- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, MD
Phelps Luck Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Phelps Luck Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240042000749
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Phelps Luck Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #3 of 12
- schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 44.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Phelps Luck Elementary has class sizes smaller than 86% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Phelps Luck Elementary ranks #3 of 12 schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000749 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-42 students YoY
Phelps Luck Elementary shrank from 746 students in 2022-23 to 704 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE added 60.1 → 61.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-42 students YoY 240042000749 · Columbia, MD Other · MID · TRAD
681 enr · 11.3:1 · 44.0% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Phelps Luck Elementary shrank from 746 students in 2022-23 to 704 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE added 60.1 → 61.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Phelps Luck 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 681
Phelps Luck Elementary
681 students
What this shows Phelps Luck Elementary reports 681 students on the CCD universe file.
How Phelps Luck Elementary compares
Phelps Luck 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 22% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.0% | ▼ 10% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 681 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
681
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% 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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 14% in Maryland - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 454 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: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 32.9%
White 27.8%
African American 24.1%
Asian 7.9%
Two or More 7.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 32.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.5, Phelps Luck 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 Phelps Luck 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 Phelps Luck 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.
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
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 (~681 students)
Frequently asked questions about Phelps Luck Elementary
How many students attend Phelps Luck Elementary?
Phelps Luck Elementary has 681 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 746 (2022-23) → 704 (2023-24), down 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Phelps Luck Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Phelps Luck Elementary is 11.3:1, which is 22% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 28% 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 Phelps Luck Elementary?
44.0% of students at Phelps Luck Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Phelps Luck Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Phelps Luck Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 32.9% 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 Phelps Luck Elementary?
Phelps Luck Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Phelps Luck Elementary rank among schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Phelps Luck Elementary ranks #3 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 Phelps Luck 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.