Public schools in Ellicott City, MD
22 open public schools with an address in Ellicott City, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
22
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
16,166
22 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14:1
Maryland median 14.2:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Ellicott City public schools
The federal directory lists 22 public schools in Ellicott City, MD: 11 elementary, 6 middle, 5 high. The 22 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 16,166 students, an average of 735 per school. The largest campus is Howard High (1,493 students), and the largest elementary school is Veterans Elementary (883).
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 14:1, similar to 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 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 19% 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 Ellicott City
Elementary schools in Ellicott City
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellows Spring Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 806 | 12.5:1 | |
| Centennial Lane Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 749 | 14.1:1 | |
| Hollifield Station Elementary Howard County Public Schools | KG–05 | 677 | 13.6:1 | |
| Ilchester Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 482 | 12.7:1 | |
| Manor Woods Elementary Howard County Public Schools | KG–05 | 697 | 13.6:1 | |
| Northfield Elementary Howard County Public Schools | KG–05 | 764 | 15.7:1 | |
| St. Johns Lane Elementary Howard County Public Schools | KG–05 | 636 | 14.4:1 | |
| Triadelphia Ridge Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 619 | 13.9:1 | |
| Veterans Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 883 | 13.1:1 | |
| Waverly Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 827 | 13.5:1 | |
| Worthington Elementary Howard County Public Schools | PK–05 | 403 | 11.7:1 |
Middle schools in Ellicott City
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie Branch Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 739 | 14:1 | |
| Burleigh Manor Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 777 | 15.8:1 | |
| Dunloggin Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 623 | 13.9:1 | |
| Ellicott Mills Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 698 | 14.4:1 | |
| Folly Quarter Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 682 | 14.5:1 | |
| Patapsco Middle Howard County Public Schools | 06–08 | 670 | 15:1 |
High schools in Ellicott City
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications and Research Laboratory Howard County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Centennial High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,377 | 17:1 | |
| Homewood School Howard County Public Schools · Alternative School | 06–12 | 109 | 2.5:1 | |
| Howard High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,493 | 15.5:1 | |
| Mount Hebron High Howard County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,455 | 15.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White32.9%
- Hispanic8.3%
- Black14.9%
- Asian36.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 21 Ellicott City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (16,166 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Ellicott City
How many public schools are in Ellicott City, MD?
The current NCES directory lists 22 open public schools with a location address in Ellicott City: 11 elementary, 6 middle, 5 high. Together they reported 16,166 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Ellicott City?
All listed public schools with an address in Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City?
Howard High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Ellicott City, with 1,493 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Ellicott City?
No school with an address in Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Ellicott City public schools is 14:1, similar to 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 Ellicott City 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