- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbia, MD
Atholton High
Federal NCES profile for Atholton High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240042000719
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Atholton High earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Maryland schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Maryland.
- #1 of 5
- high schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.4:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 22.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Atholton High has class sizes larger than 75% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Atholton High ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+31 students YoY
Atholton High held near 1,498 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 94.6 → 93.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+31 students YoY 240042000719 · Columbia, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,540 enr · 16.4:1 · 22.2% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Atholton High held near 1,498 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 94.6 → 93.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Atholton High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Marriotts Ridg
Marriotts Ridge High
1,741 students
- Reservoir High
Reservoir High
1,597 students
- This school
Atholton High
1,540 students
- Howard High
Howard High
1,493 students
- Mount Hebron H
Mount Hebron High
1,455 students
- Oakland Mills
Oakland Mills High
1,413 students
What this shows Atholton High reports 1,540 students on the CCD universe file.
How Atholton High compares
Atholton High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.4:1 | ▲ 13% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.2% | ▼ 55% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,540 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,540
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 75% in Maryland - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
23.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,256
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 308 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 32.4%
White 26.8%
Asian 18.8%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
Two or More 7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 32.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.2, Atholton High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 28
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Howard County Public Schools reports $19,256 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Atholton High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriotts Ridge High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reservoir High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Howard High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oakland Mills High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Atholton High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,597
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,493
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,455
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,413
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Columbia
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Oakland Mills High
Standard public school
1,413 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Long Reach High
Standard public school
1,334 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Wilde Lake High
Standard public school
1,197 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Hammond High
Standard public school
1,159 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,540 students)
Frequently asked questions about Atholton High
How many students attend Atholton High?
Atholton High has 1,540 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,467 (2022-23) → 1,498 (2023-24), nearly flat (+31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Atholton High?
The student-teacher ratio at Atholton High is 16.4:1, which is 13% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Atholton High?
22.2% of students at Atholton High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Atholton High?
The largest demographic group at Atholton High is African American at 32.4% of enrollment, in Columbia, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Atholton High?
Atholton High has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Atholton High rank among high schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Atholton High ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Columbia, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Atholton High, Howard County Public Schools also operates Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students), Reservoir High (1,597 students), and Howard High (1,493 students). See the Howard County Public Schools district page for the complete list.