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 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 33 public preschools serving 20,068 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 47% (versus the Maryland public pre school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% 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
744 Schools
# Students
57,565 Students
354,796 Students
# Teachers
4,256 Teachers
26,310 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Howard County School District, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 25 school districts in Maryland (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#2 out of 25 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
36%
Graduation Rate
92%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.78
0.74
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
24%
5%
% Hispanic
14%
26%
% Black
25%
34%
% White
30%
29%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,132 is higher than the state median of $19,516. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,820 is higher than the state median of $18,444. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$1,159 MM
$17,412 MM
Spending
$1,083 MM
$16,456 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,132
$19,516
Spending / Student
$18,820
$18,444
Best Howard County School District Public Preschools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Worthington Elementary School
(Math: 78% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #22.
Waverly Elementary School
(Math: 73% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 827 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #33.
Fulton Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
11600 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Gr: PK-5 | 872 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #44.
Pointers Run Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6600 South Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Gr: PK-5 | 835 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #55.
Ilchester Elementary School
(Math: 67% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 482 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #66.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 71% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 619 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #77.
Centennial Lane Elementary School
(Math: 66% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 749 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #88.
Bushy Park Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
14601 Carrs Mill Rd
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Gr: PK-5 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #99.
Waterloo Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5940 Waterloo Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Gr: PK-5 | 666 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1010.
Rockburn Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6145 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Gr: PK-5 | 649 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1111.
Dayton Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4691 Ten Oaks Rd
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Gr: PK-5 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1212.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 806 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1313.
Atholton Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6700 Seneca Dr
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Gr: PK-5 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1414.
Gorman Crossing Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9999 Winter Sun Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Gr: PK-5 | 750 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1515.
Veterans Elementary School
(Math: 53% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 883 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1616.
Stevens Forest Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 314 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1717.
Jeffers Hill Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6001 Tamar Dr
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6872
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6872
Gr: PK-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1818.
Forest Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
9550 Gorman Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5950
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5950
Gr: PK-5 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1919.
Elkridge Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7075 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5006
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5006
Gr: PK-5 | 798 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2020.
Phelps Luck Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5370 Oldstone Ct
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6886
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6886
Gr: PK-5 | 681 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2121.
Bryant Woods Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 366 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2222.
Longfellow Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5470 Hesperus Dr
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6879
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6879
Gr: PK-5 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #2323.
Talbott Springs Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
9550 Basket Ring Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6915
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6915
Gr: PK-5 | 461 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2424.
Swansfield Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5610 Cedar Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6907
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6907
Gr: PK-5 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2525.
Deep Run Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6925 Old Waterloo Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5000
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5000
Gr: PK-5 | 638 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2626.
Guilford Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7335 Oakland Mills Rd
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 880-5930
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 880-5930
Gr: PK-5 | 437 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2727.
Bollman Bridge Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8200 Savage-guilford Road
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5920
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5920
Gr: PK-5 | 775 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #2828.
Running Brook Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5215 W Running Brook Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6893
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6893
Gr: PK-5 | 407 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #2929.
Laurel Woods Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9250 N Laurel Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5960
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5960
Gr: PK-5 | 625 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #3030.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #3131.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 875 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #3232.
Ducketts Lane Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6501 Ducketts Ln
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5050
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5050
Gr: PK-5 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
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
Gr: PK-12 | 133 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
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