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Average

#567 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 42% in state

Forest Ridge Elementary

Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools

9550 Gorman Rd, Laurel, MD 20723

Enrollment

679

Student-Teacher

13.1:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#567 of 1,363

In Laurel

#7 of 20

public schools

In district

#60 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

School environment

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Forest Ridge Elementary

6.8/10

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

Bollman Bridge Elementary

5.2/10

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

Patuxent Valley Middle

6.8/10

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

About Forest Ridge Elementary

Forest Ridge Elementary is a public elementary school in Laurel, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Forest Ridge Elementary serves approximately 679 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Forest Ridge Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #567 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Forest Ridge Elementary show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.2 pts below district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 8.0
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.2Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.1Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency35.7% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency47.4% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+5.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.7 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-7.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism21.2%

Forest Ridge Elementary — Students at Forest Ridge Elementary score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

35.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 54.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 58.0% (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
90%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
90%
2011
Math
89%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
78%
ELA
91%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
36%
2016
Math
44%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
24%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
24%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
35%
ELA
45%
2025
Math
35.7%
ELA
47.4%

* 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: 6.2/10.

How Forest Ridge Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
6.8/10
59th percentile in MD
Academic
6.1/10
Average
Growth
6.2/10
Average
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
35%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
52 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
21.2%

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

9550 Gorman Rd, Laurel, MD 20723

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forest Ridge Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Monarch Global Academy PCS Laurel Campus (rated 8.9/10, 3.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Gorman Crossing Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hammond Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 2.2 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 5.2
Patuxent Valley Middle Jessup 1.0 mi 6.8
Laurel Woods Elementary Laurel 1.2 mi 5.8
Murray Hill Middle Laurel 1.2 mi 7.4
Gorman Crossing Elementary Laurel 1.3 mi 8.1
THE JULIA BROWN SCHOOL Laurel 1.8 mi 2.9
PHILLIPS SCHOOL - LAUREL Laurel 1.7 mi 6.6
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 5.4
Guilford Elementary Columbia 2.4 mi 5.9
Hammond High Columbia 2.5 mi 7.5
Hammond Elementary Laurel 2.2 mi 8.0
Hammond Middle Laurel 2.3 mi 7.9
Maryland City Elementary Laurel 3.0 mi 5.2
Scotchtown Hills Elementary Laurel 2.7 mi 3.6
Laurel High Laurel 3.2 mi 4.9
Brock Bridge Elementary Laurel 3.4 mi 4.3
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF LAUREL Laurel 3.1 mi 6.0
Monarch Global Academy PCS Laurel Campus Laurel 3.5 mi 8.9

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Abingdon Elementary Abingdon, MD 6.8
Brunswick Elementary Brunswick, MD 6.8
Glenallan Elementary Silver Spring, MD 6.8
Highland Elementary Silver Spring, MD 6.8
Joppa View Elementary Baltimore, MD 6.8
Mary H. Matula Elementary School La Plata, MD 6.8

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 ranks #567 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Forest Ridge Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest Ridge Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Forest Ridge Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest Ridge Elementary has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
18 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.2%

District

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

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