The current Havre de Grace High School was established in 1955. A previous building was built in 1896, but was razed and replaced with Havre de Grace Elementary School. The school is named after the town of Havre de Grace, which received its name from the Marquis de La Fayette, the French general. The town was previously known as Susquehanna Lower Ferry. The building is on a little over and according to Maryland state records, the primary structure was built in 1961. In 1991, Havre de Grace High School was designated as a National School of Excellence. Havre de Grace High School operates on a four-period day schedule, with the school day beginning at 7:30 AM and ending at 2:00 PM. Students are enrolled in eight classes for the year. Some classes will meet daily for a semester, while other classes meet every other day. This schedule provides longer periods of instruction with fewer class changes.
Students
The student population at Havre de Grace High School has steadily increased over the past 12 years as shown by the list below. Over the same time period, the graduation rate has steadily risen from a percentage in the high 70s to that in the mid 80s.
Sports
Havre de Grace High School is classified as 1A for Regional and State athletic contests. The school is also a member of the competitive Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference, which comprises high schools in both Harford and Cecil Counties. Fall Sports: Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Volleyball, Golf Winter Sports: Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Wrestling, Swimming, Indoor Track Spring Sports: Softball, Baseball, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Track, Boys Track, Girls Tennis, Boys Tennis CHAMPIONSHIPS Football: State Champions 1976, 1978, 1981, 1986 Boys Soccer: State Champions 1926, 1A Regional Champions 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Boys Basketball: 1A Regional Champions 1986, 1988 Girls Volleyball: 1A Regional Champions 2006, 2007 Girls Lacrosse: 1A/2A Regional Champions 2007 Baseball: 1A Regional Champions 2005, State Champions 1988 Boys Lacrosse: 1A/2A Regional Champions 2006 Track and Field: Many individual Regional and State event champions, Girls 1A North regional champions 2000 Numerous other Harford County and UCBAC conference titles.
In 2000, "Young Americans", a WB network summer series, was filmed in Havre de Grace. The show starred a young Katherine Moennig of "The L Word", Kate Bosworth of "Blue Crush" and "21", and Ian Somerhalder of "LOST" and "The Vampire Diaries". In the spring of 2007, Havre De Grace High School government and history teacher Gary Wasielewski ran a campaign for mayor of the City of Havre de Grace. Wasielewski also served two previous terms on the Havre de Grace City Council from May 2003 to May 2007. The 2007/2008 movie From Within was filmed in Havre de Grace, including a scene in which the high school auditorium was transformed into an evangelical church. Many students from the school as well as other members of the community served as extras in the scene. The movie starsAdam Goldberg as well as Thomas Dekker and Rumer Willis. The former Havre De Grace High School drama teacher, Mark Cummins, also played a small speaking role in the film.
