What Southern High School does

Southern High School is a public secondary institution serving grades 9-12 in Harwood, Maryland, operated by Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and funded exclusively through public education appropriations. Tracing its origins to 1920 at Tracey's Landing, the school moved to Lothian in 1933 and relocated to its current 4400 Solomons Island Road campus in 1968 (formally dedicated March 21, 1971). The school serves 1,000+ students with a stated 93% graduation rate and operates 30+ athletics teams and extracurricular activities. Educational delivery is structured across 15 academic departments plus 6 educational support units (counseling, library, psychology/social work, testing, bilingual services, technology), with current leadership under Principal Angela Hopkins (serving since 2019).

The school's core product is a college-preparatory curriculum differentiated by three signature offerings: the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college-readiness system with a named coordinator and multi-teacher faculty; the Signature Program in Design: Preservation & Innovation; and a CASE-certified Agriculture Education program (Animal Science, Plant Science, Biotechnology, Agriculture Research & Development) affiliated with the National FFA Organization. Supporting products include the College & Career Resource Center (FAFSA assistance, college applications), Testing Services coordinating PSAT/SAT/ACT/AP/Accuplacer/HSA assessments with accommodation handling, Library Media Center with MackinVIA digital access and YouSeeMore catalog, and Athletics supported by Hudl video analysis and Family ID registration. Technology infrastructure is provided by AACPS district-wide: Google Workspace for Education, Naviance college/career planning, and an Online School Payments system.

The business model is non-commercial. Revenue flows entirely from government sources — AACPS district budget allocations derived from Maryland state education funding and Anne Arundel County local taxes. There is no product pricing, sales motion, or equity ownership. Ancillary nominal fees (parking pass $30, PTSO membership $15, Music Boosters $10, class dues $50) are collected through the OSM (Online School Payments) system and routed to independent booster organizations, not the school's operating budget. Customer (student) concentration is dictated by residential zoning within southern Anne Arundel County, and the institution operates as a single campus with no geographic alternatives for zoned families. Booster organizations (PTSO, Athletic Boosters, Music Boosters, FFA Alumni, BCAB, CAC, SASF) form the surrounding community engagement layer, with the Southern Alumni Scholarship Foundation having disbursed over $470,000 in cumulative scholarships to graduating seniors.

Name

Southern High School

Legal name

Southern High School

Website

https://southernhigh.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Southern High School is a public high school serving 1,000+ students in grades 9-12 in Harwood, Maryland, operated by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. It delivers college-preparatory academics including the AVID program, CASE-certified Agriculture Education, and a Signature Program in Design: Preservation & Innovation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Public secondary education
• College preparatory programs
• High school athletics
• College career counseling
• Agricultural science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Funded through Anne Arundel County Public Schools district budget, state education funding, and local taxes. No commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Southern High School is a public grade 9-12 high school in Harwood, Maryland, operated within the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) district. It delivers secondary education across 15 academic departments, supplemented by a Signature Program in Design: Preservation & Innovation, AVID college readiness system, CASE-certified Agriculture program, College & Career Resource Center, Library Media Center, Testing Services, 30+ athletics teams, and student support services (counseling, psychology, social work). The school is publicly funded through AACPS district allocations and does not charge tuition to enrolled students.

