Lake Elkhorn Middle

Q: Is Lake Elkhorn Middle a good school?

Lake Elkhorn Middle ranks 197 th of 328 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Lake Elkhorn Middle is a public middle school located in Columbia, Maryland, serving 598 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Howard County Public Schools district, which is ranked 2nd out of 25 districts in Maryland and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While the Howard County school district is highly regarded, Lake Elkhorn Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Maryland middle schools over the past 10 years, with significantly lower performance on MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) tests compared to the district and state averages. For example, in 2023-2024, only 16.1% of Lake Elkhorn Middle students were proficient or better in MCAP Mathematics, compared to 41.1% in Howard County and 24.1% statewide. The school's performance also varies across different student subgroups, with Asian and Special Education students performing particularly poorly.

Lake Elkhorn Middle's challenges may be related to its specific context and student population, which includes a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (54.01% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch). This is significantly higher than the nearby Dunloggin Middle, Hammond Middle, and Clarksville Middle schools, which outperform Lake Elkhorn Middle on academic measures and serve student populations with lower percentages of low-income and minority students. By addressing the specific needs of its student population and learning from the successes of its neighboring schools, Lake Elkhorn Middle may be able to improve educational outcomes for all its students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

6680 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045

(410) 313-7600

District: Howard County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
197^th of 328 Maryland Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,133

Feeder schools for Lake Elkhorn Middle:

Elementary:

Cradlerock Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 13.4

Number of students: 622

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.6%

Hispanic:

21.5%

White:

14.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 51%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Lake Elkhorn Middle ranks worse than 60.1% of middle schools in Maryland. It also ranks last among 20 ranked middle schools in the Howard County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.78. (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 Lake Elkhorn Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (48.6%), Hispanic (21.5%), White (14.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 51% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lake Elkhorn Middle is 13.4, which is the 9^th best among 20 middle schools in the Howard County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Lake Elkhorn Middle employs 46.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lake Elkhorn Middle is $19,133, which is the 5^th highest among 20 middle schools in the Howard County Public Schools District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Lake Elkhorn Middle was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Lake Elkhorn Middle 197^th of 328 Maryland public middle schools. (See Lake Elkhorn Middle in the ranking list.)

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 Lake Elkhorn Middle

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Rank History for all students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile
2014	36.70	233^rd	339	31.3%
2015	36.02	202^nd	315	35.9%
2016	41.28	180^th	314	42.7%
2017	36.70	199^th	317	37.2%
2018	39.59	189^th	328	42.4%
2019	33.35	200^th	316	36.7%
2021	42.86	160^th	303	47.2%
2022	36.03	211^th	333	36.6%
2023	31.83	196^th	322	39.1%
2024	31.78	197^th	328	39.9%

See the entire list of Maryland Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	50.03	62^nd	136	54.4%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	26.61	108^th	120	10.0%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	39.29	176^th	273	35.5%

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

Rank History for Female students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	50.77	135^th	303	55.4%

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

Rank History for Male students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	33.06	188^th	288	34.7%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	25.25	96^th	116	17.2%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	48.23	124^th	259	52.1%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	45.26	92^nd	207	55.6%

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

Rank History for White students at Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	54.42	99^th	210	52.9%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle 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: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Lake Elkhorn Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2012	81	241	30	78	0	2	33	0	465
2013	74	243	33	82	0	2	32	0	466
2014	74	262	34	90	0	4	40	0	504
2015	89	258	37	69	1	2	44	0	500
2016	84	249	41	66	0	2	48	0	490
2017	93	281	43	70	0	1	41	0	529
2018	84	287	47	91	0	0	38	0	547
2019	80	296	55	105	0	0	42	0	578
2020	71	293	49	106	0	0	45	0	564
2021	76	326	47	114	0	0	37	0	600
2022	83	321	47	111	0	1	40	0	603
2023	86	305	45	126	0	0	35	1	598
2024	89	302	45	134	1	0	50	1	622

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 Lake Elkhorn Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	465	42.0	11.0	45.8
2013	466	43.0	10.8	49.8
2014	504	44.0	11.4	52
2015	500	46.0	10.8	47.4
2016	490	44.0	11.1	44.9
2017	529	44.0	12.0	42.2
2018	547	47.0	11.6	42.2
2019	578	51.5	11.2	39.8
2020	564	53.6	10.5	45.2
2021	600	47.2	12.7	44
2022	603	45.2	13.3	45.6
2023	598	48.2	12.4	54
2024	622	46.1	13.4	51

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 Lake Elkhorn Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	465	42.0	11.0	45.8
2013	466	43.0	10.8	49.8
2014	504	44.0	11.4	52
2015	500	46.0	10.8	47.4
2016	490	44.0	11.1	44.9
2017	529	44.0	12.0	42.2
2018	547	47.0	11.6	42.2
2019	578	51.5	11.2	39.8
2020	564	53.6	10.5	45.2
2021	600	47.2	12.7	44
2022	603	45.2	13.3	45.6
2023	598	48.2	12.4	54
2024	622	46.1	13.4	51

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 Lake Elkhorn Middle

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$463 (2.9%)	$15,404 (97.1%)	$15,867
2020	$512 (3.0%)	$16,638 (97.0%)	$17,150
2021	$903 (5.6%)	$15,210 (94.4%)	$16,113
2022	$925 (5.6%)	$15,604 (94.4%)	$16,529
2023	$872 (4.6%)	$18,260 (95.4%)	$19,133

