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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Howard County Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 15 public high schools serving 16,816 students in Howard County, MD. The top-ranked public high schools in Howard County, MD are River Hill High School, Centennial High School and Mount Hebron High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Howard County, MD public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the Maryland public high school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 56% statewide average). High schools in Howard County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of Maryland public high schools.
Howard County, MD public high school have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the Maryland average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Centennial High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Maryland or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public high school average of 69% (majority Black).

Best Public High 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.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
Hammond High School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
8800 Guilford Rd
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-7615
Gr: 9-12 | 1,159 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #99.
Oakland Mills High School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
9410 Kilimanjaro Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6945
Gr: 9-12 | 1,413 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1010.
Wilde Lake High School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5460 Trumpeter Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6965
Gr: 9-12 | 1,197 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1111.
Long Reach High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6101 Old Dobbin Ln
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7117
Gr: 9-12 | 1,334 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1212.
Homewood School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
10914 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7081
Gr: 6-12 | 109 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1313.
Cedar Lane Special Center
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
11630 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8800
Gr: PK-12 | 133 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: n/an/a
Applications And Research Laboratory
Alternative School
10920 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-6698
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Guilford Park High School
8500 Ridgelys Run Rd
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 313-7430
Gr: 9-12 | 1,218 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 82%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Howard County, MD?
The top-ranked public high schools in Howard County, MD include River Hill High School, Centennial High School and Mount Hebron High School. Howard County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Maryland.
How many public high schools are located in Howard County?
15 public high schools are located in Howard County.
What is the racial composition of students in Howard County?
Howard County public high schools minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public high schools average of 69% (majority Black).
Which public high schools in Howard County are often viewed compared to one another?

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