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Excellent

#92 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 7% in state

Phelps Luck Elementary

Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools

5370 Oldstone Ct, Columbia, MD 21045

Enrollment

704

Student-Teacher

11.5:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Columbia

#3 of 23

public schools

Maryland elementary schools

#91 of 882

In district

#7 of 76

Howard County Public Schools

School environment

9.2 / 10

Exceptional

About Phelps Luck Elementary

Phelps Luck Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, MD, part of the Howard County Public Schools. The school serves approximately 704 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 93.3th percentile among MD schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 36% proficiency in math, 6 points above the state average and 41% in reading/language arts, 10 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $117,323, where 57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a midsize city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+2.19 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency49.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.8%
Math vs. State Avg+19.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+3.7 pts
Overall Proficiency52%
Expected (poverty-adj.)44%
vs. Expected+7.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile72th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.2Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,971

Phelps Luck Elementary — Students at Phelps Luck Elementary score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

46.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 36.2%
School
State
30.2%
ELA Proficiency 40.7%
School
State
51.1%

Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
39%
ELA
44%
2021*
Math
23%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
33%
ELA
39%
2025
Math
49.6%
ELA
54.8%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Phelps Luck Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
93th percentile in MD
Academic
8.1/10
8.1/10
Growth
8.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.2/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
47%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
61 teachers

Location

5370 Oldstone Ct, Columbia, MD 21045

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Phelps Luck Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Worthington Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Ellicott City), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Stevens Forest Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Waterloo Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 1.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Howard High Ellicott City 0.4 mi 5.7
THE GODDARD SCHOOL Ellicott City 0.8 mi 7.6
Thunder Hill Elementary Columbia 1.0 mi 6.0
Long Reach High Columbia 1.2 mi 6.1
Jeffers Hill Elementary Columbia 1.2 mi 6.5
GLOBAL CHILDREN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ellicott City 1.5 mi
Oakland Mills High Columbia 1.5 mi 6.1
Waterloo Elementary Columbia 1.5 mi 8.3
Talbott Springs Elementary Columbia 1.5 mi 7.2
CHILDREN'S MANOR MONTESSORI Ellicott City 1.9 mi
Ellicott Mills Middle Ellicott City 2.0 mi 8.2
Oakland Mills Middle Columbia 1.7 mi 7.4
NURTURING NEST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Columbia 1.7 mi
Stevens Forest Elementary Columbia 1.9 mi 8.9
Worthington Elementary Ellicott City 2.0 mi 9.0
Veterans Elementary Ellicott City 2.2 mi 7.2
Northfield Elementary Ellicott City 2.4 mi 6.8
Bellows Spring Elementary Ellicott City 2.1 mi 7.5
Dunloggin Middle Ellicott City 2.5 mi 6.8
JULIA BROWN SCHOOL Columbia 2.2 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21045 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$117,323

Median Home Value

$438,500

Median Rent

$1,768/mo

Population

40,866

College Educated

57.4%

Homeownership

69%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Median Age

38.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Phelps Luck Elementary has a median household income of $117,323. It is a well-educated community where 57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $438,500, with a median rent of $1,768/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bakerfield Elementary Aberdeen, MD 8.7
Fields Road Elementary Gaithersburg, MD 8.7
Freetown Elementary Glen Burnie, MD 8.7
Maple Elementary School Cambridge, MD 8.7
Perry Hall Elementary Baltimore, MD 8.7
Showell Elementary Berlin, MD 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Phelps Luck Elementary

What grades does Phelps Luck Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Phelps Luck Elementary?

Phelps Luck Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 704 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Phelps Luck Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Phelps Luck Elementary is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Phelps Luck Elementary rank in MD?

Phelps Luck Elementary is ranked #92 out of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Phelps Luck Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Phelps Luck Elementary has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Phelps Luck Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Phelps Luck Elementary has 36.2% math proficiency and 40.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Phelps Luck Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Phelps Luck Elementary a Title I school?

No, Phelps Luck Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

46.7% of students at Phelps Luck 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
65 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
704
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
61
Free/Reduced Lunch
46.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Howard County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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