French, German, and Spanish are offered at most of this school system's high schools, and consistently, a great majority of high school students elect to pursue at least two years of foreign language study. All high schools offer at least four consecutive years of French and Spanish study, and at least two high schools offer advanced placement course offerings in Spanish. Though German is not offered at Harford Technical High School, Havre de Grace High School, Edgewood High School, Aberdeen high School, and Joppatowne High School the student enrollment continues to remain static and sets the trend for the remainder of the State.

A finely articulated foreign language curriculum is consistently in the process of revision, and this curriculum is intentionally designed to align with the national standards of foreign language study. Foreign language educators have set the pace with the development and implementation of Level 1 and Level 2 countywide assessments for all students. These assessments are designed to ensure that all students are meeting similar learning expectations.

Middle schools that offer French, German, or Spanish are Aberdeen Middle School, Bel Air Middle School, and Fallston Middle School. Students enrolled in these middle school foreign language course offerings complete one full year of foreign language study and then matriculate to a Level 2 course offering upon enrollment in high school. Southampton Middle School and Edgewood Middle School offer a Foreign Language Exploratory course offering of seven weeks to sixth, seventh, or eighth grade students. This course provides a very basic introduction of French, German, and Spanish and provides students with a basis for deciding the language they elect to study in high school.

Foreign language education places integral focus on guiding students in developing a comprehensive understanding and ability to communicate in the target language. Students become the benefactors of fundamental and integral concepts that enrich their understanding of the target language studied and its culture.

For more information, visit the Official Office of Foreign Languages Website.