Product overview

Southern High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Harwood, Maryland. The school's product portfolio centers on its comprehensive educational offerings across 15 academic departments, including core college-preparatory programs, the AVID college-readiness system, a Signature Program focused on Design: Preservation & Innovation, and CASE-certified Agriculture Education with FFA student organization. Supporting these academic products are the College & Career Resource Center, Library Media Center with digital resource access, and Testing Services coordinating PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP, and other assessments. The school also provides Southern Athletics (30+ teams), student support services (counseling, psychology, social work), and multiple booster organizations for parent and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Programs (15 Departments) Comprehensive high school curriculum across 15 academic departments including Agriculture, Art, AVID, Business Education, ELL, English, Family and Consumer Science, Health/PE/Dance, Mathematics, Music, Science, Signature Program, Social Studies, Special Education, Technology, and World Language for grades 9-12 students.
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) College readiness system and academic elective course designed to increase school-wide learning and performance, focusing on students in the academic middle with college aspirations.
• Signature Program: Design: Preservation & Innovation School signature program focused on design thinking approaches to preservation and innovation challenges.
• CASE Agriculture Education Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) certified program offering courses in Animal Science, Plant Science, Animal & Plant Biotechnology, and Agriculture Research & Development; students may be eligible to earn college credit.
• Southern FFA Chapter National FFA Organization student chapter supporting agricultural education through leadership development, competitions, and community involvement.
• College & Career Resource Center Resource center helping students with college applications, career planning, FAFSA completion, and post-secondary transitions.
• Library Media Center School library providing physical and digital resources, ebooks, research support, and library services including MackinVIA digital access and YouSeeMore catalog.
• Testing Services Comprehensive testing coordination including PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP exams, ACCUPLACER, and HSA assessments with accommodation services for IEP and 504 students.
• Southern Athletics Program Athletic program with 30+ teams and extracurricular activities, supported by Hudl video platform and Family ID registration system.
• Student Support Services Support services including School Counseling (6 counselors), School Psychology & Social Work Services (3 staff), Bilingual Facilitator, and Pupil Personnel Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% graduation rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• College BoardcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for SAT, PSAT, and Advanced Placement testing. School serves as testing center for College Board exams including AP exams, PSAT/NMSQT, and SAT School Day testing. Testing coordinator manages College Board accommodations applications.
• ACT, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for ACT standardized testing. School provides testing accommodations coordination for students taking the ACT college entrance exam.
• NaviancecoreTechnology or IntegrationCollege and career readiness platform used by students for college search, career exploration, and application tracking. Students access through student.naviance.com/southernhs.
• CASE (Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASE is a national organization providing curriculum and certification for agricultural education. Southern High's Agriculture program is CASE-certified, with faculty Dr. Stacy Eckels holding CASE certifications (AFNER & ARD). Students can receive college credits upon completion.
• National FFA OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFA alumni and supporters network supporting agricultural education students. School has active FFA chapter with alumni organization and community support.
• Business & Community Advisory Board (BCAB) SponsorsminorOthersBCAB includes numerous local business sponsors supporting student programs including: Annalisa Cooper (The Greene Turtle), Anne Arundel County Police Department, Blades of Green, Chaney Enterprises, Colonial Electric, Greenstreet Growers, Muddy Creek Animal Hospital, Rotary Club of South Anne Arundel County, and many others. Sponsors support career expo, mock interviews, resume development, and internship programs.
• Southern Alumni Scholarship Foundation (SASF)coreOthersNon-profit alumni scholarship organization that has awarded over $470,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. Accepts donations and hosts annual fundraiser. Mission to assist deserving students in achieving post-secondary education.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• South River High School: Fellow AACPS public high school serving grades 9-12 in Edgewater, MD. Directly comparable in mission, governance, and student demographics; historically carved out of Southern's attendance zone in 1978, making it the closest peer for enrollment and program competition.
• Arundel High School: AACPS public high school in Gambrills, MD offering college-prep curriculum, AP courses, athletics, and CTE pathways. Operates within the same district governance, funding model, and accountability framework as Southern, making it the most like-for-like comparable.
• Annapolis High School: AACPS public high school located in the county seat of Annapolis with similar curriculum, signature programs, and athletic offerings. Directly comparable in funding source (district/state), student services breadth, and Blue-Ribbon-era reputation within the same district.
• Severna Park High School: AACPS public high school in Severna Park, MD serving similar suburban Anne Arundel County population. Comparable in scale, curriculum breadth, athletic footprint, and college-prep orientation, competing for similar college-bound families within the same district.
• Crofton High School: AACPS public high school in Crofton, MD. While newer than Southern, it operates within the same district governance and competes for similar college-bound families in the Anne Arundel County public school system with comparable curriculum and extracurricular profiles.
• Glen Burnie High School: AACPS public high school in Glen Burnie, MD serving a similar suburban corridor within Anne Arundel County. Directly comparable in district governance, public funding model, comprehensive curriculum, and extracurricular scale to Southern High.
• Broadneck High School: AACPS public high school in Annapolis-area serving grades 9-12 with comparable AP offerings, athletic programs, and college-prep focus. Shares district funding structure, magnet/signature program model, and accountability metrics with Southern.
• Chesapeake High School: AACPS public high school in Pasadena, MD with similar curriculum, athletics, and college-preparation emphasis. Operates under the same district funding and accountability framework as Southern, making it a directly comparable suburban Maryland public high school.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SHSaacps

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern High School