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 32 public preschools serving 19,694 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 43% (versus the Maryland public pre school average of 25%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public preschool average of 70% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MD)
# Schools
78 Schools
728 Schools
# Students
57,676 Students
349,305 Students
# Teachers
4,311 Teachers
25,311 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
0.74
# American Indian Students
142 Students
1,022 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
13,586 Students
20,189 Students
% Asian Students
24%
6%
# Hispanic Students
7,854 Students
86,408 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
25%
# Black Students
14,285 Students
118,831 Students
% Black Students
25%
34%
# White Students
17,893 Students
103,122 Students
% White Students
31%
30%
# Hawaiian Students
77 Students
466 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
3,765 Students
19,243 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,451
30,726
# Students in K Grade:
3,747
50,141
# Students in 1st Grade:
4,054
52,842
# Students in 2nd Grade:
4,062
50,944
# Students in 3rd Grade:
4,193
49,665
# Students in 4th Grade:
4,289
49,446
# Students in 5th Grade:
4,275
49,159
# Students in 6th Grade:
4,400
6,854
# Students in 7th Grade:
4,373
4,451
# Students in 8th Grade:
4,416
4,634
# Students in 9th Grade:
5,084
79
# Students in 10th Grade:
4,647
72
# Students in 11th Grade:
4,279
96
# Students in 12th Grade:
4,406
196
# 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 Preschools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Worthington Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 436 students
Rank: #22.
Waverly Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 867 students
Rank: #33.
Fulton Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 879 students
Rank: #44.
Pointers Run Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 812 students
Rank: #55.
Centennial Lane Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 698 students
Rank: #66.
Ilchester Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 537 students
Rank: #77.
Bushy Park Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 621 students
Rank: #88.
Rockburn Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 651 students
Rank: #99.
Bellows Spring Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 799 students
Rank: #1010.
Waterloo Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 612 students
Rank: #1111.
Dayton Oaks
Magnet 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
| 783 students
Rank: #1212.
Gorman Crossing Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 743 students
Rank: #1313.
Atholton Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 489 students
Rank: #1414.
Veterans Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 870 students
Rank: #1515.
Stevens Forest Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 308 students
Rank: #1616.
Forest Ridge Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 648 students
Rank: #1717.
Jeffers Hill Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 408 students
Rank: #1818.
Elkridge Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 805 students
Rank: #1919.
Phelps Luck Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 746 students
Rank: #2020.
Longfellow Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 478 students
Rank: #2121.
Bryant Woods Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 361 students
Rank: #2222.
Talbott Springs Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 483 students
Rank: #2323.
Deep Run Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 723 students
Rank: #2424.
Swansfield Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 592 students
Rank: #2525.
Guilford Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 478 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Bollman Bridge Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 742 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Cradlerock Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 459 students
Rank: #2828.
Laurel Woods Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 662 students
Rank: #2929.
Hanover Hills
Magnet 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
| 864 students
Rank: #3030.
Running Brook Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 399 students
Rank: #3131.
Ducketts Lane
Magnet 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
| 617 students
Rank: #3232.
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.
