| Metric | Howard County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 57,676 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 77 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $16,000/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 10/10 — Excellent | — | Top 10% in MD |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County Public Schools (this district) | 10/10 | 94th | 57,676 |
| Howard County Public Schools | 10/10 | 94th | 57,676 |
| Harford County Public Schools | 7/10 | 66th | 38,037 |
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Ranked against 25 rated districts in MD → 94th percentile → 10/10.
Source: Maryland State Dept. of Education MCAP, all grades Proficient Pct, 2024–25 school year. Full methodology →
- Veterans Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 883 students
- Hanover Hills Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 875 students
- Fulton Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 872 students
- Pointers Run Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 835 students
- Waverly Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 827 students
- Bellows Spring Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 806 students
- Elkridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 798 students
- Bollman Bridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 775 students
- Northfield Elementary — Grades K–5 · 764 students
- Hammond Elementary — Grades K–5 · 763 students
- Gorman Crossing Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 750 students
- Centennial Lane Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 749 students
- Dayton Oaks Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 739 students
- Manor Woods Elementary — Grades K–5 · 697 students
- Phelps Luck Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 681 students
- Hollifield Station Elementary — Grades K–5 · 677 students
- Waterloo Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 666 students
- Forest Ridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 659 students
- Rockburn Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 649 students
- Deep Run Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 638 students
- St. Johns Lane Elementary — Grades K–5 · 636 students
- Bushy Park Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 631 students
- Laurel Woods Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 625 students
- Triadelphia Ridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 619 students
- Swansfield Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 594 students
- + 17 more elementary schools
- Mount View Middle — Grades 6–8 · 881 students
- Patuxent Valley Middle — Grades 6–8 · 840 students
- Burleigh Manor Middle — Grades 6–8 · 777 students
- Thomas Viaduct Middle — Grades 6–8 · 758 students
- Bonnie Branch Middle — Grades 6–8 · 739 students
- Mayfield Woods Middle — Grades 6–8 · 731 students
- Ellicott Mills Middle — Grades 6–8 · 698 students
- Elkridge Landing Middle — Grades 6–8 · 686 students
- Folly Quarter Middle — Grades 6–8 · 682 students
- Clarksville Middle — Grades 6–8 · 679 students
- Lime Kiln Middle — Grades 6–8 · 675 students
- Patapsco Middle — Grades 6–8 · 670 students
- Wilde Lake Middle — Grades 6–8 · 643 students
- Dunloggin Middle — Grades 6–8 · 623 students
- Murray Hill Middle — Grades 6–8 · 616 students
- Hammond Middle — Grades 6–8 · 604 students
- Lake Elkhorn Middle — Grades 6–8 · 569 students
- Glenwood Middle — Grades 6–8 · 494 students
- Harpers Choice Middle — Grades 6–8 · 471 students
- Oakland Mills Middle — Grades 6–8 · 415 students
- Marriotts Ridge High — Grades 9–12 · 1,741 students
- Reservoir High — Grades 9–12 · 1,597 students
- Atholton High — Grades 9–12 · 1,540 students
- Howard High — Grades 9–12 · 1,493 students
- Mount Hebron High — Grades 9–12 · 1,455 students
- Oakland Mills High — Grades 9–12 · 1,413 students
- River Hill High — Grades 9–12 · 1,383 students
- Centennial High — Grades 9–12 · 1,377 students
- Glenelg High — Grades 9–12 · 1,363 students
- Long Reach High — Grades 9–12 · 1,334 students
- Guilford Park High — Grades 9–12 · 1,218 students
- Wilde Lake High — Grades 9–12 · 1,197 students
- Hammond High — Grades 9–12 · 1,159 students
- Applications and Research Laboratory — Grades 9–12
- Cedar Lane Special Center — Grades PK–12 · 133 students
- Homewood School — Grades 6–12 · 109 students
About Howard County Public Schools
Howard County Public Schools is the public school district assigned to zip code 21044 in Columbia, Maryland. Serving students from Pre-K–12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 21044. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Understanding the 10/10 Rating
With a rating of 10/10 (top-tier), Howard County Public Schools ranks among Maryland’s top-tier-rated school systems. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in Maryland’s MCAP assessments (2024–25 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Maryland is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Howard County Public Schools ranks among the highest-performing public school districts in Maryland on state assessments, with reading and math proficiency rates in roughly the top 10–20% statewide. Homes in and around zip code 21044 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for academic strength will find a district whose students test well above the state norm. Even within top-rated districts, individual school performance varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 21044
Children in zip code 21044 are assigned to Howard County Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K–12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 21044, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Howard County Public Schools at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maryland districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Columbia
For families considering a purchase in the Columbia area, district assignment matters financially. Because Howard County Public Schools serves zip code 21044, homes in and around zip code 21044 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maryland, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Howard County Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 21044.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Howard County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 21044 data.