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Swansfield Elementary

Q: Is Swansfield Elementary a good school?

Swansfield Elementary ranks 285 th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

285^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 865 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Swansfield Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, Maryland, serving 602 students in grades PK-5. It is part of the Howard County Public Schools district, which is ranked 4 out of 25 in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Swansfield Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, its academic performance is generally lower than the district and state averages across all grades and subjects. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics (45.3%) and English Language Arts (55.7%) were below the district (42% and 65.2%) and state (26.5% and 50.8%) averages. The school's performance is particularly weak in Science, with only 23.3% of 5th graders proficient or better, compared to 37.6% in the district and 25.6% statewide. Additionally, Swansfield Elementary has consistently higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the state average, ranging from 17.3% to 25.7% in recent years.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Atholton Elementary, Pointers Run Elementary, and Clarksville Elementary, Swansfield Elementary's performance is generally lower, with these nearby schools having higher test scores, lower chronic absenteeism, and lower free and reduced lunch rates. For example, Pointers Run Elementary, which is only 2.7 miles away, has significantly higher proficiency rates in Mathematics (77%) and English Language Arts (80.1%) compared to Swansfield Elementary.

594

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,540

Per pupil spending ?

38.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5610 Cedar Ln
Columbia, MD 21044-2737

(410) 313-6907

District: Howard County Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

39.2%

White:

28.1%

Hispanic:

12.6%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Swansfield Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 42nd percentile in 2015 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (47% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Maryland median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school47%

District avg52%

Maryland avg38%

285^th of 865

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 25 pts since 2015

From bottom 42% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 42Elementary Schools in the Howard County Public Schools

4^th of 25Howard County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2025	65.8	285 of 865	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.0	353 of 859	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	364 of 855	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.1	462 of 862	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.6	389 of 802	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.3	587 of 853	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.5	550 of 857	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.8	465 of 847	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.2	449 of 845	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	38.3	498 of 859	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	58.2	419 of 867	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.6	365 of 847	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	46.7	520 of 857	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	45.0	520 of 853	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	36.8	619 of 855	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	40.2	584 of 850	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	52.6	456 of 838	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.7	476 of 818	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	37.6	557 of 804	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	30.7	604 of 805	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	30.5	611 of 803	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	34.7	331 of 504	34.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.6	398 of 796	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	25.3	478 of 546	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	40.2	360 of 788	54.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	63.2	169 of 528	68.0%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2021)68th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2021)54th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2021)50th percentile~ school

African American (2021)34th percentile-17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)12th percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts56%+5 vs state

Mathematics45%+19 vs state

Science23%~ state avg

4.3

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★1

4★2

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, November 4, 2016

My kids have gone here for 2 years. The new principal is wonderful she is making a difference! Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

This is a great school. I love the racial diversity that exist within this school. My daughter has friends from all ethnic backgrounds which I feel will benefit her in the future.

There are great programs for students, lego clubs, chess clubs, etc... that the students can partake in.

My child has grown and learned numerous things throughout the school year. Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, August 29, 2009

Swansfield embraces diversity in learning and culture and does a great job of meeting the needs of each student! The staff is a nice balance of young & energetic combined with more experienced members and the result is a great environment for learning. Close Quote

