Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School

Advancing Education. Enhancing Futures

SMA Application Portal - Opens Oct 13 (through Dec 1)

Click here to access the online application portal for HCPS magnet programs. Only current 8th grade students (currently enrolled in Algebra 1 or Geometry) are permitted to apply. 

Join us on Thursday, October 26, 2023 for our OPEN HOUSE!

  • 6:30-7pm: Presentation in the Auditorium - overview of the program
  • 7-8:30pm: SMA 11th and 12th grade students will lead families on a tour, answering all of your questions along the way and taking you to meet our amazing teaching!

An interview with SMA Mathematics Teacher Mark Evans is featured in Towson University's Sprig 2023 issue of Applied and Industrial Mathematics. Download the article here!

Congratulations to Yvonne Gabriel (Science Teacher) - She was just announced as a Maryland finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Next step - Nationals!

  • If you are interested in applying to attend the SMA please visit our Prospective Students tab!

Our School

The Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School is a school-within-a-school magnet program that provides academically talented students with educational experiences that integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics beyond the traditional advanced program. Admission to this rigorous four-year program is by competitive application based on prior academic success, interest and motivation in science and mathematics, teacher recommendations and written communication skills. Each year hundreds of students apply for the 55 seats in the freshman class. Entering students must be ready for Algebra II as an entry level mathematics class, having completed courses in Algebra I and geometry prior to high school.

Student Scores

Class of 2023 Grade Frequency Distribution

Weighted GPA Range

5.00 – 4.50    61%

4.49 – 4.00    32%

3.99 – 3.50     7%

AP Scores: 2022-2023

SMA Spirit Wear

Show your SMA pride with customized SMA logo apparel. We are in the process of working with a new vendor. A link will be made available here once our new virtual store is set up.

Testimonials

SMA Parents and Mentors

Lauren is spending this semester of her junior year at Boston University abroad in Quito, Ecuador doing a tropical ecology program. She just recently spent her 'spring break' on the Galapagos Islands with her fellow classmates as part of the semester program. We owe a lot of it to the opportunities she had attending the SMA/AHS

The Betz Family

Parents of two SMA graduates

I am absolutely sure that being at SMA not only gave her the shot to get into MIT, but also gave her the skills to handle the work load. She's been there for 3 weeks and classes started last Wednesday. The homework load is already crazy - but to her it has not been a big deal. She was so adjusted to the homework load at SMA that it doesn't bother her. They work in groups to do a lot of the homework there, so all the group work that they do in SMA gives great college skills.

Just wanted you to know that the program is appreciated way beyond high school, and hope to see you in 2 years when my youngest will be in 9th grade.

Parent of Kacie Bawiec

Parent of two SMA graduates

Mr. Proctor has demonstrated an enthusiasm for knowledge, understanding and hard work that defy the 'requirements' of the SMA program. I highly encourage using him as an example of 'building a future and a career start' through the SMA program. It is never too late to leave a strong favorable impression with future employers.

Capstone Mentor

to Kenny Proctor - Class of 2015

Not sure if Naveed and Nishad told you. They got accepted into BS/MD 6 year accelerated medical school program with Penn State and Jefferson Medical School. They will be in Penn State for 2 years and then go to Jefferson Medical School for their MD. It is only possible due the excellent education they received at the SMA with the exceptional teachers like yourselves.

The Rahman Family 

Parents of three SMA graduates

My wife and I couldn't be happier with the outstanding education that our daughter is receiving. It's all a result of the care and compassion that you and the other teachers have for her. Your consistent correspondence is pertinent, professional, and greatly appreciated. Thanks!

SMA Parent

He could not have made a more perfect choice as to where to spend his high school years. Thank you all so much for all the care and concern you showed him and for all the extra help you gave him over the years.

SMA Parent

First, I once again want to express my sincerest thank you to all of the SMA teachers, but especially to the two of you [Mrs. Ashley and Mrs. Liberto]. You all provided both Jill and Emmy with an exceptional education, a phenomenal experience, and in Emmy's case the courage to take a risk. The girls still talk very fondly of their time at SMA and we all believe that a large amount of the success they have had beyond high school is because of the amazing program and preparation you all provided them.

Jennifer Smith

Parent of two SMA graduates

I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for ALL of your communications throughout the summer and as this new school year gets under way. You have made the transition to SMA for us as parents very easy.

SMA Parent

Testimonials

SMA Graduates

The Science and Math Academy has done an excellent job of preparing me for both college and the professional environment. Even three years graduated from the SMA, I'm still academically ahead of my peers- a fact I owe to not just the quality high school education I received, but more so to the discipline and academic habits I learned out of necessity through the experience. The opportunity to do professional research for my senior capstone project has translated into a full time job with the same individual now that I've graduated college, and I feel prepared to incorporate the same principles I learned at the SMA to succeed in the workplace.

Alec Kolodziejczyk

University of Maryland

SMA Class of 2019  

I would not be where I am today without The Science and Math Academy. SMA has very successfully prepared me for college by constantly challenging me and supporting my academic interests. I am graduating from UMD in three years because the SMA teachers challenged me to take several AP courses and prepared me for even the hardest college chemistry classes like quantum chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Even as a senior in college, I still find skills that I learned from the teachers at SMA useful. For example, my professors have noticed that my lab reports and presentations are superior to those of my peers. The research I did as part of the capstone project has been very useful in developing my lab skills, and I am very proficient in college labs because of it. I kept in contact with my capstone mentor who has given me several summer internships, and a year-long contract when I graduate from UMD.

