Howard County Public Schools School District
School District · Ellicott City, Maryland
Avg Rating
7.9
out of 10
Schools
76
42 elem, 20 mid, 13 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,256
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Avg Rating
7.9
out of 10
Schools
76
42 elem, 20 mid, 13 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,256
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Evaluating Howard County Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Howard County Public Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Worthington Elementary
Ellicott City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Pointers Run Elementary
Clarksville · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary
Ellicott City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Maryland rank
#2 of 24
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.6
above Maryland avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,256
+$966 vs Maryland median
District size
57,633 students
Much larger than Maryland median
The short answer
Howard County Public Schools ranks #2 of 24 Maryland districts by overall school rating. Howard County Public Schools's schools with real test data average 7.9/10 across 76 schools. Its top-rated schools are Worthington Elementary (9.8/10), Pointers Run Elementary (9.6/10), and Triadelphia Ridge Elementary (9.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.7/10 despite 59% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Howard County Public Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Howard County Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (76 of 76). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worthington Elementary | 9.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Pointers Run Elementary | 9.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Triadelphia Ridge Elementary | 9.6 / 10 |
| 4 | West Friendship Elementary | 9.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Waverly Elementary | 9.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Clarksville Middle | 9.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Bushy Park Elementary | 9.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Folly Quarter Middle | 9.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Rockburn Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Clarksville Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
See all 76 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Howard County Public Schools
Howard County Public Schools serves 57,633 students across 78 schools in Maryland, making it one of the state's larger suburban districts. The size brings real range — from high-performing elementaries in established neighborhoods to newer schools still building their reputations. Parents comparing options will find meaningful differences within the district, so school-level research matters as much as district-level reputation.
On the performance side, 76 of the district's 78 schools carry a MySchoolScout rating, averaging 6.9 out of 10 across the board. That average puts Howard County in competitive territory relative to most Maryland districts, but the spread is wide. Elementary schools dominate the top of the rankings. Swansfield Elementary leads the district with a 9.4 rating, followed closely by West Friendship Elementary at 9.2 and Worthington Elementary at 9.0. Rockburn Elementary and Stevens Forest Elementary each score 8.9, rounding out a strong top five. Five schools in the 8.9–9.4 range signals real depth at the elementary level, not just a single outlier.
For families with school-age children entering kindergarten or transferring between schools, the elementary tier is where Howard County clearly delivers. The concentration of high-rated elementary schools gives parents in many parts of the county access to strong early education without leaving the public system. Whether that translates into equally strong middle and high school experiences depends on the specific feeder patterns and zones tied to a given address.
Practically speaking, parents should map their home address to the specific school zone before drawing conclusions from district-wide numbers. A district average of 6.9 is solid, but the gap between a 9.4 school and one closer to the district floor is significant. Howard County's size — nearly 58,000 students — means your child's experience will be shaped far more by their assigned school than by the district brand. Use the school-level ratings and available test score data on each school's profile page to make the most direct comparison.
District Map
Schools in Howard County Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Howard County Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Howard County Public Schools
76 schools Elementary Schools 42
Middle Schools 20
High Schools 13
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Maryland
- City
- Ellicott City
- Total Enrollment
- 57,633
- Teachers (FTE)
- 4,346
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Howard County Public Schools has 76 schools in total — 42 elementary, 20 middle, and 13 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Howard County Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Howard County Public Schools is 7.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Howard County Public Schools?
Howard County Public Schools spends $19,256 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Howard County Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Howard County Public Schools is 13.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Howard County Public Schools?
Worthington Elementary is the highest-rated school in Howard County Public Schools with a composite score of 9.8/10.
What are the test scores in Howard County Public Schools?
Across schools in Howard County Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 63.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 68.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Howard County Public Schools compare to other districts in Maryland?
Howard County Public Schools has an average school rating of 7.9/10 across 76 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Maryland by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 63.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 68.0%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in MD
Compare Howard County Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Montgomery County Public Schools (211)
- Prince George's County Public Schools (199)
- Baltimore County Public Schools (179)
- Baltimore City Public Schools (151)
- Anne Arundel County Public Schools (126)
- Frederick County Public Schools (69)
- Harford County Public Schools (55)
- Carroll County Public Schools (44)
- Washington County Public Schools (43)
- Charles County Public Schools (40)
- Cecil County Public Schools (29)
- St. Mary's County Public Schools (27)
- Calvert County Public Schools (25)
- Wicomico County Public Schools (25)
- Allegany County Public Schools (22)
- Queen Anne's County Public Schools (14)
- Worcester County Public Schools (14)
- Dorchester County Public Schools (13)
- Garrett County Public Schools (12)
- Caroline County Public Schools (10)
- Somerset County Public Schools (8)
- Talbot County Public Schools (8)
- Kent County Public Schools (5)
- Dyrs (2)
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.
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