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Excellent

#38 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 3% in state

Ilchester Elementary

Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools

4981 Ilchester Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Enrollment

518

Student-Teacher

12:1

Score

9.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#38 of 1,363

In Ellicott City

#7 of 21

public schools

In district

#14 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Ilchester Elementary

9.3/10

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

Bonnie Branch Middle

8.1/10

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

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

6.7/10

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

About Ilchester Elementary

Ilchester Elementary is a public elementary school in Ellicott City, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Ilchester Elementary serves approximately 518 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Ilchester Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #38 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Ilchester Elementary show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 9.3 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.51 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency64.5% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69.2% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+34.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.1 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected+3.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism11.8%

Ilchester Elementary — Students at Ilchester Elementary score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

13.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 77.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 77.9% (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
98%
ELA
99.5%
2010
Math
98%
ELA
99.5%
2011
Math
95%
ELA
97%
2012
Math
95%
ELA
98%
2013
Math
95%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
60%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
71%
ELA
70%
2016
Math
73%
ELA
76%
2018
Math
78%
ELA
73%
2019
Math
78%
ELA
73%
2020*
Math
54%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
54%
ELA
50%
2022
Math
66%
ELA
73%
2025
Math
64.5%
ELA
69.2%

* 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: 9.3/10.

How Ilchester Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.3/10
97th percentile in MD
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
9.3/10
Excellent
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
14%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.8%

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

4981 Ilchester Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ilchester Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Worthington Elementary (rated 9.8/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Rockburn Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Elkridge), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Waterloo Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Columbia), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Ellicott City, see our Ellicott City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Bonnie Branch Middle Ellicott City 0.1 mi 8.1
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL Ellicott City 0.6 mi 6.7
Rockburn Elementary Elkridge 1.2 mi 9.4
Worthington Elementary Ellicott City 1.5 mi 9.8
GLOBAL CHILDREN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.6 mi
Bellows Spring Elementary Ellicott City 2.0 mi 8.7
Waterloo Elementary Columbia 2.1 mi 9.1
THE GODDARD SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.9 mi 7.6
Mayfield Woods Middle Elkridge 2.4 mi 7.2
Howard High Ellicott City 2.1 mi 8.0
CHILDREN'S MANOR MONTESSORI Ellicott City 2.3 mi
Ellicott Mills Middle Ellicott City 2.3 mi 9.1
Ducketts Lane Elementary Elkridge 2.5 mi 8.7
Westchester Elementary Baltimore 2.9 mi 8.3
AAMI BIBLE INSTITUTE Elkridge 2.9 mi
Catonsville Middle Catonsville 3.1 mi 6.0
Long Reach High Columbia 2.7 mi 6.1
Veterans Elementary Ellicott City 2.6 mi 8.7
Phelps Luck Elementary Columbia 2.5 mi 7.6
Hillcrest Elementary Baltimore 3.0 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21043 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$141,846

Median Home Value

$607,300

Median Rent

$1,964/mo

Population

47,134

College Educated

64.3%

Homeownership

67.3%

Avg Commute

28.5 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

39.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bells Mill Elementary Potomac, MD 9.3
Belmont Elementary Olney, MD 9.3
Cedar Grove Elementary Germantown, MD 9.3
Deer Crossing Elementary New Market, MD 9.3
Frederick Classical Charter Frederick, MD 9.3
Lakewood Elementary Rockville, MD 9.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ilchester Elementary

What grades does Ilchester Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Ilchester Elementary?

Ilchester Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 518 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ilchester Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Ilchester Elementary is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ilchester Elementary rank in MD?

Ilchester Elementary ranks #38 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Ilchester Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Ilchester Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 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 Ilchester Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ilchester Elementary has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Ilchester Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Ilchester Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

13.9% of students at Ilchester 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
16 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
518
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
13.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Howard County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.8%

District

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

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