Average
#622 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 46% in state
Thunder Hill Elementary
Elementary School · Howard County Public Schools · Columbia, MD
A Howard County Public Schools elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
9357 Mellenbrook Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
- Math 43% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thunder Hill Elementary score 49% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 23 points since 2020, reaching 49% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (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
34.1%
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 Thunder Hill Elementary 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 23Car-Dependent
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$117,323
Median home value
$438,500
Median rent
$1,768/mo
College educated
57.4%
Homeownership
69%
Poverty rate
8.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21045; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phelps Luck ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 704 | Compare → |
| Running Brook ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 389 | Compare → |
| Talbott Springs ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 488 | Compare → |
| Nurturing Nest Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K | 1.5 mi | 4 | 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.
Howard County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 78
- Rank in district
- #64 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
Thunder Hill Elementary is listed in Howard County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thunder Hill Elementary
Thunder Hill Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, MD, part of Howard County Public Schools, serving approximately 454 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #622 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thunder Hill Elementary
What grades does Thunder Hill Elementary serve?
Thunder Hill Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Thunder Hill Elementary?
Thunder Hill Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 454 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thunder Hill Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thunder Hill Elementary is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thunder Hill Elementary rank in MD?
Thunder Hill Elementary ranks #622 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Thunder Hill Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Thunder Hill Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 Thunder Hill Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thunder Hill Elementary has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thunder Hill Elementary a charter school?
No, Thunder Hill Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thunder Hill Elementary a Title I school?
No, Thunder Hill Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thunder Hill Elementary?
34.1% of students at Thunder Hill 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 454
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Howard County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.4%
- Phone
- (410) 313-6922
- Area population (ZIP 21045)
- 40,866
- Area average commute
- 28 min
- Area median age
- 38.4
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 21045; 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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