- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, MD
Longfellow Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Longfellow Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240042000742
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Longfellow Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #9 of 12
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.7:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 44.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Longfellow Elementary has class sizes smaller than 83% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Longfellow Elementary ranks #9 of 12 schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000742 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-55 students YoY
Longfellow Elementary shrank from 478 students in 2022-23 to 423 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE held 38.1 → 38.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-55 students YoY 240042000742 · Columbia, MD Other · SMALL · TRAD
446 enr · 11.7:1 · 44.6% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Longfellow Elementary shrank from 478 students in 2022-23 to 423 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE held 38.1 → 38.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Longfellow 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 446
Longfellow Elementary
446 students
What this shows Longfellow Elementary reports 446 students on the CCD universe file.
How Longfellow Elementary compares
Longfellow Elementary 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 | 11.7:1 | ▼ 19% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.6% | ▼ 9% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 446 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
446
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 17% in Maryland - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.8%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 446 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 35.9%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
White 22.0%
Two or More 10.8%
Asian 5.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 35.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.5, Longfellow 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 Longfellow 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 Longfellow 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
Cradlerock Elementary
Standard public school
453 students 10.3:1 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 (~446 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Longfellow Elementary
How many students attend Longfellow Elementary?
Longfellow Elementary has 446 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 478 (2022-23) → 423 (2023-24), down 55.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Longfellow Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Longfellow Elementary is 11.7:1, which is 19% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 25% 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 Longfellow Elementary?
44.6% of students at Longfellow Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Longfellow Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Longfellow Elementary is African American at 35.9% of enrollment, in Columbia, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Longfellow Elementary?
Longfellow Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Longfellow Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Longfellow Elementary ranks #9 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 Longfellow 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.