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Excellent

#261 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 19% in state

Bonnie Branch Middle

Middle School · Howard County Public Schools

4979 Ilchester Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Enrollment

710

Student-Teacher

14.5:1

Score

8.1

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#261 of 1,363

In Ellicott City

#19 of 21

public schools

In district

#39 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

Academic growth

8.4 / 10

Excellent

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Bonnie Branch Middle

8.1/10

Middle School in Ellicott City · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Ilchester Elementary

9.3/10

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

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

6.7/10

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

About Bonnie Branch Middle

Bonnie Branch Middle is a public middle school in Ellicott City, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Bonnie Branch Middle serves approximately 710 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Bonnie Branch Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #261 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Bonnie Branch Middle show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.2
  • MD avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.24 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.5Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency41.8% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency61.7% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+11.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+10.6 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)53% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-1.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism18.3%

Bonnie Branch Middle — Students at Bonnie Branch Middle score 52% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

29%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 57.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 66.8% (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
86%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
88%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
89%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
84%
ELA
91%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
88%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
50%
ELA
49%
2016
Math
53%
ELA
48%
2018
Math
54%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
54%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
20%
ELA
53%
2021*
Math
20%
ELA
53%
2022
Math
34%
ELA
58%
2025
Math
41.8%
ELA
61.7%

* 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 Bonnie Branch Middle Compares

See how Bonnie Branch Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
81th percentile in MD
Academic
7.5/10
Very Good
Growth
8.4/10
Excellent
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
29%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
49 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.3%

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

4979 Ilchester Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bonnie Branch Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Ellicott Mills Middle (rated 9.1/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Mayfield Woods Middle (rated 7.2/10, 2.5 miles away, in nearby Elkridge), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Catonsville Middle (rated 6.0/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby Catonsville), a more accessible option. For more schools in Ellicott City, see our Ellicott City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Ilchester Elementary Ellicott City 0.1 mi 9.3
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL Ellicott City 0.5 mi 6.7
Rockburn Elementary Elkridge 1.2 mi 9.4
Worthington Elementary Ellicott City 1.5 mi 9.8
GLOBAL CHILDREN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.6 mi
Bellows Spring Elementary Ellicott City 2.1 mi 8.7
Waterloo Elementary Columbia 2.2 mi 9.1
THE GODDARD SCHOOL Ellicott City 2.0 mi 7.6
Mayfield Woods Middle Elkridge 2.5 mi 7.2
CHILDREN'S MANOR MONTESSORI Ellicott City 2.3 mi
Westchester Elementary Baltimore 2.8 mi 8.3
Howard High Ellicott City 2.2 mi 8.0
Ducketts Lane Elementary Elkridge 2.6 mi 8.7
Ellicott Mills Middle Ellicott City 2.3 mi 9.1
AAMI BIBLE INSTITUTE Elkridge 3.0 mi
Catonsville Middle Catonsville 3.0 mi 6.0
Hillcrest Elementary Baltimore 2.9 mi 8.2
Veterans Elementary Ellicott City 2.6 mi 8.7
Phelps Luck Elementary Columbia 2.5 mi 7.6
Long Reach High Columbia 2.8 mi 6.1

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
William H. Farquhar Middle Olney, MD 8.1
Berlin Intermediate Berlin, MD 8.2
Bohemia Manor Middle Chesapeake City, MD 8.0
Boonsboro Middle Boonsboro, MD 8.0
Elkridge Landing Middle Elkridge, MD 7.9
Hammond Middle Laurel, MD 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bonnie Branch Middle

What grades does Bonnie Branch Middle serve?

Bonnie Branch Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Bonnie Branch Middle?

Bonnie Branch Middle has an enrollment of approximately 710 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bonnie Branch Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Bonnie Branch Middle is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bonnie Branch Middle rank in MD?

Bonnie Branch Middle ranks #261 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Bonnie Branch Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Bonnie Branch Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Bonnie Branch Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bonnie Branch Middle has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Bonnie Branch Middle a charter school?

No, Bonnie Branch Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bonnie Branch Middle a Title I school?

No, Bonnie Branch Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bonnie Branch Middle?

29.0% of students at Bonnie Branch Middle 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
17 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
16 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
710
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Free/Reduced Lunch
29.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Howard County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.3%

District

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

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