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Excellent

#144 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 11% in state

Bellows Spring Elementary

Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools

8125 Old Stockbridge Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Enrollment

825

Student-Teacher

12.1:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#144 of 1,363

In Ellicott City

#13 of 21

public schools

In district

#27 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

School environment

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Bellows Spring Elementary

8.7/10

Elementary School in Ellicott City · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mayfield Woods Middle

7.2/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Waterloo Elementary

9.1/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Bellows Spring Elementary

Bellows Spring Elementary is a public elementary school in Ellicott City, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Bellows Spring Elementary serves approximately 825 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Bellows Spring Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #144 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Bellows Spring Elementary show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.23 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56.2% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+26 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.9 pts
Overall Proficiency60% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected+4.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
Resources & Environment9.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism16.7%

Bellows Spring Elementary — Students at Bellows Spring Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

25.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 65.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 70.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.1% (2025 MCAP)

Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
97%
ELA
94%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
95%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
94%
ELA
94%
2013
Math
89%
ELA
93%
2014
Math
51%
ELA
55%
2015
Math
59%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
56%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
38%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
38%
2022
Math
45%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
56.2%
ELA
63%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.4/10.

How Bellows Spring Elementary Compares

See how Bellows Spring Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
90th percentile in MD
Academic
8.5/10
Excellent
Growth
8.4/10
Excellent
Environment
9.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
26%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
68 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

8125 Old Stockbridge Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bellows Spring Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Worthington Elementary (rated 9.8/10, 2.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Rockburn Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Elkridge), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Ilchester Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Ellicott City, see our Ellicott City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Mayfield Woods Middle Elkridge 0.4 mi 7.2
Waterloo Elementary Columbia 0.6 mi 9.1
AAMI BIBLE INSTITUTE Elkridge 1.0 mi
Deep Run Elementary Elkridge 1.4 mi 6.2
Rockburn Elementary Elkridge 1.2 mi 9.4
THE GODDARD SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.3 mi 7.6
Long Reach High Columbia 1.3 mi 6.1
TARBIYAH ACADEMY Elkridge 1.8 mi 9.0
Ilchester Elementary Ellicott City 2.0 mi 9.3
Bonnie Branch Middle Ellicott City 2.1 mi 8.1
Howard High Ellicott City 2.1 mi 8.0
Phelps Luck Elementary Columbia 2.1 mi 7.6
GLOBAL CHILDREN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ellicott City 2.6 mi
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL Ellicott City 2.6 mi 6.7
Jeffers Hill Elementary Columbia 2.1 mi 7.0
Ducketts Lane Elementary Elkridge 2.2 mi 8.7
Worthington Elementary Ellicott City 2.9 mi 9.8
CHILDREN'S MANOR MONTESSORI Ellicott City 3.3 mi
Ellicott Mills Middle Ellicott City 3.4 mi 9.1
Hanover Hills Elementary Hanover 2.9 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21043 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$141,846

Median Home Value

$607,300

Median Rent

$1,964/mo

Population

47,134

College Educated

64.3%

Homeownership

67.3%

Avg Commute

28.5 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

39.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary Leonardtown, MD 8.7
Chapel Hill Elementary Perry Hall, MD 8.7
Ducketts Lane Elementary Elkridge, MD 8.7
Linton Springs Elementary Sykesville, MD 8.7
Luxmanor Elementary Rockville, MD 8.7
Piney Branch Elementary Takoma Park, MD 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bellows Spring Elementary

What grades does Bellows Spring Elementary serve?

Bellows Spring Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Bellows Spring Elementary?

Bellows Spring Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 825 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bellows Spring Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Bellows Spring Elementary is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bellows Spring Elementary rank in MD?

Bellows Spring Elementary ranks #144 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Bellows Spring Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Bellows Spring Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Bellows Spring Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bellows Spring Elementary has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Bellows Spring Elementary a charter school?

No, Bellows Spring Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bellows Spring Elementary a Title I school?

No, Bellows Spring Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bellows Spring Elementary?

25.8% of students at Bellows Spring Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
26 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
23 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
825
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
68
Free/Reduced Lunch
25.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Howard County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.7%

District

Howard County Public Schools
District Enrollment
57,633
Schools in District
78
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,256
District Rank
#27 of 76

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