Top Rankings
Howard County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Maryland for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2024-25 school year, there are 14 public high schools serving 18,492 students in Howard County School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public high schools in Maryland.
Public High Schools in Howard County School District have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the Maryland public high school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 56% statewide average).
Public High School in Howard County School District have a Graduation Rate of 95%, which is more than the Maryland average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is River Hill High School, with ≥99% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Maryland or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public high school average of 67% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MD)
# Schools
78 Schools
261 Schools
# Students
57,676 Students
284,412 Students
# Teachers
4,311 Teachers
17,821 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Howard County School District, which is ranked within the top 5% of all 25 school districts in Maryland (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1 out of 25 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
25%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
36%
Graduation Rate
95%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.77
0.73
# American Indian Students
142 Students
763 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
13,586 Students
19,202 Students
% Asian Students
24%
7%
# Hispanic Students
7,854 Students
59,725 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
21%
# Black Students
14,285 Students
96,922 Students
% Black Students
25%
34%
# White Students
17,893 Students
94,535 Students
% White Students
31%
33%
# Hawaiian Students
77 Students
448 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
3,765 Students
12,489 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,451
238
# Students in K Grade:
3,747
280
# Students in 1st Grade:
4,054
308
# Students in 2nd Grade:
4,062
326
# Students in 3rd Grade:
4,193
372
# Students in 4th Grade:
4,289
367
# Students in 5th Grade:
4,275
392
# Students in 6th Grade:
4,400
1,761
# Students in 7th Grade:
4,373
1,799
# Students in 8th Grade:
4,416
2,051
# Students in 9th Grade:
5,084
82,256
# Students in 10th Grade:
4,647
72,892
# Students in 11th Grade:
4,279
60,352
# Students in 12th Grade:
4,406
61,018
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,093 is higher than the state median of $19,549. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,784 is higher than the state median of $18,476. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$1,159 MM
$17,412 MM
Spending
$1,083 MM
$16,456 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,093
$19,549
Spending / Student
$18,784
$18,476
Best Howard County School District Public High Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
River Hill High School
Magnet 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
| 1,424 students
Rank: #22.
Centennial High School
Magnet 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
| 1,392 students
Rank: #33.
Mount Hebron High School
Magnet 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
| 1,621 students
Rank: #44.
Marriotts Ridge High School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
12100 Woodford Dr
Marriottsville, MD 21104
(410) 313-5568
Marriottsville, MD 21104
(410) 313-5568
Grades: 9-12
| 1,716 students
Rank: #55.
Glenelg High School
Magnet 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
| 1,339 students
Rank: #66.
Howard High School
Magnet 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
| 1,741 students
Rank: #77.
Atholton High School
Magnet 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
| 1,467 students
Rank: #88.
Reservoir High School
Magnet 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
| 1,837 students
Rank: #99.
Homewood School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10914 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7081
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7081
Grades: 7-12
| 88 students
Rank: #1010.
Oakland Mills High School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9410 Kilimanjaro Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6945
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6945
Grades: 9-12
| 1,401 students
Rank: #1111.
Hammond High School
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
8800 Guilford Rd
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-7615
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-7615
Grades: 9-12
| 1,287 students
Rank: #1212.
Wilde Lake High School
Magnet School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5460 Trumpeter Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6965
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6965
Grades: 9-12
| 1,341 students
Rank: #1313.
Long Reach High School
Magnet School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6101 Old Dobbin Ln
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7117
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7117
Grades: 9-12
| 1,714 students
Rank: #1414.
Cedar Lane Special Center
Special Education School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
11630 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8800
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8800
Grades: PK-12
| 124 students
Recent Articles
Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
This article examines the ongoing debate about drug testing for teachers in public schools. It discusses the rationale behind such policies, privacy concerns, cost implications, and the relatively low prevalence of drug use among educators. The piece also explores future considerations for drug testing policies in educational settings.
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Explore how public schools are integrating cloud computing into their educational frameworks. Understand the advantages such as enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and accessibility, as well as the challenges schools face in adopting this technology.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.