Average
#845 of 1,363 schools in MD
Forest Ridge Elementary
Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools
9550 Gorman Rd, Laurel, MD 20723
Enrollment
679
Student-Teacher
13.1:1
Score
5.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
679
Student-Teacher
13.1:1
Score
5.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Laurel
#16 of 20
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#685 of 882
In district
#58 of 76
Howard County Public Schools
School environment
8.2 / 10
Very strong
About Forest Ridge Elementary
Forest Ridge Elementary is a regular public elementary school in Laurel, Maryland, part of Howard County. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 679 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1 with 52 full-time equivalent teachers. The school’s location within a large suburban area provides a mix of community resources and educational opportunities.
Forest Ridge Elementary holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10, placing it in the 64th percentile among Maryland schools based on its state ranking as #486 out of 1364 schools. Academically, the school shows that 42% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 35% in Math, indicating areas where additional support could benefit student performance. While Forest Ridge Elementary has room for academic growth, it continues to focus on providing a supportive learning environment for its diverse community.
The school is situated within Laurel, offering a suburban setting that balances the benefits of urban conveniences with the charm and safety of a residential neighborhood.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Forest Ridge Elementary — Students at Forest Ridge Elementary score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
35.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 4.9/10.
How Forest Ridge Elementary Compares
See how Forest Ridge Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 38.3% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 47% (2019) to 45.7% (2025).
Location
9550 Gorman Rd, Laurel, MD 20723
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Forest Ridge Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Gorman Crossing Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Maryland City Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Monarch Global Academy PCS Laurel Campus (rated 8.0/10, 3.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Laurel, see our Laurel schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bollman Bridge Elementary Jessup | 1.0 mi | 7.3 |
| Patuxent Valley Middle Jessup | 1.0 mi | 4.8 |
| Laurel Woods Elementary Laurel | 1.2 mi | 7.5 |
| Murray Hill Middle Laurel | 1.2 mi | 7.1 |
| Gorman Crossing Elementary Laurel | 1.3 mi | 8.9 |
| THE JULIA BROWN SCHOOL Laurel | 1.8 mi | 3.0 |
| PHILLIPS SCHOOL - LAUREL Laurel | 1.7 mi | 6.7 |
| ST MARY OF THE MILLS SCHOOL Laurel | 2.0 mi | 6.0 |
| ST VINCENT PALLOTTI HIGH SCHOOL Laurel | 2.1 mi | 5.5 |
| Laurel Elementary Laurel | 2.2 mi | 7.8 |
| Guilford Elementary Columbia | 2.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Hammond High Columbia | 2.5 mi | 6.2 |
| Hammond Elementary Laurel | 2.2 mi | 7.5 |
| Hammond Middle Laurel | 2.3 mi | 6.3 |
| Maryland City Elementary Laurel | 3.0 mi | 8.4 |
| Scotchtown Hills Elementary Laurel | 2.7 mi | 6.2 |
| Laurel High Laurel | 3.2 mi | 5.6 |
| Brock Bridge Elementary Laurel | 3.4 mi | 7.4 |
| CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF LAUREL Laurel | 3.1 mi | 6.0 |
| Monarch Global Academy PCS Laurel Campus Laurel | 3.5 mi | 8.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 20723 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$129,870
Median Home Value
$508,000
Median Rent
$1,986/mo
Population
36,319
College Educated
60.4%
Homeownership
69.6%
Avg Commute
28.9 min
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Median Age
37.2
Community Profile
The community surrounding Forest Ridge Elementary has a median household income of $129,870. It is a well-educated community where 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $508,000, with a median rent of $1,986/month. The local poverty rate of 3.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ballenger Creek Elementary Frederick, MD | 5.9 |
| Beall Elementary Frostburg, MD | 5.9 |
| Bethesda Elementary Bethesda, MD | 5.9 |
| Great Seneca Creek Elementary Germantown, MD | 5.9 |
| Hampstead Elementary Hampstead, MD | 5.9 |
| Hebbville Elementary Baltimore, MD | 5.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Forest Ridge Elementary
What grades does Forest Ridge Elementary serve?
Forest Ridge Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Forest Ridge Elementary?
Forest Ridge Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 679 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Ridge Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Ridge Elementary is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Forest Ridge Elementary rank in MD?
Forest Ridge Elementary is ranked #845 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Forest Ridge Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Forest Ridge Elementary has a composite rating of 5.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Forest Ridge Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Forest Ridge Elementary has 36.1% math proficiency and 41.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Forest Ridge Elementary a charter school?
No, Forest Ridge Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Forest Ridge Elementary a Title I school?
No, Forest Ridge Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forest Ridge Elementary?
35.2% of students at Forest Ridge 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (5,255/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Laurel). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 679
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 52
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 35.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Howard County
- Phone
- (410) 880-5950
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Howard County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 57,633
- Schools in District
- 78
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,256
- District Rank
- #58 of 76
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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