Public schools in Columbia, MD
23 open public schools with an address in Columbia, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
23
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,428
23 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.9:1
Maryland median 14.2:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Columbia public schools
The federal directory lists 23 public schools in Columbia, MD: 14 elementary, 4 middle, 5 high. The 23 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,428 students, an average of 671 per school. The largest campus is Atholton High (1,540 students), and the largest elementary school is Phelps Luck Elementary (681).
Every listed school belongs to Howard County Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 11.9:1, lower than the statewide school median of 14.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 5 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 40% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Columbia
Elementary schools in Columbia
14| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atholton Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 516 | 14.7:1 | |
| Bryant Woods Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 366 | 10.3:1 | |
| Clemens Crossing Elementary Howard County Public Schools | KG–05 | 481 | 14:1 | |
| Cradlerock Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 453 | 10.3:1 | |
| Guilford Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 437 | 12:1 | |
| Jeffers Hill Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 406 | 11.6:1 | |
| Longfellow Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 446 | 11.4:1 | |
| Phelps Luck Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 681 | 11.7:1 | |
| Running Brook Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 407 | 9.5:1 | |
| Stevens Forest Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 314 | 9.5:1 | |
| Swansfield Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 594 | 11.4:1 | |
| Talbott Springs Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 461 | 10:1 | |
| Thunder Hill Elementary Howard County Public Schools | KG–05 | 459 | 11.7:1 | |
| Waterloo Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 666 | 12.9:1 |
Middle schools in Columbia
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpers Choice Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 471 | 11.6:1 | |
| Lake Elkhorn Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 569 | 12.2:1 | |
| Oakland Mills Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 415 | 11.9:1 | |
| Wilde Lake Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 643 | 13.2:1 |
High schools in Columbia
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atholton High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,540 | 16.7:1 | |
| Hammond High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,159 | 14.3:1 | |
| Long Reach High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,334 | 13.7:1 | |
| Oakland Mills High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,413 | 13.7:1 | |
| Wilde Lake High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,197 | 14:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White23.8%
- Hispanic20.1%
- Black37.7%
- Asian9.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial8.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 23 Columbia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,428 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbia
How many public schools are in Columbia, MD?
The current NCES directory lists 23 open public schools with a location address in Columbia: 14 elementary, 4 middle, 5 high. Together they reported 15,428 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Columbia?
All listed public schools with an address in Columbia belong to Howard County Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbia?
Atholton High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbia, with 1,540 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Columbia?
No school with an address in Columbia is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Maryland.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Columbia schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Columbia public schools is 11.9:1, lower than the Maryland school median of 14.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Columbia guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Maryland cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Maryland cities