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North Laurel Aug 1998Photo: FlugKerl2 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A
Schools in North Laurel · Howard County Public Schools

North Laurel’s public schools outscore 88% of Maryland districts

On the state math tests, 42% of North Laurel’s students scored proficient, above the Maryland average (25%). The grade covers the public school district serving North Laurel, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maryland, not nationally.

#12of 261 Maryland townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
58%
▲ 13 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
42%
▲ 17 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 7 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.3K
▲ 0% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.6
MD 14.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
20,920 students on the public path
In brief

North Laurel’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 193 Maryland towns with household incomes within a quarter of North Laurel’s, its schools beat 93%, higher than their 88% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 42% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,296 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and 13 high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Julia Brown School (private) and Phillips School - Laurel (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind North Laurel’s grade

A+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

A: better than 88% of Maryland school districts, #12 of 261 Maryland towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Maryland average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (193)Better than 93%
AA+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 29,556 test results and a graduating class of 4,564 could put North Laurel anywhere from A to A+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of North Laurel’s students in the tested grades sat them (29,248 in math, 29,865 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve North Laurel, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
6–8Murray Hill MiddleHoward County Public SchoolsB+
9–1213 high schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+

North Laurel’s public schools are run by Howard County Public Schools. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Howard County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 77 schools · 57,565 students · 13.6 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$20,296MD $20,258 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading58%
State average 45.1% · 29865 students tested
Math42%
State average 24.6% · 29248 students tested

North Laurel vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share North Laurel’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
North LaurelAHoward County
LaurelDPrince George's County

Every school in North Laurel

19 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maryland’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in North Laurelby address
Gorman Crossing Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Laurel
B+
750 students13:1Rate it →
Forest Ridge Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Laurel
B
659 students13:1Rate it →
Laurel Woods Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Laurel
B−
625 students12:1Rate it →
Murray Hill Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Laurel
B+
616 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving North Laurelin other towns
Marriotts Ridge High
High · Grades 9–12 · Marriottsville
A+
1,741 students18:1Rate it →
Reservoir High
High · Grades 9–12 · Fulton
A+
1,597 students15:1Rate it →
Atholton High
High · Grades 9–12 · Columbia
A+
1,540 students17:1Rate it →
Howard High
High · Grades 9–12 · Ellicott City
A+
1,493 students16:1Rate it →
Mount Hebron High
High · Grades 9–12 · Ellicott City
A+
1,455 students16:1Rate it →
Oakland Mills High
High · Grades 9–12 · Columbia
A
1,413 students14:1Rate it →
River Hill High
High · Grades 9–12 · Clarksville
A+
1,383 students18:1Rate it →
Centennial High
High · Grades 9–12 · Ellicott City
A+
1,377 students17:1Rate it →
Glenelg High
High · Grades 9–12 · Glenelg
A+
1,363 students17:1Rate it →
Long Reach High
High · Grades 9–12 · Columbia
A
1,334 students14:1Rate it →
Guilford Park High
High · Grades 9–12 · Jessup
1,218 students16:1Rate it →
Wilde Lake High
High · Grades 9–12 · Columbia
A
1,197 students14:1Rate it →
Hammond High
High · Grades 9–12 · Columbia
A
1,159 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Julia Brown School
Elementary · Grades PK–3 · Laurel
Private · Nonsectarian
105 students35:1Rate it →
Phillips School - Laurel
Grades 3–12 · Laurel
Private · Special education
67 students5:1Rate it →

Questions about North Laurel’s schools

Are North Laurel’s schools good?

By Maryland’s own tests, yes: the public schools North Laurel children attend outscore 88% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #12 of 261 Maryland towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 93%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is North Laurel in?

Howard County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 57,565 students in 77 schools (2024–25).

Where do North Laurel kids go to high school?

One of 13 high schools, depending on your address: Marriotts Ridge High, Reservoir High, Atholton High, Howard High, Mount Hebron High, Oakland Mills High, River Hill High, Centennial High, Glenelg High, Long Reach High, Guilford Park High, Wilde Lake High and Hammond High.

What is North Laurel’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Howard County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does North Laurel spend per student?

$20,296 in Howard County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in North Laurel?

Yes: The Julia Brown School (nonsectarian, grades PK–3, 105 students) and Phillips School - Laurel (special education, grades 3–12, 67 students).

Parents talk

What North Laurel families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near North Laurel → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maryland. Stars are from neighbors.