Very Good
#396 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 29% in state
Atholton High
High School · Howard County Public Schools · Columbia, MD
A Howard County Public Schools high school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
6520 Freetown Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
- Math 18% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 76% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 96.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Atholton High score 47% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 32 points since 2020, to 47% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 85% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
24%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Atholton High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 8Car-Dependent
- Transit 25Some Transit
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$132,924
Median home value
$541,100
Median rent
$2,096/mo
College educated
67.3%
Homeownership
61.3%
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21044; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atholton Adventist AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | PK–10 | 0.7 mi | 168 | Compare → |
| Hammond HighEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | 9–12 | 1.8 mi | 1,167 | Compare → |
| Wilde Lake HighEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | 9–12 | 2.0 mi | 1,270 | Compare → |
| Fusion ColumbiaPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | 7–12 | 2.4 mi | 62 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Howard County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 78
- Rank in district
- #49 of 76
- District spending per student
- $19,256NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Atholton High is listed in Howard County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Atholton High
Atholton High is a public high school in Columbia, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools, serving approximately 1,498 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #396 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 85% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Atholton High
What grades does Atholton High serve?
Atholton High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Atholton High?
Atholton High has an enrollment of approximately 1,498 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Atholton High?
The student-teacher ratio at Atholton High is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Atholton High rank in MD?
Atholton High ranks #396 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Atholton High's MySchoolScout rating?
Atholton High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Atholton High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Atholton High has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 85% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Atholton High a charter school?
No, Atholton High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Atholton High a Title I school?
No, Atholton High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Atholton High?
24.0% of students at Atholton High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,498
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 93
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Howard County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.6%
- Phone
- (410) 313-7065
- 4-Year Graduation
- 96.0%
- Area population (ZIP 21044)
- 44,775
- Area average commute
- 29.4 min
- Area median age
- 39.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 21044; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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