For the 2026 school year, there are 20 public middle schools serving 11,752 students in Howard County, MD. The top-ranked public middle schools in Howard County, MD are Clarksville Middle School, Folly Quarter Middle School and Burleigh Manor Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Howard County, MD public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Maryland public middle school average of 19%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 42% statewide average). Middle schools in Howard County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of Maryland public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is less than the Maryland public middle school average of 72% (majority Black).
Best Public Middle Schools in Howard County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Clarksville Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
6535 S Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7057
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7057
Gr: 6-8 | 679 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #22.
Folly Quarter Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
13500 Triadelphia Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-1506
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-1506
Gr: 6-8 | 682 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #33.
Burleigh Manor Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4200 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2507
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2507
Gr: 6-8 | 777 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #44.
Lime Kiln Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11650 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5988
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5988
Gr: 6-8 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #55.
Glenwood Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2680 Rt 97
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5520
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5520
Gr: 6-8 | 494 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #66.
Ellicott Mills Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4445 Montgomery Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2839
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2839
Gr: 6-8 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #77.
Dunloggin Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9129 Northfield Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2831
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2831
Gr: 6-8 | 623 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #88.
Patapsco Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
8885 Old Frederick Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2848
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2848
Gr: 6-8 | 670 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #99.
Bonnie Branch Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4979 Ilchester Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2580
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2580
Gr: 6-8 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1010.
Hammond Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8100 Aladdin Dr
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5830
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5830
Gr: 6-8 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1111.
Elkridge Landing Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7085 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5040
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5040
Gr: 6-8 | 686 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1212.
Wilde Lake Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10481 Cross Fox Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6957
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6957
Gr: 6-8 | 643 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1313.
Mayfield Woods Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7950 Redbarn Way
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5022
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5022
Gr: 6-8 | 731 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1414.
Homewood School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10914 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7081
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7081
Gr: 6-12 | 109 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1515.
Murray Hill Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9989 Winter Sun Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5897
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5897
Gr: 6-8 | 616 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1616.
Patuxent Valley Middle School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9151 Vollmerhausen Rd
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5840
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5840
Gr: 6-8 | 840 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1717.
Oakland Mills Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9540 Kilimanjaro Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6937
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6937
Gr: 6-8 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1818.
Harpers Choice Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5450 Beaverkill Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6929
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6929
Gr: 6-8 | 471 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1919.
Lake Elkhorn Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6680 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7600
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7600
Gr: 6-8 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2020.
Cedar Lane Special Center
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
11630 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8800
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 888-8800
Gr: PK-12 | 133 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Howard County, MD?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Howard County, MD include Clarksville Middle School, Folly Quarter Middle School and Burleigh Manor Middle School. Howard County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Maryland.
How many public middle schools are located in Howard County?
20 public middle schools are located in Howard County.
What is the racial composition of students in Howard County?
Howard County public middle schools minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is less than the Maryland public middle schools average of 72% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Howard County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Howard County include: Lake Elkhorn Middle School vs. Oakland Mills Middle School, Oakland Mills Middle School vs. Lake Elkhorn Middle School, Folly Quarter Middle School vs. Burleigh Manor Middle School
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