- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Ellicott City, MD
Howard High
Federal NCES profile for Howard High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240042000738
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard High earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also one of the largest schools in Maryland.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Ellicott City · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.5:1
- students per teacher
- 19.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard High has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Ellicott City, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000738 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-212 students YoY
Howard High shrank from 1,741 students in 2022-23 to 1,529 in 2023-24 (-12.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 111.5 → 100.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-212 students YoY 240042000738 · Ellicott City, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,493 enr · 13.5:1 · 19.2% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Howard High shrank from 1,741 students in 2022-23 to 1,529 in 2023-24 (-12.2%). Teacher FTE lost 111.5 → 100.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Howard 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
- Atholton High
Atholton High
1,540 students
- This school
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 Howard High reports 1,493 students on the CCD universe file.
How Howard High compares
Howard High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.2% | ▼ 61% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,493 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,493
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 36% in Maryland - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.9%
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 213 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 64 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 34.7%
Asian 28.0%
African American 23.3%
Two or More 7.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 34.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.8, Howard High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 25
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 Howard High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriotts Ridge High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reservoir High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Atholton High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oakland Mills High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard 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
- 1,540
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- 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 Ellicott City
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~1,493 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Howard High
How many students attend Howard High?
Howard High has 1,493 students enrolled. It is a high school in Ellicott City, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,741 (2022-23) → 1,529 (2023-24), down 212.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard High?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard High is 13.5:1, which is 7% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 14% 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 Howard High?
19.2% of students at Howard High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard High?
The largest demographic group at Howard High is White at 34.7% of enrollment, in Ellicott City, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard High?
Howard High 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 Howard High rank among high schools in Ellicott City?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard High ranks #1 of 3 high 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 high schools in Ellicott City on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Howard High, 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.