Best Schools in Ellicott City, Maryland
30 schools · 18 Elementary · 6 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Ellicott City?
Use this page to compare every school in Ellicott City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Folly Quarter Middle
Middle · Howard County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
St. Johns Lane Elementary
Elementary · Howard County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Centennial Lane Elementary
Elementary · Howard County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Ellicott City for 2026 are Folly Quarter Middle (9.3/10), St. Johns Lane Elementary (9.2/10), and Centennial Lane Elementary (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 21 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
30
21 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$641,000
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
30
21 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$641,000
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 21% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Ellicott City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Ellicott City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 21 rated schools; 30 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folly Quarter Middle | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | St. Johns Lane Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Centennial Lane Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Dunloggin Middle | 8.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Ellicott Mills Middle | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Howard High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Centennial High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Mount Hebron High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Patapsco Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Worthington Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $166,175
- Median home value
- $641,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 70%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 76%
68% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Ellicott City compares
Maryland rank
#16 of 141
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.9
above Maryland avg (6.3)
Median household income
$166k
150% of Maryland median
Schools in this city
28
Howard County Public Schools runs Ellicott City's public schools
21 public schools. Howard County Public Schools is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Ellicott City is a Howard County Public Schools school (21 of 21).
Among 21 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.1 to 9.3 — the spread is inside Ellicott City, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City's public school system gives parents a strong baseline. The city has 21 ranked public schools with an average score of 7.3 out of 10. Fourteen of those 21 schools — 67% — score 7 or higher, meaning a parent drawing a school zone at random lands in a high-performing building more than two-thirds of the time. That's a consistent performance floor, not a city where one or two exceptional schools inflate an otherwise thin average.
The elementary tier drives most of the strength. Worthington Elementary leads at 9.1 out of 10, the highest score among all ranked schools in Ellicott City. Centennial Lane Elementary follows closely at 8.9. Hollifield Station Elementary and Manor Woods Elementary round out the upper tier at 8.6 and 8.5. The middle school picture holds up equally well: Ellicott Mills Middle scores 8.8, making it one of the highest-rated schools citywide regardless of grade level.
The spread matters as much as the average. Fourteen schools clear 7.0, but the remaining seven fall below that mark. With Worthington at 9.1 at the top and the lower-ranked schools spanning several points below, the gap between best and worst is real. Parents researching specific addresses should pull individual school scores rather than assume every attendance zone performs near the city average.
For parents comparing Ellicott City against other Maryland communities, the 7.3 city average and the 67% high-performer rate are meaningful signals. The elementary pipeline is particularly strong, with four schools scoring between 8.5 and 9.1. Middle school quality doesn't erode that momentum. If school performance is the primary filter, Ellicott City's data holds up — the strength here is distributed across most of the city, not concentrated in a single showcase school.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 657 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 742 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 404 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 675 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 625 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 6 | 868 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 7 | 518 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 8 | 749 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 9 | 825 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 10 | 897 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Ellicott City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 683 students · 6th–8th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 638 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 |
| 3 | 721 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
| 4 | 638 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 776 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 6 | 710 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,529 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 1,364 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 1,518 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 131 students · 6th–12th | 5.1 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linwood SchoolPrivate 50 students · 3rd–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Glenelg Country SchoolPrivate 705 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$166,175
Median Home Value
$641,000
Median Rent
$2,109/mo
Population
90,155
College Educated
70%
Homeownership
76%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Community Profile
Ellicott City has a median household income of $166,175. It is a well-educated community where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $641,000, with a median rent of $2,109/month. The local poverty rate of 3.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Maryland
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Maryland
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Ellicott City, Maryland
How many schools are in Ellicott City, Maryland?
Ellicott City has 30 schools, including 21 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Ellicott City is 7.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The top-ranked school in Ellicott City on MySchoolScout is Folly Quarter Middle with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The top-ranked elementary school in Ellicott City on MySchoolScout is St. Johns Lane Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The top-ranked middle school in Ellicott City on MySchoolScout is Folly Quarter Middle with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best high school in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The top-ranked high school in Ellicott City on MySchoolScout is Howard High with a composite score of 8.0/10.
How many school districts serve Ellicott City, Maryland?
Ellicott City is served by 1 school district: Howard County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Ellicott City, Maryland?
According to Census data, 70% of adults in Ellicott City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The median household income in Ellicott City is approximately $166,175 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Ellicott City, Maryland?
Yes, Ellicott City has 9 private schools alongside 21 public schools. The top-rated private school is Trinity School with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ellicott City, Maryland?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Ellicott City is 12.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Ellicott City, Maryland?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Maryland Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.