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lake Elkhorn Middle

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 200^th of 316 Middle schools	Ranks 196^th of 322 Middle schools	2.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	578	598	3.5%
African American	296	305	3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	55	45	18.2%
Hispanic	105	126	20%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	80	86	7.5%
Two or More Races	42	35	16.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39.8%	54%	14.2%

Schools Near Lake Elkhorn Middle

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 Algebra I (2024)	MCAP Algebra II (2024)	MCAP Geometry (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 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lake Elkhorn Middle	Public	6-8	6680 Cradlerock Way	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7600	622	46	13.4	51.0%	89 (14.3%)	302 (48.6%)	134 (21.5%)	45 (7.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.0%)	31.8	197^th of 328 public middle schools	39.9%		31.8	196^th of 322 public middle schools	39.1%	1	12.1	9.2		16.1	39.3	40.8	42.5	40.9	51.2		38.5	11.9	$19,133	$872	$18,260
Oakland Mills Middle	Public	6-8	9540 Kilimanjaro Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6937	428	39	10.9	49.8%	100 (23.4%)	136 (31.8%)	138 (32.2%)	22 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.8%)	37.1	175^th of 328 public middle schools	46.6%		41.3	159^th of 322 public middle schools	50.6%	16	16.4	10.7		12.4	44.1	42.1	41.2	42.4	28.8			16.2	$21,436	$883	$20,553
Wilde Lake Middle	Public	6-8	10481 Cross Fox Ln	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6957	618	51	12.0	38.7%	176 (28.5%)	266 (43.0%)	70 (11.3%)	39 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	65 (10.5%)	56.1	111^th of 328 public middle schools	66.2%		54.8	119^th of 322 public middle schools	63.0%	8	22.6	12.1	5.1	25.5	50.7	57.1	61.7	56.5	53.8		62.3	27.2	$20,245	$803	$19,441
Mayfield Woods Middle	Public	6-8	7950 Redbarn Way	Elkridge	21075	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5022	695	56	12.3	43.0%	153 (22.0%)	189 (27.2%)	203 (29.2%)	97 (14.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (7.5%)	50	134^th of 328 public middle schools	59.1%		52.2	123^rd of 322 public middle schools	61.8%	11	22.5	14.0	10.3	24.1	50.2	48.4	46.5	48.4	51.2		64.7	25.6	$18,864	$760	$18,104
Patuxent Valley Middle	Public	6-8	9151 Vollmerhausen Rd	Jessup	20794	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 880-5840	843	60	14.0	42.2%	127 (15.1%)	377 (44.7%)	179 (21.2%)	112 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	45 (5.3%)	47.3	139^th of 328 public middle schools	57.6%		47	141^st of 322 public middle schools	56.2%	2	20.0	12.0		17.4	43.9	54.7	48.5	49.1	33.6		40.5	19.3	$17,617	$799	$16,818
Murray Hill Middle	Public	6-8	9989 Winter Sun Rd	Laurel	20723	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 880-5897	600	50	12.0	35.7%	76 (12.7%)	244 (40.7%)	133 (22.2%)	113 (18.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.3%)	50.2	133^rd of 328 public middle schools	59.5%		49.3	131^st of 322 public middle schools	59.3%	2	24.9	9.8	6.5	28.5	49.5	56.3	47.1	50.9	70.2		52.9	21.5	$21,053	$678	$20,375
Harpers Choice Middle	Public	6-8	5450 Beaverkill Rd	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6929	469	41	11.3	53.3%	75 (16.0%)	216 (46.1%)	105 (22.4%)	37 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (7.5%)	38.6	173^rd of 328 public middle schools	47.3%		34.7	185^th of 322 public middle schools	42.5%	12	22.4	9.0	10.5	23.1	40.0	41.3	40.3	40.5	68.6		56.3	19.2	$20,571	$771	$19,800
Hammond Middle	Public	6-8	8100 Aladdin Dr	Laurel	20723	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 880-5830	582	39	14.9	18.7%	216 (37.1%)	177 (30.4%)	61 (10.5%)	73 (12.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (9.1%)	78.2	55^th of 328 public middle schools	83.2%		73.4	66^th of 322 public middle schools	79.5%	11	40.3	20.8	5.1	36.4	58.2	73.2	66.1	66.1	53.1		50.9	39.4	$16,299	$658	$15,640
Clarksville Middle	Public	6-8	6535 S Trotter Rd	Clarksville	21029	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7057	643	43	14.8	6.7%	218 (33.9%)	91 (14.2%)	19 (3.0%)	278 (43.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (5.4%)	98.2	1^st of 328 public middle schools	99.7%		97.8	1^st of 322 public middle schools	99.7%		65.2	44.6	50.0	73.8	82.6	81.2	84.0	82.6	94.0	100.0	90.9	64.9	$15,917	$570	$15,347
Ellicott Mills Middle	Public	6-8	4445 Montgomery Rd	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2839	721	51	14.0	16.5%	226 (31.3%)	121 (16.8%)	45 (6.2%)	284 (39.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (6.0%)	85.3	39^th of 328 public middle schools	88.1%		87.6	29^th of 322 public middle schools	91.0%	10	46.6	23.7	10.8	47.0	67.5	71.8	66.5	68.5	60.0		75.7	47.3	$18,162	$810	$17,351

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Elkhorn Middle

How many students attend Lake Elkhorn Middle?

In the 2023-24 school year, 622 students attended Lake Elkhorn Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Lake Elkhorn Middle?

Students at Lake Elkhorn Middle are 49% African American, 22% Hispanic, 14% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

What district is Lake Elkhorn Middle in?

Howard County Public Schools

Is Lake Elkhorn Middle a good school?

Lake Elkhorn Middle ranks 197^th of 328 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.