Noah Roberts

University of Maryland

SMA Class of 2019


I thought I'd write to let you know about how much the SMA has helped me at UVA and at my part-time job. I currently work in a lab within the School of Medicine at UVA, under Dr. Deshmukh. According to him, one of the major reasons he hired me over the other applicants was my problem solving and technical experience- and I have to say, this has been reflected in my workload. I think the programming classes probably gave me the best head start. I'd hazard to say that about 3 of my core classes thus far have required or benefited largely from some programming experience, and I think that there's still more to come. Ultimately, I think the SMA's emphasis on problem solving and inventive solutions has done me wonders thus far.

Jacob Rosenthal

University of Virginia

SMA Class of 2011

Everyone wants to be my partner in lab because I'm the only one who actually knows what I'm doing. Everything is so easy for me and I'm really glad that I went to SMA and the teachers were as strict on us as they were because that made the college transition very easy.

Rachael Heisey

UMD

SMA Class of 2015

I really wanted to reach out today and thank you and all of the other teachers in the SMA for all the skills you taught me. This semester I got a job on campus at an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow (UTF) which means I basically help an engineering professor lead students through an engineering project where they design and build a small vehicle, the class is basically taught like SRT3 with Mr. Evans, with reports and building and a final poster presentation but all within guidelines to complete the task.

I wake up this morning to an email from the professor I work with saying she was sick and couldn't come so I have to teach a 2 hour lecture about how to write a technical engineering report and how to give a project proposal presentation. I have never been so grateful for SRT in my entire life. I don't think I could have been as successful and comfortable being put in that sort of situation without the guidance and practice that the SMA gave me...I just wanted to let you know how much I have grown to appreciate the experiences I had in high school. 

Lauren Drumm

UMD

SMA Class of 2015

It's been over a year now and I still have great memories of spending time back on the third floor of AHS with everyone, friends and teachers alike. Over time I've grown to see how truly great of a program the SMA was. First of all the rigor of the SMA has been instrumental in helping to develop the skills and work ethic required to do well here at MIT (and anywhere else of course). Furthermore, I'm several weeks into my third semester now, and the lab requirements echo those of SRT courses, but actually have softer, less rigorous expectations for the students and lab notebooks. I honestly feel that I'm at a huge advantage whenever doing technical writing or documenting work within a lab notebook. The SMA gave me memories, experiences, and it gave me a tangible product that I can share and be proud of. 

Ignacio Estay Forno

MIT

SMA Class of 2014

I wanted to let you know that I am doing great down here! I never fully appreciated what all the upperclassmen meant when they told how first semester in college was easier than senior year at SMA. My favorite classes right now are Calc and Phys because I love answering questions that other people years ahead of me are stumped on. 

Andrew Wood

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

SMA Class of 2015

I just wanted to personally say thank you for everything you have done for the SMA and the way you have pushed us to take harder classes. I just got back from my orientation at Clemson and I'm happy to say that I have 43 credits due to my AP courses. This means I am technically starting in as a sophomore which is such a surprise! Also since we were required to take Physics junior year I have now passed out of both physics classes I needed to take in college which is an incredible relief! Also I am completely done with math thanks to AP Calc AB and AP Stat. This is also a huge relief and allows me to continue on with higher biology courses and possibly even add a minor. 

Alison Sansone

Clemson University

SMA Class of 2014

I recently had some exciting news that I really wanted to share with SMA. I was accepted to Yale as a full-time Chemistry Ph.D student starting in the Fall of 2022. I also expect to graduate from St. Mary's College of Maryland in the Spring with a double major in Chemistry and Mathematics, and a double minor in French and Materials Science with a 3.95 overall GPA.

I feel really strongly I was only able to accomplish all of this because of the coursework I was able to take as a part of SMA. I really enjoyed my time there, and I think it made me a much better student and person overall.

Emma McNesby

St. Mary's College of Maryland

SMA Class of 2018 

I'd like to start off by saying thank you! It's mind blowing how well I'm doing in college, mostly because of the studying skills I've learned and challenging material I've faced in the SMA. I still find myself taking notes just as I did in APES, and I'm currently working on a robotics project to create a coil gun, and I'm documenting my progress just as I did in SRT.

Dillon Capolongo

UMD

SMA Class of 2020

 

I just wanted to give you an update since I have graduated in May. I changed my major to biology as I have realized that is what I want to pursue. I have had a few exams and have gotten A's on all of them, psych, anatomy, and chem. I currently am volunteering in a professor's research lab doing cell culture. I see that I was very lucky to have SRT as I already dipped my toes into research, and now people in the lab actually ask me for help.

McKenzie Hall

Salisbury University

SMA Class of 2019 

I like to think of my honors program here in UMD (Gemstone) as SMA 2.0 haha. We do a 3-year long research project in teams then present the project at the end of senior year (along with a poster)!

Gabby Lavarias

UMD

SMA Class of 2018