Cradlerock Elementary

Q: Is Cradlerock Elementary a good school?

Cradlerock Elementary ranks 465 th of 859 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Cradlerock Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, Maryland, serving 459 students in grades PK-5. The school stands out for its higher percentage of African American and Hispanic students compared to nearby schools, as well as its lower academic performance and higher percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Despite having the highest per-student spending among nearby schools, Cradlerock Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom half of Maryland elementary schools, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on MCAP tests is below the Howard County Public Schools and state averages in both mathematics and English language arts across all grade levels. Notably, the school's African American students rank in the bottom 20% of Maryland elementary schools, while its White students rank in the top 50%, indicating significant racial achievement gaps.

Interestingly, Cradlerock Elementary's academic performance is generally lower than nearby schools, even those with similar demographic profiles. For example, Stevens Forest Elementary, which has a higher percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, outperforms Cradlerock Elementary on MCAP tests. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as instructional practices, school leadership, and community engagement, may be contributing to Cradlerock Elementary's underperformance.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

6700 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045

(410) 319-7601

District: Howard County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
465^th of 859 Maryland Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,909

Students who attend Cradlerock Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lake Elkhorn Middle
High:	Oakland Mills High

Student/teacher ratio: 10.2

Number of students: 459

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.0%

White:

19.8%

Hispanic:

17.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.7%

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Compare Cradlerock Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Cradlerock Elementary ranks worse than 54.1% of elementary schools in Maryland. It also ranks 37^th among 42 ranked elementary schools in the Howard County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.37. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Cradlerock Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (49%), White (19.8%), Hispanic (17.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cradlerock Elementary is 10.2, which is the 4^th best among 42 elementary schools in the Howard County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Cradlerock Elementary employs 44.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cradlerock Elementary is $21,909, which is the 4^th highest among 42 elementary schools in the Howard County Public Schools District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Cradlerock Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Howard County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Howard County Public Schools 2^nd of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Cradlerock Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile
2014	44.09	564^th	867	34.9%
2015	34.84	524^th	859	39.0%
2016	36.63	514^th	845	39.2%
2017	41.98	452^nd	847	46.6%
2018	29.84	567^th	857	33.8%
2019	16.74	717^th	853	15.9%
2021	29.96	483^rd	802	39.8%
2022	37.03	517^th	862	40.0%
2023	28.42	558^th	855	34.7%
2024	37.37	465^th	859	45.9%

See the entire list of Maryland Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	20.15	522^nd	546	4.4%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	24.15	575^th	796	27.8%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	28.92	495^th	788	37.2%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	26.53	403^rd	504	20.0%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	36.28	195^th	347	43.8%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	49.13	240^th	528	54.5%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Not a very good experience during the years my kids attended. Kids constantly disrupting the class room environment which forces teachers to stop constantly. Classroom size are severely overcrowded. No disciplinary action taken when kids misbehave at this school. If your kid is one of the smarter ones they will be pushed to help other kids that are still learning the material being taught. If your child needs help they will get it from other kids in groups instead of from the teacher or aid. To many of the teachers this is just a job and it shows, they could care less, a handful their actually care. I was told by my kids their teacher was constantly on her phone or would hide to take calls in class.

Their Teacher at the time in 2nd grade was not very effective apparently all she did was yell at the kids in the classroom which solved nothing. I hear she has been moved into the kindergarten class, probably so those kids can't let their parents know how much she yells, feel bad for those kids to have their learning experience begin with a teacher like that. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Cradlerock Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2012	113	212	41	88	0	0	43	497
2013	106	202	42	99	0	2	49	500
2014	116	217	45	93	0	1	48	520
2015	106	215	37	81	0	0	43	482
2016	102	230	46	71	0	0	51	500
2017	103	217	39	81	0	0	51	491
2018	98	256	38	75	1	1	50	519
2019	103	241	38	80	1	1	45	509
2020	97	231	36	88	1	0	44	497
2021	89	214	27	86	1	0	39	456
2022	93	221	18	84	0	0	41	457
2023	91	225	20	82	0	0	41	459

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Cradlerock Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	497	37.5	13.2	40.6
2013	500	42.5	11.7	46
2014	520	42.0	12.3	49
2015	482	40.0	12.0	41.5
2016	500	42.0	11.9	41.6
2017	491	42.5	11.5	48.5
2018	519	43.5	11.9	48
2019	509	45.6	11.1	44.2
2020	497	45.8	10.8	50.3
2021	456	45.8	9.9	47.8
2022	457	48.3	9.4	48.1
2023	459	44.8	10.2	57.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Cradlerock Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	497	37.5	13.2	40.6
2013	500	42.5	11.7	46
2014	520	42.0	12.3	49
2015	482	40.0	12.0	41.5
2016	500	42.0	11.9	41.6
2017	491	42.5	11.5	48.5
2018	519	43.5	11.9	48
2019	509	45.6	11.1	44.2
2020	497	45.8	10.8	50.3
2021	456	45.8	9.9	47.8
2022	457	48.3	9.4	48.1
2023	459	44.8	10.2	57.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Cradlerock Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,294 (7.2%)	$16,569 (92.8%)	$17,863
2020	$1,229 (6.3%)	$18,161 (93.7%)	$19,390
2021	$1,532 (6.8%)	$20,908 (93.2%)	$22,440
2022	$1,885 (7.9%)	$22,080 (92.1%)	$23,965
2023	$1,688 (7.7%)	$20,221 (92.3%)	$21,909