Schools Near Swansfield Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAP Mathematics (2025)				MCAP English Language Arts (2025)				MCAP Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Swansfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5610 Cedar Ln	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6907	594	52	11.4	38.2%	167 (28.1%)	233 (39.2%)	75 (12.6%)	67 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	51 (8.6%)	65.8	285^th of 865 public elementary schools	67.1%		53	353^rd of 859 public elementary schools	58.9%	68	56.6	39.1	36.8	45.3	61.1	62.1	42.5	55.7	23.3	$20,540	$1,637	$18,903
Longfellow Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5470 Hesperus Dr	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6879	446	39	11.4	43.3%	98 (22.0%)	160 (35.9%)	112 (25.1%)	26 (5.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (10.8%)	42.3	471^st of 865 public elementary schools	45.5%		51.9	363^rd of 859 public elementary schools	57.7%	108	32.9	32.5	29.7	31.7	30.8	46.7	39.7	38.9	21.3	$23,238	$1,715	$21,523
Bryant Woods Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5450 Blue Heron Ln	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6859	366	36	10.2	51.1%	78 (21.3%)	180 (49.2%)	53 (14.5%)	28 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.4%)	42.9	466^th of 865 public elementary schools	46.1%		44.3	426^th of 859 public elementary schools	50.4%	40	39.7	27.4	18.6	28.4	46.6	32.9	50.9	42.6	22.4	$25,646	$1,697	$23,949
Clemens Crossing Elementary	Public	K-5	10320 Quarterstaff Rd	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6866	481	34	14.0	23.7%	199 (41.4%)	118 (24.5%)	57 (11.9%)	50 (10.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	54 (11.2%)	80.1	180^th of 865 public elementary schools	79.2%		87.1	101^st of 859 public elementary schools	88.2%	79	64.8	60.5	45.7	56.7	69.6	61.6	50.6	60.2	37.0	$19,838	$838	$19,000
Running Brook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5215 W Running Brook Rd	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6893	407	43	9.5	52.8%	67 (16.5%)	209 (51.4%)	60 (14.7%)	38 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	30 (7.4%)	32.7	537^th of 865 public elementary schools	37.9%		35.3	489^th of 859 public elementary schools	43.1%	48	34.4	20.7	23.5	26.6	36.5	40.4	28.0	35.3	14.0	$26,760	$1,840	$24,921
Clarksville Elementary	Public	K-5	12041 Clarksville Pike	Clarksville	21029	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7050	543	40	13.6	17.7%	161 (29.7%)	96 (17.7%)	49 (9.0%)	202 (37.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.3%)	93.6	48^th of 865 public elementary schools	94.5%		94	47^th of 859 public elementary schools	94.5%	1	69.3	67.4	67.3	68.0	70.7	75.3	78.0	74.6	59.8	$18,787	$1,316	$17,471
Talbott Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9550 Basket Ring Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6915	461	46	10.0	45.3%	105 (22.8%)	147 (31.9%)	135 (29.3%)	23 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (10.6%)	51.3	395^th of 865 public elementary schools	54.3%		51.6	364^th of 859 public elementary schools	57.6%	31	43.8	31.3	25.8	33.5	52.3	54.4	41.3	49.5	19.7	$24,018	$1,692	$22,326
Stevens Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6045 Stevens Forest Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6900	314	33	9.5	59.2%	58 (18.5%)	124 (39.5%)	79 (25.2%)	22 (7.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (9.6%)	64.4	297^th of 865 public elementary schools	65.7%		67.3	257^th of 859 public elementary schools	70.1%	40	46.9	40.0	31.9	39.7	51.0	64.6	51.1	55.6	31.3	$26,356	$1,845	$24,511
Atholton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6700 Seneca Dr	Columbia	21046	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6853	516	35	14.7	15.9%	256 (49.6%)	109 (21.1%)	64 (12.4%)	34 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	52 (10.1%)	81.1	169^th of 865 public elementary schools	80.5%		82.7	146^th of 859 public elementary schools	83.0%	23	54.5	49.4	46.4	50.4	69.3	68.3	60.7	66.3	40.5	$17,575	$823	$16,752
Pointers Run Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6600 South Trotter Rd	Clarksville	21029	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7142	835	59	14.1	8.5%	308 (36.9%)	119 (14.3%)	58 (6.9%)	271 (32.5%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	73 (8.7%)	96.2	26^th of 865 public elementary schools	97.0%		94.8	39^th of 859 public elementary schools	95.5%	13	86.3	79.2	67.1	77.0	86.3	84.5	70.6	80.1	52.8	$17,726	$881	$16,845

Frequently Asked Questions about Swansfield Elementary

Is Swansfield Elementary a good school?

Swansfield Elementary ranks 285^th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Swansfield Elementary?

Students at Swansfield Elementary are 39% African American, 28% White, 13% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 9% Two or more races.

What district is Swansfield Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

How many students attend Swansfield Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 594 students attended Swansfield Elementary.

Rate Swansfield Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.