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Excellent

#141 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 10% in state

Centennial High

High School · Howard County Public Schools

4300 Centennial Ln, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Enrollment

1,364

Student-Teacher

16:1

Score

8.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#141 of 1,363

In Ellicott City

#12 of 21

public schools

In district

#24 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

Academic growth

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Centennial High

8.7/10

High School in Ellicott City · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Burleigh Manor Middle

9.2/10

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

Centennial Lane Elementary

9.3/10

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

About Centennial High

Centennial High is a public high school in Ellicott City, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Centennial High serves approximately 1,364 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. Centennial High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #141 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Centennial High show 89% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.2 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.5
  • MD avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.03 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.7Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33.3% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency83.6% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+3.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+32.5 pts
Overall Proficiency58% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-2.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile66th
College Readiness9.6Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate97%
AP Participation57.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism17.1%

Centennial High — Students at Centennial High score 58% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

17.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 88.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 88.7% (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
98%
ELA
94%
2010
Math
99.5%
ELA
96%
2011
Math
99.5%
ELA
96%
2012
Math
99.5%
ELA
95%
2013
Math
99.5%
ELA
98%
2014
Math
98%
ELA
97%
2015
Math
98%
ELA
94%
2016
Math
97%
ELA
60%
2018
Math
84%
ELA
80%
2019
Math
84%
ELA
80%
2020*
Math
88%
ELA
90%
2021*
Math
88%
ELA
90%
2022
Math
75%
ELA
88%
2025
Math
33.3%
ELA
83.6%

* 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: 9.6/10.

How Centennial High Compares

See how Centennial High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
90th percentile in MD
Academic
7.7/10
Very Good
Growth
9.6/10
Excellent
Environment
7.3/10
Very Good
AP Courses
3
State avg: 3.1
Sports
23
11 boys' · 12 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
85 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.1%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
57.8% participation·State avg: 3.1 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics23sports offered
11 boys'·12 girls'·35 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
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

4300 Centennial Ln, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Centennial High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. FUSION COLUMBIA (rated 6.9/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Columbia), a more accessible option. Another option is Wilde Lake High (rated 6.3/10, 2.5 miles away, in nearby Columbia), a more accessible option. Additionally, Homewood School (rated 5.2/10, 1.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Ellicott City, see our Ellicott City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Burleigh Manor Middle Ellicott City 0.2 mi 9.2
Centennial Lane Elementary Ellicott City 1.0 mi 9.3
Running Brook Elementary Columbia 1.8 mi 5.5
Homewood School Ellicott City 1.6 mi 5.2
Longfellow Elementary Columbia 2.0 mi 6.2
BRYANT WOODS MONTESSORI CHILDRENS HOUSE Columbia 2.1 mi
COLUMBIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Columbia 2.1 mi
Bryant Woods Elementary Columbia 2.2 mi 6.7
Harpers Choice Middle Columbia 2.2 mi 6.3
Wilde Lake High Columbia 2.5 mi 6.3
Dunloggin Middle Ellicott City 2.0 mi 8.4
Wilde Lake Middle Columbia 2.5 mi 7.8
FUSION COLUMBIA Columbia 2.6 mi 6.9
Northfield Elementary Ellicott City 2.1 mi 8.9
Swansfield Elementary Columbia 2.7 mi 7.4
Thunder Hill Elementary Columbia 2.5 mi 6.6
ST JOHNS PARISH DAY SCHOOL Ellicott City 2.6 mi 7.4
Talbott Springs Elementary Columbia 3.1 mi 7.3
RESURRECTION ST PAUL SCHOOL Ellicott City 2.9 mi 5.2
NURTURING NEST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Columbia 3.3 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21042 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$190,504

Median Home Value

$674,700

Median Rent

$2,253/mo

Population

43,021

College Educated

74.7%

Homeownership

85.4%

Avg Commute

29.3 min

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Median Age

45

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
River Hill High Clarksville, MD 8.7
Marriotts Ridge High Marriottsville, MD 8.6
Eastern Technical High School Baltimore, MD 8.8
Western School of Technology Baltimore, MD 8.8
Glenelg High Glenelg, MD 8.5
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Baltimore, MD 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Centennial High

What grades does Centennial High serve?

Centennial High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Centennial High?

Centennial High has an enrollment of approximately 1,364 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Centennial High?

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

How does Centennial High rank in MD?

Centennial High ranks #141 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Centennial High's MySchoolScout rating?

Centennial High 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 Centennial High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Centennial High has 89% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Centennial High a charter school?

No, Centennial High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Centennial High a Title I school?

No, Centennial High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Centennial High?

17.8% of students at Centennial 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,364
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Teachers (FTE)
85
Free/Reduced Lunch
17.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Howard County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.1%
4-Year Graduation
97.0%

District

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

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