For the 2025 school year, there are 75 public schools serving 54,042 students in Howard County, MD (there are 48 private schools, serving 7,572 private students). 88% of all K-12 students in Howard County, MD are educated in public schools (compared to the MD state average of 86%). Howard County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Maryland.
The top ranked public schools in Howard County, MD are River Hill High School, Centennial High School and Mount Hebron High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Howard County, MD public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Maryland public school average of 25%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 45% statewide average). Schools in Howard County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Maryland public schools.
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public school average of 68% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Howard County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
River Hill High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
12101 Clarksville Pike
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7120
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7120
Grades: 9-12
| 1,462 students
Rank: #22.
Centennial High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
4300 Centennial Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2856
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2856
Grades: 9-12
| 1,364 students
Rank: #33.
Mount Hebron High School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
9440 Old Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2880
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2880
Grades: 9-12
| 1,518 students
Rank: #44.
Clarksville Middle School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
6535 S Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7057
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7057
Grades: 6-8
| 643 students
Rank: #55.
Worthington Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4570 Roundhill Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2825
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2825
Grades: PK-5
| 404 students
Rank: #66.
Folly Quarter Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
13500 Triadelphia Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-1506
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-1506
Grades: 6-8
| 683 students
Rank: #77.
Waverly Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
10220 Wetherburn Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2819
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2819
Grades: PK-5
| 868 students
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Fulton Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
11600 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Grades: PK-5
| 866 students
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Manor Woods Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
11575 Frederick Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7165
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7165
Grades: K-5
| 675 students
Rank: #1010.
Glenelg High School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
14025 Burnt Woods Rd
Glenelg, MD 21737
(410) 313-5528
Glenelg, MD 21737
(410) 313-5528
Grades: 9-12
| 1,367 students
Rank: #1111.
West Friendship Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
12500 Frederick Road
West Friendship, MD 21794
(410) 313-5512
West Friendship, MD 21794
(410) 313-5512
Grades: K-5
| 370 students
Rank: #1212.
Pointers Run Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6600 South Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Grades: PK-5
| 830 students
Rank: #1313.
Centennial Lane Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3825 Centennial Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2800
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2800
Grades: PK-5
| 742 students
Rank: #1414.
Ilchester Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4981 Ilchester Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2524
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2524
Grades: PK-5
| 518 students
Rank: #1515.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
13400 Triadelphia Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2560
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2560
Grades: PK-5
| 625 students
Rank: #1616.
Howard High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
8700 Old Annapolis Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2867
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2867
Grades: 9-12
| 1,529 students
Rank: #1717.
Burleigh Manor Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4200 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2507
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2507
Grades: 6-8
| 776 students
Rank: #1818.
Northfield Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
9125 Northfield Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2806
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2806
Grades: K-5
| 749 students
Rank: #1919.
Bushy Park Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
14601 Carrs Mill Rd
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Grades: PK-5
| 631 students
Rank: #2020.
Clarksville Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
12041 Clarksville Pike
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7050
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7050
Grades: K-5
| 557 students
Rank: #2121.
St. Johns Lane Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2960 Saint Johns Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2813
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2813
Grades: K-5
| 657 students
Rank: #2222.
Lisbon Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
15901 Frederick Rd
Woodbine, MD 21797
(410) 313-5506
Woodbine, MD 21797
(410) 313-5506
Grades: K-5
| 460 students
Rank: #2323.
Lime Kiln Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
11650 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5988
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5988
Grades: 6-8
| 650 students
Rank: #2424.
Atholton High School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6520 Freetown Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-7065
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-7065
Grades: 9-12
| 1,498 students
Rank: #2525.
Rockburn Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6145 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Grades: PK-5
| 672 students
Rank: #2626.
Glenwood Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2680 Rt 97
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5520
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5520
Grades: 6-8
| 492 students
Rank: #2727.
Bellows Spring Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8125 Old Stockbridge Dr
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-5057
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-5057
Grades: PK-5
| 825 students
Rank: #2828.
Ellicott Mills Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4445 Montgomery Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2839
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2839
Grades: 6-8
| 721 students
Rank: #2929.
Waterloo Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5940 Waterloo Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Grades: PK-5
| 626 students
Rank: #3030.
Hammond Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8110 Aladdin Dr
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5890
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5890
Grades: K-5
| 739 students
Rank: #3131.
Dayton Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4691 Ten Oaks Rd
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Grades: PK-5
| 764 students
Rank: #3232.
Reservoir High School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
11550 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8850
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8850
Grades: 9-12
| 1,729 students
Rank: #3333.
Gorman Crossing Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9999 Winter Sun Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Grades: PK-5
| 728 students
Rank: #3434.
Atholton Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6700 Seneca Dr
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Grades: PK-5
| 520 students
Rank: #3535.
Patapsco Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
8885 Old Frederick Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2848
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2848
Grades: 6-8
| 638 students
Show 40 more public schools in Howard County, MD (out of 75 total schools)
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Howard County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
10960 Grantchester Way
Columbia, MD 21044
(800) 382-6010
Columbia, MD 21044
(800) 382-6010
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
6700 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7601
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7601
Grades: PK-8
| 932 students
6700 Cradlewrock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7607
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7607
Grades: 6-8
| 543 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Howard County, MD?
The top ranked public schools in Howard County, MD include River Hill High School, Centennial High School and Mount Hebron High School. Howard County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Maryland.
How many public schools are located in Howard County?
75 public schools are located in Howard County.
What percentage of students in Howard County go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Howard County are educated in public schools (compared to the MD state average of 86%).
What is the racial composition of students in Howard County?
Howard County public schools minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public schools average of 68% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Howard County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Howard County include: Long Reach High School vs. Howard High School, Talbott Springs Elementary School vs. Stevens Forest Elementary School, Jessup Elementary School vs. Bollman Bridge Elementary School
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