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cradlerock Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 717^th of 853 Elementary schools	Ranks 558^th of 855 Elementary schools	18.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	509	459	9.8%
African American	241	225	6.6%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	38	20	47.4%
Hispanic	80	82	2.5%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	103	91	11.7%
Two or More Races	45	41	8.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	44.2%	57.7%	13.5%

Schools Near Cradlerock Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)				MCAP English Language Arts (2024)				MCAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cradlerock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6700 Cradlerock Way	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 319-7601	459	45	10.2	57.7%	91 (19.8%)	225 (49.0%)	82 (17.9%)	20 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (8.9%)	37.4	465^th of 859 public elementary schools	45.9%		28.4	558^th of 855 public elementary schools	34.7%	93	26.5	23.6	28.1	26.0	38.8	42.3	41.9	41.0	17.5	$21,909	$1,688	$20,221
Stevens Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6045 Stevens Forest Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6900	308	35	8.8	52.3%	60 (19.5%)	119 (38.6%)	78 (25.3%)	21 (6.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.4%)	67.3	257^th of 859 public elementary schools	70.1%		69	242^nd of 855 public elementary schools	71.7%	15	50.0	41.7	40.0	43.8	57.4	61.7	55.9	58.1	24.6	$26,690	$2,212	$24,478
Atholton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6700 Seneca Dr	Columbia	21046	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6853	489	36	13.7	16.8%	228 (46.6%)	112 (22.9%)	65 (13.3%)	31 (6.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	51 (10.4%)	82.7	146^th of 859 public elementary schools	83.0%		78.7	173^rd of 855 public elementary schools	79.8%	27	55.7	46.1	50.6	50.9	69.6	68.4	63.6	67.2	42.3	$16,440	$784	$15,655
Jeffers Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6001 Tamar Dr	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6872	408	32	12.5	45.8%	77 (18.9%)	164 (40.2%)	94 (23.0%)	45 (11.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.6%)	53.5	343^rd of 859 public elementary schools	60.1%		45.1	407^th of 855 public elementary schools	52.4%	64	31.9	35.4	30.5	32.6	43.3	61.5	52.5	52.4	23.3	$19,277	$666	$18,611
Talbott Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9550 Basket Ring Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6915	483	46	10.4	54.2%	91 (18.8%)	177 (36.6%)	145 (30.0%)	26 (5.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (8.7%)	51.6	364^th of 859 public elementary schools	57.6%		48.1	378^th of 855 public elementary schools	55.8%	14	50.0	21.4	35.9	35.6	58.8	34.8	44.7	46.0	24.4	$20,156	$1,536	$18,620
Clemens Crossing Elementary	Public	K-5	10320 Quarterstaff Rd	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6866	543	39	13.8	26.2%	216 (39.8%)	138 (25.4%)	65 (12.0%)	70 (12.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	52 (9.6%)	87.1	101^st of 859 public elementary schools	88.2%		75	206^th of 855 public elementary schools	75.9%	105	69.0	52.9	50.0	57.1	69.5	65.5	76.7	70.7	42.9	$17,686	$720	$16,965
Guilford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7335 Oakland Mills Rd	Columbia	21046	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 880-5930	478	43	11.2	56.5%	67 (14.0%)	234 (49.0%)	86 (18.0%)	65 (13.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.2%)	43.3	435^th of 859 public elementary schools	49.4%		40.7	450^th of 855 public elementary schools	47.4%	15	32.1	30.1	23.5	28.5	51.9	54.2	36.7	47.4	14.6	$21,037	$1,443	$19,594
Bryant Woods Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5450 Blue Heron Ln	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6859	361	37	9.6	50.1%	85 (23.5%)	165 (45.7%)	52 (14.4%)	23 (6.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (9.7%)	44.3	426^th of 859 public elementary schools	50.4%		46.2	395^th of 855 public elementary schools	53.8%	31	47.6	25.5	15.3	30.1	39.7	54.9	41.4	44.8	20.3	$23,591	$1,810	$21,781
Phelps Luck Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5370 Oldstone Ct	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6886	746	60	12.4	49.6%	170 (22.8%)	198 (26.5%)	248 (33.2%)	80 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.7%)	48.4	390^th of 859 public elementary schools	54.6%		40.3	457^th of 855 public elementary schools	46.5%	67	51.5	25.2	31.6	35.5	49.5	43.4	34.8	41.7	24.6	$17,948	$1,331	$16,617
Thunder Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	9357 Mellenbrook Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6922	472	37	12.6	39.8%	106 (22.5%)	186 (39.4%)	74 (15.7%)	70 (14.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (7.2%)	58.2	317^th of 859 public elementary schools	63.1%		58.7	308^th of 855 public elementary schools	64.0%	9	40.8	41.7	32.9	38.6	46.1	54.2	50.6	50.4	26.3	$19,466	$985	$18,481

Frequently Asked Questions about Cradlerock Elementary

Is Cradlerock Elementary a good school?

Cradlerock Elementary ranks 465^th of 859 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Cradlerock Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cradlerock Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lake Elkhorn Middle
High : Oakland Mills High

How many students attend Cradlerock Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 459 students attended Cradlerock Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Cradlerock Elementary?

Students at Cradlerock Elementary are 49% African American, 20% White, 18% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What district is Cradlerock Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.