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#811 of 1,363 schools in MD

Cradlerock Elementary

Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools

6700 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045

Enrollment

465

Student-Teacher

10.6:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#811 of 1,363

In Columbia

#22 of 23

public schools

In district

#72 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

School environment

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Cradlerock Elementary

5.8/10

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

Lake Elkhorn Middle

7.4/10

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

The Mandala School Inc

Nearby

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

About Cradlerock Elementary

Cradlerock Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Cradlerock Elementary serves approximately 465 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Cradlerock Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #811 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Cradlerock Elementary show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2025).

How it compares2.2 pts below district
  • This school 5.8 · Average
  • District avg 8.0
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.0Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-4.45 pts/yr
Data Period2011–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency40.4% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-10.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.7 pts
Overall Proficiency30% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-7.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism28.2%

Cradlerock Elementary — Students at Cradlerock Elementary score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

53.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 35.8% (multi-year average, 2011-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 41.9% (multi-year average, 2011-2025)
School
State
51.1% (2025 MCAP)

Based on 24 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2011
Math
87%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
83%
ELA
90%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
80%
2014
Math
26%
ELA
29%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
28%
2016
Math
31%
ELA
38%
2018
Math
19%
ELA
22%
2019
Math
19%
ELA
22%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
16%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
16%
2022
Math
23%
ELA
32%
2025
Math
20%
ELA
40.4%

* 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: 5.0/10.

How Cradlerock Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
5.8/10
41th percentile in MD
Academic
5.1/10
Average
Growth
5.0/10
Average
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
53%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
28.2%

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

6700 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cradlerock Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Atholton Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Clemens Crossing Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Stevens Forest Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Lake Elkhorn Middle Columbia 0.1 mi 7.4
THE MANDALA SCHOOL INC Columbia 0.7 mi
JULIA BROWN SCHOOL Columbia 0.8 mi
Stevens Forest Elementary Columbia 0.9 mi 7.8
Oakland Mills Middle Columbia 1.1 mi 7.3
Oakland Mills High Columbia 1.2 mi 6.6
NURTURING NEST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Columbia 1.2 mi
Talbott Springs Elementary Columbia 1.4 mi 7.3
Jeffers Hill Elementary Columbia 1.3 mi 7.0
Atholton Elementary Columbia 1.2 mi 8.2
Guilford Elementary Columbia 1.7 mi 5.9
ATHOLTON ADVENTIST ACADEMY Columbia 1.4 mi 7.0
FUSION COLUMBIA Columbia 1.9 mi 6.9
Hammond High Columbia 1.9 mi 7.5
Clemens Crossing Elementary Columbia 1.6 mi 8.1
COLUMBIA ACADEMY Columbia 1.8 mi 7.3
Long Reach High Columbia 1.9 mi 6.1
MOUNTHAVEN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Columbia 2.0 mi
Thunder Hill Elementary Columbia 2.6 mi 6.6
Bryant Woods Elementary Columbia 2.4 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21045 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$117,323

Median Home Value

$438,500

Median Rent

$1,768/mo

Population

40,866

College Educated

57.4%

Homeownership

69%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Median Age

38.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Brown Station Elementary Gaithersburg, MD 5.8
Captain James E. Daly Elementary Germantown, MD 5.8
Catherine T. Reed Elementary Lanham, MD 5.8
Elk Neck Elementary Elkton, MD 5.8
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL Baltimore, MD 5.8
Laurel Woods Elementary Laurel, MD 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cradlerock Elementary

What grades does Cradlerock Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Cradlerock Elementary?

Cradlerock Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 465 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cradlerock Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Cradlerock Elementary is 10.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Cradlerock Elementary rank in MD?

Cradlerock Elementary ranks #811 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Cradlerock Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Cradlerock Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Cradlerock Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cradlerock Elementary has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2025).

Is Cradlerock Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Cradlerock Elementary a Title I school?

No, Cradlerock Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

53.3% of students at Cradlerock 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
49 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
465
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
53.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Howard County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.2%

District

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

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