Enrollment
739
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Ellicott City, MD
Bonnie Branch Middle
Federal NCES profile for Bonnie Branch Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 240042001172
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bonnie Branch Middle earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #5 of 6
- middle schools in Ellicott City · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 23.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Bonnie Branch Middle has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bonnie Branch Middle ranks #5 of 6 middle schools in Ellicott City, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042001172 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
49.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
23.2%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
-53% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bonnie Branch Middle compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bonnie Branch Middle
Bonnie Branch Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Ellicott City, Maryland, enrolling 739 students.
At 15.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Maryland median, within a few percentage points of the 14.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 23.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 739 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Against 258 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #67.
Its student body is led by White (35%) and African American (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 370 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Ellicott City's middle schools, it stands alongside Burleigh Manor Middle School (777 students): Bonnie Branch Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.1:1 vs 14.9:1).
Howard County Public Schools also operates Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students) and Reservoir High (1,597 students) alongside Bonnie Branch Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Bonnie Branch Middle compares
Bonnie Branch Middle on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▲ 4% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.2% | ▼ 53% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 739 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
739
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
23.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 59% in Maryland - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,971
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 370 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 34.6%
African American 23.2%
Asian 19.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
Two or More 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 34.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.7, Bonnie Branch Middle is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Howard County Public Schools, which includes Bonnie Branch Middle.
$17,971
Per student
-12%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 62.7%
State 29.5%
Federal 7.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Bonnie Branch Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriotts Ridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reservoir High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Atholton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Howard High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bonnie Branch Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,597
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- 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
Similar middle schools in Ellicott City
5 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Burleigh Manor Middle School
Standard public school
777 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Ellicott Mills Middle
Standard public school
698 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Folly Quarter Middle
Standard public school
682 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Patapsco Middle
Standard public school
670 students 14:1 students per teacher
Dunloggin Middle
Standard public school
623 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~739 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bonnie Branch Middle's federal record.
- Compare Bonnie Branch Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Howard County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Bonnie Branch Middle
How many students attend Bonnie Branch Middle?
Bonnie Branch Middle has 739 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Ellicott City, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bonnie Branch Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Bonnie Branch Middle is 15.1:1, which is 4% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bonnie Branch Middle?
23.2% of students at Bonnie Branch Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bonnie Branch Middle?
The largest demographic group at Bonnie Branch Middle is White at 34.6% of enrollment, in Ellicott City, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bonnie Branch Middle?
Bonnie Branch Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bonnie Branch Middle rank among middle schools in Ellicott City?
By Resource Investment Index, Bonnie Branch Middle ranks #5 of 6 middle schools in Ellicott City, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Ellicott City on the city page.
Is Bonnie Branch Middle a good school?
Bonnie Branch Middle earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Bonnie Branch Middle, Howard County Public Schools also operates Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students), Reservoir High (1,597 students), and Atholton High (1,540 students). See the Howard County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.