Excellent
#282 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 21% in state
Howard High
High School · Howard County Public Schools · Ellicott City, MD
A Howard County Public Schools high school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
8700 Old Annapolis Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043
- Math 29% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 78% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 97.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Howard High score 53% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 18 points since 2020, to 53% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 83% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 84% (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
19.6%
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 Howard High 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 62Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 34Some Transit
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$141,846
Median home value
$607,300
Median rent
$1,964/mo
College educated
64.3%
Homeownership
67.3%
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21043; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Reach HighEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | 9–12 | 1.4 mi | 1,448 | Compare → |
| Oakland Mills HighEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | 9–12 | 1.9 mi | 1,422 | Compare → |
| Fusion ColumbiaPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | 7–12 | 2.5 mi | 62 | Compare → |
| Aami Bible InstitutePrivate · tuition | Not rated | 9–12 | 3.0 mi | 8 | 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
- #42 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
Howard High is listed in Howard County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Howard High
Howard High is a public high school in Ellicott City, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools, serving approximately 1,529 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #282 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Howard High
What grades does Howard High serve?
Howard High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Howard High?
Howard High has an enrollment of approximately 1,529 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard High?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard High is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Howard High rank in MD?
Howard High ranks #282 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Howard High's MySchoolScout rating?
Howard High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Howard High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Howard High has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Howard High a charter school?
No, Howard High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Howard High a Title I school?
No, Howard High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Howard High?
19.6% of students at Howard 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,529
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 100
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Howard County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.6%
- Phone
- (410) 313-2867
- 4-Year Graduation
- 97.0%
- Area population (ZIP 21043)
- 47,134
- Area average commute
- 28.5 min
- Area median age
- 39.4
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 21043; 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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