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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Howard County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 75 public schools serving 54,042 students in Howard County, MD (there are 49 private schools, serving 7,568 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 Clarksville Middle 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 46% (versus the Maryland public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 45% statewide average). Schools in Howard County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of Maryland public schools.
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is equal to the Maryland public school average of 69% (majority Black).

Best Public Schools in Howard County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
River Hill High School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
12101 Clarksville Pike
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7120
Gr: 9-12 | 1,383 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #22.
Centennial High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
4300 Centennial Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2856
Gr: 9-12 | 1,377 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #33.
Clarksville Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
6535 S Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7057
Gr: 6-8 | 679 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #44.
Worthington Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
4570 Roundhill Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2825
Gr: PK-5 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #55.
Mount Hebron High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9440 Old Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2880
Gr: 9-12 | 1,455 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #66.
Waverly Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
10220 Wetherburn Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2819
Gr: PK-5 | 827 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #77.
West Friendship Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
12500 Frederick Road
West Friendship, MD 21794
(410) 313-5512
Gr: K-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #88.
Folly Quarter Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
13500 Triadelphia Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-1506
Gr: 6-8 | 682 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #99.
Glenelg High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
14025 Burnt Woods Rd
Glenelg, MD 21737
(410) 313-5528
Gr: 9-12 | 1,363 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1010.
Fulton Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
11600 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Gr: PK-5 | 872 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1111.
Manor Woods Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
11575 Frederick Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7165
Gr: K-5 | 697 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1212.
Pointers Run Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6600 South Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Gr: PK-5 | 835 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1313.
Ilchester Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4981 Ilchester Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2524
Gr: PK-5 | 482 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1414.
Howard High School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
8700 Old Annapolis Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2867
Gr: 9-12 | 1,493 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1515.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
13400 Triadelphia Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2560
Gr: PK-5 | 619 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1616.
Centennial Lane Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3825 Centennial Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2800
Gr: PK-5 | 749 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1717.
Burleigh Manor Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4200 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2507
Gr: 6-8 | 777 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1818.
Bushy Park Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
14601 Carrs Mill Rd
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Gr: PK-5 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1919.
Northfield Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9125 Northfield Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2806
Gr: K-5 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2020.
Clarksville Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
12041 Clarksville Pike
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7050
Gr: K-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #2121.
Lime Kiln Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11650 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5988
Gr: 6-8 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #2222.
St. Johns Lane Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2960 Saint Johns Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2813
Gr: K-5 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2323.
Lisbon Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
15901 Frederick Rd
Woodbine, MD 21797
(410) 313-5506
Gr: K-5 | 480 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #2424.
Atholton High School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6520 Freetown Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-7065
Gr: 9-12 | 1,540 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2525.
Glenwood Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2680 Rt 97
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5520
Gr: 6-8 | 494 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #2626.
Waterloo Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5940 Waterloo Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Gr: PK-5 | 666 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2727.
Rockburn Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6145 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Gr: PK-5 | 649 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2828.
Dayton Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4691 Ten Oaks Rd
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Gr: PK-5 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2929.
Hammond Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8110 Aladdin Dr
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5890
Gr: K-5 | 763 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #3030.
Ellicott Mills Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4445 Montgomery Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2839
Gr: 6-8 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #3131.
Bellows Spring Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8125 Old Stockbridge Dr
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-5057
Gr: PK-5 | 806 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #3232.
Reservoir High School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
11550 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8850
Gr: 9-12 | 1,597 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #3333.
Atholton Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
6700 Seneca Dr
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Gr: PK-5 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #3434.
Gorman Crossing Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9999 Winter Sun Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Gr: PK-5 | 750 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #3535.
Dunloggin Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9129 Northfield Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2831
Gr: 6-8 | 623 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Show 40 more public schools in Howard County, MD (out of 75 total schools)
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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 Clarksville Middle 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 equal to the Maryland public schools average of 69% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Howard County are often viewed compared to one another?

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