laboratory time, and more substantive discussion than a traditional 45-minute period structure permits.

The faculty holds advanced degrees at a rate of 80%, and the student-teacher ratio of 15:1 supports meaningful teacher-student relationships.

College Placement and Athletic Recruitment

Recent graduating classes have been accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy, Brown, Georgetown, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, West Point, and dozens of other competitive institutions. The Class of 2022, for instance, earned acceptance to 167 colleges and universities in 23 states. Furthermore, 30 students from that class were recruited to compete athletically at the collegiate level, reflecting the school’s dual emphasis on academic and athletic preparation.

From a college admissions standpoint: St. Mary’s is the strongest faith-based college preparatory option in the Annapolis area. Its block schedule produces genuinely well-prepared college students, and the 100% graduation and 92% four-year college attendance rates reflect consistent institutional execution. Students targeting highly selective national universities may find that supplementing the school’s college counseling with outside strategic support is worthwhile. Nevertheless, motivated St. Mary’s students with strong AP records, clear extracurricular profiles, and compelling personal narratives regularly reach competitive universities both regionally and nationally.

Other Notable Options

Several additional schools in the Annapolis area serve specific student populations and are worth noting for families evaluating the full landscape.

Crofton High School ranks #27 in Maryland and is the newest comprehensive high school in Anne Arundel County, having opened in 2022. The school serves the growing Crofton community north of Annapolis and offers AP and honors coursework. It is worth monitoring as the school matures, as newer schools often show rapid improvement in academic metrics and college placement outcomes as their first classes graduate. For families in the Crofton area, the school is already a solid and improving option for college-bound students.

Indian Creek School is a PreK through 12 independent school located on a 114-acre campus north of Annapolis. It emphasizes kindness, well-being, and academic excellence, with an average class size of 16 and a community culture that many families describe as particularly supportive. The school is a strong option for families seeking an independent school experience in a less competitive, more nurturing environment.

How College Transitions Helps Annapolis-Area Families

College Transitions works with students from across the Annapolis area, including students from Severna Park High School, Broadneck, South River, Annapolis High, Severn School, Key School, St. Mary’s, Indian Creek, and other public and independent schools in Anne Arundel County. We help families understand:

• How selective colleges interpret applicants from specific Annapolis-area schools
• Which academic choices carry the most admissions weight for a given student’s target institutions
• Where internal competition at a given school is most intense
• How to build differentiated extracurricular and personal narratives in a strong but competitive Mid-Atlantic market
• How the Naval Academy and service academy pathways factor into a strategic and well-balanced college list

Final Thoughts

The Annapolis area offers a genuinely strong and varied secondary-school landscape across public, charter, independent, and faith-based environments. Students can reach highly selective colleges from several different starting points. In each case, however, success depends on the alignment between a student’s profile, school environment, and admissions strategy.

Severna Park and Broadneck lead the AACPS public schools in AP depth, recognition, and selective college placement outcomes. South River, meanwhile, is an underappreciated strength for STEM-oriented students. Severn School offers the most comprehensive traditional independent school experience in the region. Key School, for its part, provides the strongest progressive independent school pathway for students who thrive in inquiry-based environments and are aiming at highly selective institutions. St. Mary’s delivers a faith-centered, block-schedule college preparatory experience with a consistent and impressive track record of college placement.

Wherever your student attends, College Transitions helps families in the Annapolis area turn strong academic options into clear, differentiated admissions plans.

Additional Resources

• Case Study: How One Annapolis Student Earned Admission to Selective Colleges
• College Admissions from Annapolis, MD: Strengths, Challenges, and What Families Should Know
• Sailing Toward Selective Colleges: How Annapolis, Maryland Students Can Stand Out in the Admissions Process
• Annapolis College Admissions Consultants