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 2025 school year, there are 33 public preschools serving 20,231 students in Howard County School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public pre schools in Maryland.
Public Preschools in Howard County School District have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the Maryland public pre school average of 25%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public preschool average of 71% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MD)
# Schools
78 Schools
732 Schools
# Students
57,633 Students
351,084 Students
# Teachers
4,331 Teachers
25,798 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
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
0.74
# American Indian Students
142 Students
1,011 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
13,674 Students
19,592 Students
% Asian Students
24%
6%
# Hispanic Students
8,010 Students
88,792 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
25%
# Black Students
14,303 Students
118,461 Students
% Black Students
25%
34%
# White Students
17,422 Students
103,031 Students
% White Students
30%
29%
# Hawaiian Students
73 Students
449 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
3,927 Students
19,714 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,521
31,370
# Students in K Grade:
3,720
50,169
# Students in 1st Grade:
3,889
51,600
# Students in 2nd Grade:
4,167
53,366
# Students in 3rd Grade:
4,144
49,581
# Students in 4th Grade:
4,260
49,856
# Students in 5th Grade:
4,336
49,243
# Students in 6th Grade:
4,318
5,755
# Students in 7th Grade:
4,457
4,875
# Students in 8th Grade:
4,391
4,779
# Students in 9th Grade:
4,843
124
# Students in 10th Grade:
4,673
75
# Students in 11th Grade:
4,503
100
# Students in 12th Grade:
4,411
191
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,108 is higher than the state median of $19,554. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,798 is higher than the state median of $18,481. 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
$20,108
$19,554
Spending / Student
$18,798
$18,481
Best Howard County School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
Veterans Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4355 Montgomery Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-1700
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-1700
Grades: PK-5
| 897 students
Rank: #1616.
Stevens Forest Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6045 Stevens Forest Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6900
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6900
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
Rank: #1717.
Forest Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9550 Gorman Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5950
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5950
Grades: PK-5
| 679 students
Rank: #1818.
Jeffers Hill Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6001 Tamar Dr
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6872
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6872
Grades: PK-5
| 397 students
Rank: #1919.
Elkridge Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7075 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5006
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5006
Grades: PK-5
| 810 students
Rank: #2020.
Phelps Luck Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5370 Oldstone Ct
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6886
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6886
Grades: PK-5
| 704 students
Rank: #2121.
Longfellow Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5470 Hesperus Dr
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6879
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6879
Grades: PK-5
| 423 students
Rank: #2222.
Bryant Woods Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5450 Blue Heron Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6859
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6859
Grades: PK-5
| 359 students
Rank: #2323.
Talbott Springs Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9550 Basket Ring Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6915
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6915
Grades: PK-5
| 488 students
Rank: #2424.
Deep Run Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6925 Old Waterloo Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5000
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5000
Grades: PK-5
| 677 students
Rank: #2525.
Swansfield Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5610 Cedar Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6907
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6907
Grades: PK-5
| 602 students
Rank: #2626.
Guilford Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7335 Oakland Mills Rd
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 880-5930
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 880-5930
Grades: PK-5
| 473 students
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Bollman Bridge Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8200 Savage-guilford Road
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5920
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5920
Grades: PK-5
| 754 students
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Cradlerock Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6700 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 319-7601
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 319-7601
Grades: PK-5
| 465 students
Rank: #2929.
Laurel Woods Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9250 N Laurel Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5960
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5960
Grades: PK-5
| 596 students
Rank: #3030.
Hanover Hills Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
7030 Banbury Drive
Hanover, MD 21076
(410) 313-8066
Hanover, MD 21076
(410) 313-8066
Grades: PK-5
| 844 students
Rank: #3131.
Running Brook Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5215 W Running Brook Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6893
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6893
Grades: PK-5
| 389 students
Rank: #3232.
Ducketts Lane Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6501 Ducketts Ln
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5050
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5050
Grades: PK-5
| 595 students
Rank: #3333.
Cedar Lane Special Center
Special Education 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
| 132 students
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