- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Columbia, MD
Wilde Lake Middle
Federal NCES profile for Wilde Lake Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 240042000763
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wilde Lake Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Maryland schools.
- #4 of 4
- middle schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.9:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 37.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Wilde Lake Middle has class sizes smaller than 72% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wilde Lake Middle ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000763 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Wilde Lake Middle held near 618 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 50.6 → 51.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 240042000763 · Columbia, MD Middle · MID · TRAD
643 enr · 12.9:1 · 37.2% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Wilde Lake Middle held near 618 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE added 50.6 → 51.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Wilde Lake 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 643
Wilde Lake Middle
643 students
What this shows Wilde Lake Middle reports 643 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wilde Lake Middle compares
Wilde Lake 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 11% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.2% | ▼ 24% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 643 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
643
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 28% in Maryland - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.5%
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 322 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 49 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 43.1%
White 29.8%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 8.7%
Asian 5.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 43.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.8, Wilde Lake 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 Wilde Lake 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wilde Lake 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 (~643 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wilde Lake Middle
How many students attend Wilde Lake Middle?
Wilde Lake Middle has 643 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 611 (2022-23) → 618 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilde Lake Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilde Lake Middle is 12.9:1, which is 11% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 18% 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 Wilde Lake Middle?
37.2% of students at Wilde Lake Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wilde Lake Middle?
The largest demographic group at Wilde Lake Middle is African American at 43.1% of enrollment, in Columbia, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wilde Lake Middle?
Wilde Lake Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Wilde Lake Middle rank among middle schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Wilde Lake Middle ranks #4 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 Wilde Lake 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.