Average
#689 of 1,363 schools in MD
Harpers Choice Middle
Middle School · Howard County Public Schools · Columbia, MD
A Howard County Public Schools middle school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5450 Beaverkill Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
- Math 25% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 42% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Harpers Choice Middle score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 34% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
53.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Harpers Choice Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 52Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 31Some Transit
- Bike 54Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$132,924
Median home value
$541,100
Median rent
$2,096/mo
College educated
67.3%
Homeownership
61.3%
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21044; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilde Lake MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 6–8 | 0.8 mi | 618 | Compare → |
| Atholton Adventist AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | PK–10 | 2.4 mi | 168 | Compare → |
| Burleigh Manor MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | 6–8 | 2.4 mi | 776 | Compare → |
| Oakland Mills MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 428 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Howard County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 78
- Rank in district
- #65 of 76
- District spending per student
- $19,256NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Harpers Choice Middle is listed in Howard County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Harpers Choice Middle
Harpers Choice Middle is a public middle school in Columbia, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools, serving approximately 469 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #689 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Harpers Choice Middle
What grades does Harpers Choice Middle serve?
Harpers Choice Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Harpers Choice Middle?
Harpers Choice Middle has an enrollment of approximately 469 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harpers Choice Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Harpers Choice Middle is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Harpers Choice Middle rank in MD?
Harpers Choice Middle ranks #689 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Harpers Choice Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Harpers Choice Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 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 Harpers Choice Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Harpers Choice Middle has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Harpers Choice Middle a charter school?
No, Harpers Choice Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Harpers Choice Middle a Title I school?
No, Harpers Choice Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harpers Choice Middle?
53.3% of students at Harpers Choice 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 469
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 41
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Howard County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 36.9%
- Phone
- (410) 313-6929
- Area population (ZIP 21044)
- 44,775
- Area average commute
- 29.4 min
- Area median age
- 39.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 21044; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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