What Is the Centennial High School Area?
It's the set of addresses the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) assigns to Centennial High School, which opened in 1977 at 4300 Centennial Lane in Ellicott City. HCPSS draws attendance areas address by address, so the zone covers a long list of Ellicott City neighborhoods, not one place.
Unlike some Howard County zones, Centennial pulls from three middle schools: Burleigh Manor, Dunloggin and Ellicott Mills. Elementary assignments vary too, so two homes a few streets apart can share Centennial High and still go to different elementary and middle schools.
Centennial High vs. Centennial Lane and Centennial Park
This is the first thing I explain to buyers who aren't familiar with the area. Centennial Lane is a road, Centennial Park is a county park off Route 108, and the Centennial Lane Elementary zone is a separate, smaller elementary zone. Plenty of homes near the park and along Centennial Lane are in the Centennial High zone, but not all of them, and plenty of homes on the far side of the zone are. When a listing says "Centennial," check which one it means.
Which Neighborhoods Are in the Zone?
The neighborhoods my buyers ask about most in the Centennial zone include:
For buyers looking for a more affordable way into the zone, River Mills, Long Gate and Wheatfield come up most. Listings tagged Centennial High also turn up in Centennial Manor, Centennial Estates, Autumn Manor, Taylor Village, Ellicott Crossing, Gwynn Acres and Stone Manor. That's a starting point, not an official HCPSS list, so check each address.
What Kinds of Homes Are in the Centennial Area?
The zone covers a wide range of ages. Dunloggin has a lot of homes from the late 1950s through the 1970s, many with real character and larger lots. Font Hill and Chateau Valley are mostly 1960s to early 1980s. Burleigh Manor, Gray Rock Farm, Wheatfield and Autumn Manor were built mostly in the 1980s and early 1990s. Centennial Overlook came along in the 2000s and 2010s with some of the larger homes in the zone.
Townhomes and condos are mainly in River Mills, Long Gate, Ellicott Crossing and a few newer townhome communities, which is why they're the usual lower-priced way in. For current numbers, the Centennial High School area market report tracks active, under contract and sold homes in the zone.
What Do Buyers Like About the Centennial Area?
Centennial Park is the big one. It's 337 acres with a 54-acre lake and a 2.6-mile paved loop around it, and many of the neighborhoods around the park have access to its trail system without getting in the car.
A lot of the zone has rolling hills, especially Burleigh Manor, Dunloggin and Font Hill. Dunloggin in particular has a unique feel, with older homes, mature trees and bigger lots than you'll find in newer communities. On the other side of the zone, Wheatfield and Long Gate sit across from Long Gate Shopping Center on Montgomery Road, with sidewalks connecting them to a Target, a grocery store, Old Navy, Kohl's and restaurants.
What Should You Know Before Buying in the Centennial Zone?
Plan for updates on older homes. Some homes in Dunloggin, Font Hill and Chateau Valley still need updating, though many have had significant work done before they hit the market. I help you look for potential issues like how the roof, drainage and mechanicals have aged, so you can weigh them before you make an offer.
Check the flood zone in Font Hill. Some sections of Font Hill are in a FEMA flood zone. I help you look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get a flood insurance quote early, so it doesn't surprise you after you're under contract.
Know the lot sizes. Long Gate, Wheatfield and River Mills have smaller lots than neighborhoods like Dunloggin or Burleigh Manor. That's part of why they're more affordable, so it's worth deciding up front how much yard you really want.
Don't trust the neighborhood name alone. Gray Rock Farm often gets confused with Dorsey Hall because Gray Rock Road runs through both. They're separate neighborhoods, so look at the street, not just the name.
Check the school assignment yourself. The school fields on a listing are filled in by the listing side and aren't a guarantee, and HCPSS reviews boundaries from time to time. Before you write an offer, look up the exact address on the HCPSS school locator.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Centennial High School Area
Is the Centennial High School area the same as Centennial Park or Centennial Lane? No. The Centennial High School area is an HCPSS attendance zone. Centennial Park is a county park off Route 108, Centennial Lane is a road, and the Centennial Lane Elementary zone is a separate, smaller elementary zone. Many homes near the park and along Centennial Lane are in the high school zone, but not all of them. Ryan Breeden helps buyers who aren't from the area sort out which Centennial a listing really means.
What middle schools go with Centennial High School? The zone draws from three middle schools: Burleigh Manor, Dunloggin and Ellicott Mills. Which one a home goes to depends on the address, and elementary assignments vary too. Ryan Breeden suggests checking the elementary, middle and high school for each address, not just the high school.
How do I confirm a home is zoned for Centennial High School? Look up the exact address on the HCPSS school locator, because the school fields on a listing aren't a guarantee and boundaries can change. Ryan Breeden looks up the assignment on every home his buyers consider and asks them to verify it on the locator before writing an offer.
Did the 2026-27 boundary review change the Centennial High School zone? No. Centennial High was included in the review, but the plan the Board of Education finalized on December 4, 2025 moved students from Bryant Woods Elementary and Harper's Choice Middle, not Centennial High. Changes for Centennial Lane Elementary were put off to a future boundary review, so buyers in that part of the zone should keep an eye on it.
Which neighborhoods are in the Centennial High School area? Some of the most popular are Burleigh Manor, Dunloggin, Gray Rock Farm, Centennial Overlook, Chateau Valley and Font Hill. River Mills, Long Gate and Wheatfield tend to be more affordable ways into the zone. Ryan Breeden has sold homes in many of these neighborhoods, including River Mills, Long Gate, Burleigh Manor, Dunloggin, Wheatfield and Centennial Estates.
Is Gray Rock Farm part of Dorsey Hall? No. Gray Rock Road runs through both neighborhoods, so buyers often mix them up, but they're separate neighborhoods. Ryan Breeden points out which one a listing is actually in so buyers know which community and school assignment they're looking at.
Are any homes in the Centennial area in a flood zone? Some sections of Font Hill are in a FEMA flood zone. Ryan Breeden helps buyers look up the flood zone for the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get a flood insurance quote early, before they make an offer.
Talk With Ryan About the Centennial Area
Ryan Breeden is a REALTOR with Long & Foster who has helped Howard County buyers and sellers since 2005 and has lived in Howard County for 25+ years. He brings a background in construction and formal appraisal training and a 100% client satisfaction rating, and he has sold homes across the Centennial zone, including River Mills, Long Gate, Burleigh Manor, Dunloggin, Wheatfield and Centennial Estates.
Want a heads-up when a home in the Centennial High zone hits the market? Schedule a Free Buyer Consultation (in person or Zoom) and Ryan will set up an alert for you and walk through the tradeoffs in the zone before you start touring.
