Summary:
West Friendship, Maryland, is home to a single, exceptional public school, West Friendship Elementary, a K-5 school serving 367 students within the highly-regarded Howard County Public Schools district.
West Friendship Elementary is a standout performer, consistently ranking in the top 3% of all elementary schools in Maryland and earning a perfect 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the last three years. Its academic scores are dramatically higher than both district and state averages; for the 2025-2026 school year, 70.6% of students were proficient in math compared to 27.1% statewide, and 81.4% were proficient in English Language Arts versus 51.7% statewide. The school also boasts a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1, remarkably low chronic absenteeism at 6.1%, and a very low poverty indicator with only 8.17% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. High per-pupil spending of $20,049 further supports its strong instructional program.
This combination of factors creates a powerful foundation for academic excellence that is consistent across all subjects and grade levels. While there was a slight year-over-year dip in math and ELA proficiency, the school remains in the elite 97th percentile statewide. Even its 5th-grade math proficiency of 63.2%, which is lower than its 3rd and 4th-grade scores, is still more than double the state average, showing the school effectively mitigates common learning challenges. West Friendship Elementary is a crown jewel within an already excellent district, offering an environment where students consistently achieve at the highest levels.
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