Best Schools in Laurel, Maryland
26 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Laurel?
Use this page to compare every school in Laurel 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.
Monarch Global Academy Pcs Laurel Campus
Elementary · Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Gorman Crossing Elementary
Elementary · Howard County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Hammond Elementary
Elementary · Howard County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Laurel for 2026 are Monarch Global Academy Pcs Laurel Campus (8.9/10), Gorman Crossing Elementary (8.1/10), and Hammond Elementary (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 25 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
26
20 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$435,800
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
26
20 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$435,800
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 52% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 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 Laurel schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Laurel
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (25 of 26). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monarch Global Academy Pcs Laurel Campus | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Gorman Crossing Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Hammond Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Hammond Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Chesapeake Math and It Public Charter | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Murray Hill Middle | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Forest Ridge Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Phillips School - Laurel | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | St Mary of the Mills School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Christian Academy of Laurel | 6.0 / 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
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $106,738
- Median home value
- $435,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
24% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Laurel compares
Maryland rank
#92 of 141
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below Maryland avg (6.3)
Median household income
$107k
96% of Maryland median
Schools in this city
25
About Schools in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland has 20 ranked public schools with a citywide average of 6.8 out of 10. The distribution is almost evenly split: exactly half of the ranked schools — 10 of the 20 — score 7 or higher, giving parents a real pool of above-average options to work from. The other 10 fall below that threshold, which means default assignment by address can land a child on either side of the divide.
Gorman Crossing Elementary leads all Laurel schools with a 9.2 — the city's strongest score and a significant jump above the average. Maryland City Elementary follows at 8.5, and Chesapeake Math and IT Public Charter ranks third at 8.4. Monarch Global Academy PCS Laurel Campus comes in at 8.3, and Hammond Elementary rounds out the top five at 7.9. Two of those five — CMIT and Monarch Global — are public charter schools. Charters run separate enrollment processes and lottery systems outside standard district assignment, so families interested in either need to track deadlines independently.
The elementary tier is where Laurel's rankings peak. Four of the five top-scoring schools serve elementary grades, giving families with younger children the strongest concentration of high-rated options. Charters account for two of those top five spots, which means choice-minded families at the elementary level have more paths to pursue than a neighborhood-assignment-only approach would suggest.
The most actionable comparison in Laurel is the 2.4-point gap between the top school (9.2) and the city average (6.8). That gap is wide enough that where a child attends by default makes a material difference. The 7-plus filter — which screens for 10 of the 20 ranked schools — is a practical starting point for any shortlist. Parents should confirm current attendance-zone boundaries and identify charter lottery deadlines early: both variables determine which schools are actually within reach before a single application goes in.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 832 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 728 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 739 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 679 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 596 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 6 | 301 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 7 | 498 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 462 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 9 | 431 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
| 10 | 571 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Laurel
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 582 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 600 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 1,033 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 students · 7th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 2,179 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Vincent Pallotti High School
Private
410 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,686 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Phillips School - Laurel
Private
74 students · 4th–12th | 6.6 | ||
Schools in Laurel
Laurel, Maryland · 26 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$106,738
Median Home Value
$435,800
Median Rent
$1,965/mo
Population
118,136
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
55%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Community Profile
Laurel has a median household income of $106,738. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $435,800, with a median rent of $1,965/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Maryland
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 2
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 Laurel, Maryland
How many schools are in Laurel, Maryland?
Laurel has 26 schools, including 20 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Laurel, Maryland?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Laurel is 5.9 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 Laurel, Maryland?
The top-ranked school in Laurel on MySchoolScout is Monarch Global Academy Pcs Laurel Campus with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Laurel, Maryland?
The top-ranked elementary school in Laurel on MySchoolScout is Monarch Global Academy Pcs Laurel Campus with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Laurel, Maryland?
The top-ranked middle school in Laurel on MySchoolScout is Hammond Middle with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Laurel, Maryland?
The top-ranked high school in Laurel on MySchoolScout is Maya Angelou Academy at New Beginnings Formerly Oak Hill with a composite score of 5.8/10.
How many school districts serve Laurel, Maryland?
Laurel is served by 4 school districts: Dyrs, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Howard County Public Schools, Prince George's County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Laurel, Maryland?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Laurel have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Laurel, Maryland?
The median household income in Laurel is approximately $106,738 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Laurel, Maryland?
Yes, Laurel has 6 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Phillips School - Laurel with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Laurel, Maryland?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Laurel is 13.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Laurel, 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.