Welcome to Hampstead Hill Academy
Hampstead Hill Academy is a PreK through 8th grade Baltimore City public charter school operated by the Baltimore Curriculum Project. Our school is ranked Number 1 in City Schools in elementary and middle school grades.
HHA’s elementary grades are ranked in the 94th percentile in the State of Maryland, and our middle grades are ranked in the 98th percentile in the State of Maryland.
For the 2025 school year, Hampstead Hill Academy received a
5-star rating on the Report Card from the Maryland State Department of Education | Read more here.
What’s Happening at HHA
View upcoming school events, student activities and important dates. Visit the HHA Calendar page for the complete calendars.
UPDATED 10.1.26
From the Desk of Principal Hornbeck
October, 2026
the lasting connections in our school community.
Dear HHA Families,
I hope this note finds you well as we settle into the rhythm of the school year. It’s hard to believe we’re already into October—the leaves are turning, the mornings are crisper, and our classrooms are buzzing with learning and laughter.
A Note on Enrollment – By design, our enrollment is down by about 25 students this year. This means, for example, that our kindergarten homerooms each have only about 30 students, a size that allows for more individualized attention and a cozier learning environment. I want to be transparent that while this reduction will not require us to cut instructional staff, it does create a budget deficit of just over $300,000 that we will need to address later this fall. We’ll keep you informed as we work through this thoughtfully and deliberately.
Attendance Off to a Strong Start – Attendance is off to a strong start, and I’m grateful for your partnership in getting students to school on time. That said, I want to gently remind everyone that attendance matters—a lot. With fewer than 30 days in so far, any student who has already missed three or more days is considered chronically absent. Let’s work together to make sure our kids are here, on time, every day.
Health Reminders – Now is the time to get your annual flu and COVID shots, if your doctor recommends that course of action for you or your children. Keeping our community healthy helps keep our classrooms full and our learning uninterrupted.
Safety Reminders – A few important safety notes: ● Please do not cross in the middle of Linwood Avenue. The old unattended crosswalk will no longer be there, as it and the temporary ramps are being removed. Please cross at the lights at Eastern and Linwood Avenues or Linwood Avenue and Fleet Street. ● A reminder not to bring your dog to drop-off or pickup. If you must bring your dog, please stay on the other side of the street to meet your child. No dogs are permitted on school property, which includes the sidewalks on our side of the street.
Playground Updates – The new playground is well reviewed, and kids in PreK through third grade are having a blast at recess each day. We are working to solve the “playground pond” problem by adding a storm drain. Our grades 4 – 8 students still enjoy the larger fields over at Patterson Park. I’d like to thank Ms. Sheena for helping manage the playground crowds in the afternoon. A reminder that no child should be on the playground unsupervised after school.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month – We’re also right in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15), a time when we celebrate the independence days of many Latin American countries and honor the contributions of Latino communities. Our Director of Latino Outreach, Rosalia Castelan, has organized wonderful weekly events—thank you, Ms. Castelan!
Bright News to Share- We’ve had a strong start to the school year. The energy in the building has been positive, and our students are diving into learning. Thank you for all you do to support that.
With warmth and gratitude,
Matt Hornbeck
Principal
