- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, MD
Lake Elkhorn Middle
Federal NCES profile for Lake Elkhorn Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 240042001700
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lake Elkhorn Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Maryland schools.
- #3 of 4
- middle schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 50.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Lake Elkhorn Middle has class sizes smaller than 82% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lake Elkhorn Middle ranks #3 of 4 middle schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042001700 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+24 students YoY
Lake Elkhorn Middle held near 622 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 48.2 → 46.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+24 students YoY 240042001700 · Columbia, MD Middle · MID · TRAD
569 enr · 11.9:1 · 50.3% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Lake Elkhorn Middle held near 622 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 48.2 → 46.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Lake Elkhorn Middle 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 569
Lake Elkhorn Middle
569 students
What this shows Lake Elkhorn Middle reports 569 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lake Elkhorn Middle compares
Lake Elkhorn Middle 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 | 11.9:1 | ▼ 18% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.3% | ▲ 3% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 569 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
569
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 18% in Maryland - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
43.8%
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 285 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 80 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 48.0%
Hispanic or Latino 22.8%
White 15.7%
Two or More 7.8%
Asian 5.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 48.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, Lake Elkhorn Middle 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 Lake Elkhorn Middle 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 | Similar 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 Lake Elkhorn Middle'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 middle schools in Columbia
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~569 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lake Elkhorn Middle
How many students attend Lake Elkhorn Middle?
Lake Elkhorn Middle has 569 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 598 (2022-23) → 622 (2023-24), nearly flat (+24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Elkhorn Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Lake Elkhorn Middle is 11.9:1, which is 18% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 24% 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 Lake Elkhorn Middle?
50.3% of students at Lake Elkhorn Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lake Elkhorn Middle?
The largest demographic group at Lake Elkhorn Middle is African American at 48.0% of enrollment, in Columbia, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lake Elkhorn Middle?
Lake Elkhorn Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Lake Elkhorn Middle rank among middle schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Lake Elkhorn Middle ranks #3 of 4 middle 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 middle schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Lake Elkhorn 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.