For the 2025 school year, there are 33 public preschools serving 19,981 students in Howard County, MD. The top ranked public preschools in Howard County, MD are Worthington Elementary School, Waverly Elementary School and Fulton Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Howard County, MD public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the Maryland public pre school average of 25%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 39% statewide average). Pre schools in Howard County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Maryland public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public preschool average of 71% (majority Black).
Best Public Preschools in Howard County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Worthington Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4570 Roundhill Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2825
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2825
Grades: PK-5
| 404 students
Rank: #22.
Waverly Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
10220 Wetherburn Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2819
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2819
Grades: PK-5
| 868 students
Rank: #33.
Fulton Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
11600 Scaggsville Rd
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Fulton, MD 20759
(410) 880-5957
Grades: PK-5
| 866 students
Rank: #44.
Pointers Run Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6600 South Trotter Rd
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 313-7142
Grades: PK-5
| 830 students
Rank: #55.
Centennial Lane Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3825 Centennial Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2800
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2800
Grades: PK-5
| 742 students
Rank: #66.
Ilchester Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4981 Ilchester Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2524
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2524
Grades: PK-5
| 518 students
Rank: #77.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
13400 Triadelphia Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2560
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-2560
Grades: PK-5
| 625 students
Rank: #88.
Bushy Park Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
14601 Carrs Mill Rd
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Glenwood, MD 21738
(410) 313-5500
Grades: PK-5
| 631 students
Rank: #99.
Rockburn Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6145 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5030
Grades: PK-5
| 672 students
Rank: #1010.
Bellows Spring Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8125 Old Stockbridge Dr
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-5057
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-5057
Grades: PK-5
| 825 students
Rank: #1111.
Waterloo Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5940 Waterloo Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5014
Grades: PK-5
| 626 students
Rank: #1212.
Dayton Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4691 Ten Oaks Rd
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Dayton, MD 21036
(410) 313-1571
Grades: PK-5
| 764 students
Rank: #1313.
Gorman Crossing Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9999 Winter Sun Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5900
Grades: PK-5
| 728 students
Rank: #1414.
Atholton Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6700 Seneca Dr
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 313-6853
Grades: PK-5
| 520 students
Rank: #1515.
Veterans Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4355 Montgomery Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-1700
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-1700
Grades: PK-5
| 897 students
Rank: #1616.
Stevens Forest Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6045 Stevens Forest Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6900
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6900
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
Rank: #1717.
Jessup Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2798 Champion Forest Avenue
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 799-1200
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 799-1200
Grades: PK-5
| 594 students
Rank: #1818.
Forest Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9550 Gorman Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5950
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5950
Grades: PK-5
| 679 students
Rank: #1919.
Jeffers Hill Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6001 Tamar Dr
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6872
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6872
Grades: PK-5
| 397 students
Rank: #2020.
Elkridge Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7075 Montgomery Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5006
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5006
Grades: PK-5
| 810 students
Rank: #2121.
Phelps Luck Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5370 Oldstone Ct
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6886
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6886
Grades: PK-5
| 704 students
Rank: #2222.
Longfellow Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5470 Hesperus Dr
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6879
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6879
Grades: PK-5
| 423 students
Rank: #2323.
Bryant Woods Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5450 Blue Heron Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6859
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6859
Grades: PK-5
| 359 students
Rank: #2424.
Talbott Springs Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9550 Basket Ring Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6915
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-6915
Grades: PK-5
| 488 students
Rank: #2525.
Deep Run Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6925 Old Waterloo Rd
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5000
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5000
Grades: PK-5
| 677 students
Rank: #2626.
Swansfield Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5610 Cedar Ln
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6907
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6907
Grades: PK-5
| 602 students
Rank: #2727.
Guilford Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7335 Oakland Mills Rd
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 880-5930
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 880-5930
Grades: PK-5
| 473 students
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Bollman Bridge Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8200 Savage-guilford Road
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5920
Jessup, MD 20794
(410) 880-5920
Grades: PK-5
| 754 students
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Cradlerock Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6700 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 319-7601
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 319-7601
Grades: PK-5
| 465 students
Rank: #3030.
Laurel Woods Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9250 N Laurel Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5960
Laurel, MD 20723
(410) 880-5960
Grades: PK-5
| 596 students
Rank: #3131.
Running Brook Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5215 W Running Brook Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6893
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-6893
Grades: PK-5
| 389 students
Rank: #3232.
Ducketts Lane Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6501 Ducketts Ln
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5050
Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 313-5050
Grades: PK-5
| 595 students
Rank: #3333.
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
Grades: PK-12
| 132 students
Howard County 九游体育s (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
10960 Grantchester Way
Columbia, MD 21044
(800) 382-6010
Columbia, MD 21044
(800) 382-6010
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
6700 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7601
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7601
Grades: PK-8
| 932 students
6700 Cradlewrock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7607
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7607
Grades: 6-8
| 543 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Howard County, MD?
The top ranked public preschools in Howard County, MD include Worthington Elementary School, Waverly Elementary School and Fulton Elementary School. Howard County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Maryland.
How many public preschools are located in Howard County?
33 public preschools are located in Howard County.
What is the racial composition of students in Howard County?
Howard County public preschools minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black and Asian), which is more than the Maryland public preschools average of 71% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Howard County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Howard County include: Talbott Springs Elementary School vs. Stevens Forest Elementary School, Jessup Elementary School vs. Bollman Bridge Elementary School, Stevens Forest Elementary School vs. Talbott Springs Elementary School
Recent Articles

What Is A Charter School?
Explore the world of charter schools in this comprehensive guide. Learn about their history, how they operate, and the pros and cons of this educational innovation. Discover key facts about charter schools, including admission policies, demographics, and funding, as well as what to look for when considering a charter school for your child.

10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
Discover the 10 compelling reasons why high school sports are beneficial for students. This comprehensive article explores how athletics enhance academic performance, foster personal growth, and develop crucial life skills. From improved fitness and time management to leadership development and community representation, learn why participating in high school sports can be a game-changer for students' overall success and well-being.

February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.