What Is the Reservoir High School Area?
It's the set of addresses the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) assigns to Reservoir High School, which opened in 2002 at 11550 Scaggsville Road in Fulton. HCPSS draws attendance areas address by address, so the zone covers much of Fulton and a large part of North Laurel, not one town.
Most of the zone goes to Lime Kiln, Murray Hill or Hammond middle schools, with a small piece going to Patuxent Valley. Below that, elementary assignments vary, and prices can differ a lot between them. A home in the Fulton Elementary and Lime Kiln Middle part of the zone often sells for noticeably more than a similar home zoned for Laurel Woods or Hammond Elementary, even inside the same high school zone. Pointers Run Elementary covers a smaller section too.
Which Neighborhoods Are in the Zone?
On the Fulton side, the neighborhoods my buyers ask about most are:
- Maple Lawn and Maple Lawn South.
- Maple Highlands, one of the newest communities in the zone.
- Beaufort Park, with larger lots and everything from upscale custom homes to ranchers, split foyers and older colonials.
On the North Laurel side, buyers often look at Cherrytree Farm, Hammond Hills and Cardinal Forest. For buyers watching their budget, High Ridge Park, North Laurel Park, the Whiskey Bottom townhomes and older ranchers and Cape Cods that aren't part of a neighborhood are the more affordable ways into the zone. That's a starting point, not an official HCPSS list, so check each address.
What Kinds of Homes Are in the Reservoir Area?
The range here is wider than almost any zone in Howard County. Maple Lawn was built from the early 2000s on, with townhomes and large single-family homes, and Maple Lawn South and Maple Highlands added newer homes in the 2020s. North Laurel has a lot of 1950s through 1970s homes in places like High Ridge Park and North Laurel Park, and 1980s and 1990s colonials in Cardinal Forest, Hammond Hills and Cherrytree Farm.
That's why prices swing so much from one end of the zone to the other. For current numbers, the Reservoir High School area market report tracks active, under contract and sold homes in the zone.
What Do Buyers Like About the Reservoir Area?
Maple Lawn's town center is a big draw. It's walkable, with a decent number of restaurants and shops, and newer construction than most of the area. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is right across Johns Hopkins Road, so a lot of APL employees buy in Maple Lawn to be close to work.
Location is the other big one. The zone sits between Route 29 and I-95, so commutes toward Columbia, Baltimore, DC and Fort Meade are manageable. That makes it a good fit for a lot of my Fort Meade relocation buyers.
Beaufort Park has a feel of its own. It backs to woods that connect to the Rocky Gorge Reservoir on the Patuxent River, where you can canoe and kayak with a WSSC watershed use permit, and there's a large pond across from the neighborhood entrance that you see every time you head out.
What Should You Know Before Buying in the Reservoir Zone?
Weigh the Maple Lawn tradeoff. Maple Lawn's HOA fees run higher than many neighborhoods nearby, and lots are on the smaller side. I help you get the fee amount and what it covers, so you can compare homes on the real monthly cost.
Plan for updates on older homes. Many North Laurel homes are 40 to 70 years old. Unless they've been updated, expect original kitchens, baths and systems. 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.
Plan for well and septic inspections. Homes on larger lots outside a neighborhood, and homes in neighborhoods like Beaufort Park, can be on well and septic. That usually means a well yield test, a water quality test and a septic evaluation. I help you get them scheduled inside your inspection period.
Check the school assignment yourself. The school fields on a listing are filled in by the listing side and aren't a guarantee, and some listings in neighborhoods like Beaufort Park and Maple Highlands leave them blank, so those homes may not show up in a Reservoir search. Before you write an offer, look up the exact address on the HCPSS school locator.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Reservoir High School Area
What areas are in the Reservoir High School zone? The Reservoir High School zone covers much of Fulton, including Maple Lawn, plus a large part of North Laurel in Howard County. Homes in the zone have Fulton or Laurel addresses. Ryan Breeden helps buyers compare the two sides, since prices and home styles differ a lot between them.
What middle schools go with Reservoir High School? Most of the zone goes to Lime Kiln Middle, Murray Hill Middle or Hammond Middle, with a small piece going to Patuxent Valley Middle. Elementary assignments vary too, and home prices can differ noticeably from one elementary and middle school zone to the next. Ryan Breeden suggests checking all three schools for each address.
How do I confirm a home is zoned for Reservoir High School? Look up the exact address on the HCPSS school locator, because the school fields on a listing aren't a guarantee and some listings leave them blank. 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.
Which neighborhoods are popular in the Reservoir area? On the Fulton side, Maple Lawn, Maple Lawn South, Maple Highlands and Beaufort Park come up most. On the North Laurel side, buyers often look at Cherrytree Farm, Hammond Hills and Cardinal Forest. High Ridge Park, North Laurel Park and Whiskey Bottom are common picks for buyers watching their budget.
Is the Reservoir area a good fit for Fort Meade buyers? It can be. The zone sits between Route 29 and I-95, with Route 32 and Route 198 heading toward Fort Meade, so a lot of military and NSA buyers look here. Ryan Breeden holds the Military Relocation Professional certification and helps PCS buyers compare commute, price and school zone, including buyers who can't tour in person.
Do homes in the Reservoir area have well and septic? Some do, mostly homes on larger lots outside a neighborhood and homes in neighborhoods like Beaufort Park. Buying one usually means a well yield test, a water quality test and a septic evaluation. Ryan Breeden helps buyers get those inspections scheduled within the inspection period.
What are HOA fees like in Maple Lawn? Maple Lawn has HOA fees that are higher than many neighborhoods in the area, and lots are on the smaller side, which is the tradeoff for its town center and walkability. Ryan Breeden helps buyers get the fee amount and what it covers before they make an offer.
Talk With Ryan About the Reservoir 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, the Military Relocation Professional certification and a 100% client satisfaction rating, and he has sold many homes in the Reservoir zone, especially in Maple Lawn, Cardinal Forest, Hammond Hills and Beaufort Park.
Want a heads-up when a home in the Reservoir 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.
