- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, MD
Cradlerock Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cradlerock Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240042001699
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cradlerock Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Maryland schools.
- #1 of 12
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.3:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 53.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Cradlerock Elementary has class sizes smaller than 92% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cradlerock Elementary ranks #1 of 12 schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042001699 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Cradlerock Elementary held near 465 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 44.8 → 44.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 240042001699 · Columbia, MD Other · SMALL · TRAD
453 enr · 10.3:1 · 53.4% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Cradlerock Elementary held near 465 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE held 44.8 → 44.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Cradlerock Elementary 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
- Atholton High
Atholton High
1,540 students
- Howard High
Howard High
1,493 students
- Mount Hebron H
Mount Hebron High
1,455 students
- This school 453
Cradlerock Elementary
453 students
What this shows Cradlerock Elementary reports 453 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cradlerock Elementary compares
Cradlerock Elementary 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 | 10.3:1 | ▼ 29% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.4% | ▲ 9% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 453 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.3:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
453
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.3:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 8% in Maryland - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.2%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 227 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 48.1%
Hispanic or Latino 21.0%
White 17.9%
Two or More 9.1%
Asian 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 48.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.3, Cradlerock Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
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 Cradlerock Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriotts Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reservoir High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Atholton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Howard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cradlerock Elementary'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
- 1,540
- 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 other schools in Columbia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Phelps Luck Elementary
Standard public school
681 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Waterloo Elementary
Standard public school
666 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Swansfield Elementary
Standard public school
594 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Atholton Elementary
Standard public school
516 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Talbott Springs Elementary
Standard public school
461 students 10:1 students per teacher
Longfellow Elementary
Standard public school
446 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~453 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cradlerock Elementary
How many students attend Cradlerock Elementary?
Cradlerock Elementary has 453 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 459 (2022-23) → 465 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cradlerock Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cradlerock Elementary is 10.3:1, which is 29% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 34% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cradlerock Elementary?
53.4% of students at Cradlerock Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cradlerock Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cradlerock Elementary is African American at 48.1% of enrollment, in Columbia, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cradlerock Elementary?
Cradlerock Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Cradlerock Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Cradlerock Elementary ranks #1 of 12 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 schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Cradlerock Elementary, 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.