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Excellent

#102 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 7% in state

Northfield Elementary

Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools

9125 Northfield Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Enrollment

749

Student-Teacher

15.6:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#102 of 1,363

In Ellicott City

#10 of 21

public schools

In district

#22 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

Equity

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Northfield Elementary

8.9/10

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

Dunloggin Middle

8.4/10

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

Veterans Elementary

8.7/10

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

About Northfield Elementary

Northfield Elementary is a public elementary school in Ellicott City, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools. Northfield Elementary serves approximately 749 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Northfield Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #102 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Northfield Elementary show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.9 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.8 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency64.4% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency73.9% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+34.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.8 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected+6.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
Resources & Environment8.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,256
Chronic Absenteeism12.8%

Northfield Elementary — Students at Northfield Elementary score 69% 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

15.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 77.6% (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
97%
2010
Math
98%
ELA
98%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
98%
2012
Math
97%
ELA
98%
2013
Math
95%
ELA
98%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
74%
2015
Math
70%
ELA
71%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
71%
2018
Math
63%
ELA
69%
2019
Math
63%
ELA
69%
2020*
Math
49%
ELA
49%
2021*
Math
49%
ELA
49%
2022
Math
60%
ELA
72%
2025
Math
64.4%
ELA
73.9%

* 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: 9.0/10.

How Northfield Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.9/10
93th percentile in MD
Academic
9.1/10
Excellent
Growth
9.0/10
Excellent
Environment
8.3/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
15%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
48 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.8%

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

9125 Northfield Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northfield Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Worthington Elementary (rated 9.8/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Centennial Lane Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, St. Johns Lane Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 2.4 miles away), 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
Dunloggin Middle Ellicott City 0.1 mi 8.4
Veterans Elementary Ellicott City 0.9 mi 8.7
ST JOHNS PARISH DAY SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.3 mi 7.4
Ellicott Mills Middle Ellicott City 1.2 mi 9.1
CHILDREN'S MANOR MONTESSORI Ellicott City 1.2 mi
RESURRECTION ST PAUL SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.8 mi 5.2
Thunder Hill Elementary Columbia 1.9 mi 6.6
Centennial Lane Elementary Ellicott City 1.8 mi 9.3
GLOBAL CHILDREN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.9 mi
Howard High Ellicott City 2.2 mi 8.0
St. Johns Lane Elementary Ellicott City 2.4 mi 8.8
Phelps Luck Elementary Columbia 2.4 mi 7.6
LINWOOD SCHOOL Ellicott City 2.1 mi 6.7
Worthington Elementary Ellicott City 2.0 mi 9.8
Burleigh Manor Middle Ellicott City 2.0 mi 9.2
Running Brook Elementary Columbia 2.4 mi 5.5
Centennial High Ellicott City 2.1 mi 8.7
Patapsco Middle Ellicott City 3.0 mi 8.5
Mount Hebron High Ellicott City 3.1 mi 8.3
Talbott Springs Elementary Columbia 3.0 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21042 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$190,504

Median Home Value

$674,700

Median Rent

$2,253/mo

Population

43,021

College Educated

74.7%

Homeownership

85.4%

Avg Commute

29.3 min

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Median Age

45

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Blue Heron Elementary New Market, MD 8.9
Diamond Elementary Gaithersburg, MD 8.9
Dora Kennedy French Immersion Greenbelt, MD 8.9
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary Silver Spring, MD 8.9
Folger Mckinsey Elementary Severna Park, MD 8.9
Freedom District Elementary Sykesville, MD 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northfield Elementary

What grades does Northfield Elementary serve?

Northfield Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Northfield Elementary?

Northfield Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 749 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northfield Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Northfield Elementary is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northfield Elementary rank in MD?

Northfield Elementary ranks #102 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Northfield Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Northfield Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Northfield Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northfield Elementary has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Northfield Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Northfield Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

15.2% of students at Northfield 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
13 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
23 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
749
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
48
Free/Reduced Lunch
15.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Howard County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.8%

District

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

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