- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laurel, MD
Forest Ridge Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Forest Ridge Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240042000177
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest Ridge Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #7 of 12
- schools in Laurel · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 34.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Forest Ridge Elementary has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Ridge Elementary ranks #7 of 12 schools in Laurel, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000177 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+31 students YoY
Forest Ridge Elementary held near 679 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 45.5 → 52.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+31 students YoY 240042000177 · Laurel, MD Other · MID · TRAD
659 enr · 14.6:1 · 34.6% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Forest Ridge Elementary held near 679 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount). Teacher FTE added 45.5 → 52.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Forest Ridge 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 659
Forest Ridge Elementary
659 students
What this shows Forest Ridge Elementary reports 659 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest Ridge Elementary compares
Forest Ridge 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 | 14.6:1 | ▲ 1% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.6% | ▼ 29% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 659 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
659
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 52% in Maryland - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.6%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 659 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 42.9%
Hispanic or Latino 22.1%
Asian 15.4%
White 13.2%
Two or More 5.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 42.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.3, Forest Ridge 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 Forest Ridge 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 | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Atholton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Howard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest Ridge 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 Laurel
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Chesapeake Math and It Public Charter
Standard public school
1,681 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Gorman Crossing Elementary
Standard public school
750 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Laurel Woods Elementary
Standard public school
625 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Scotchtown Hills Elementary
Standard public school
589 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Montpelier Elementary
Standard public school
573 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Brock Bridge Elementary
Standard public school
514 students 14.7:1 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 (~659 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forest Ridge Elementary
How many students attend Forest Ridge Elementary?
Forest Ridge Elementary has 659 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laurel, MD. CCD year-over-year: 648 (2022-23) → 679 (2023-24), nearly flat (+31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Ridge Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Ridge Elementary is 14.6:1, which is 1% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Forest Ridge Elementary?
34.6% of students at Forest Ridge Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest Ridge Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Forest Ridge Elementary is African American at 42.9% of enrollment, in Laurel, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest Ridge Elementary?
Forest Ridge Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Forest Ridge Elementary rank among schools in Laurel?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Ridge Elementary ranks #7 of 12 schools in Laurel, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Laurel on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Forest Ridge 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.