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Northfield Elementary

Public Grades K-5

81^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 865 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 91% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Northfield Elementary in Ellicott City, MD, is a high-performing K-5 school within the Howard County Public Schools district, serving 764 students in a community where only 17.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Northfield stands out for its exceptional and consistent academic performance, with test scores significantly above both district and state averages. In mathematics, 58.3% of students are proficient—38 points above the state average and 16 points above the district. In English Language Arts, 77% are proficient, which is 25 points above the state average. The school also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.0%, nearly half the district average of 17.4% and tied with the top-performing Worthington Elementary for the lowest rate among nearby schools. Notably, Northfield achieves these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $16,662, which is significantly less than many lower-performing schools in the area, such as Running Brook Elementary ($26,760) and Talbott Springs Elementary ($24,018), demonstrating efficient resource allocation.

An interesting comparison is with Worthington Elementary, which has slightly higher proficiency rates but also a lower free/reduced lunch rate (11.66%) and spends significantly more per student ($23,142). Northfield’s ability to compete at the highest level with a more efficient budget and a slightly more diverse socioeconomic student body is a notable strength. The school also shows outstanding performance with African American students, ranking in the top 2% of all Maryland schools for this subgroup. While overall performance has been remarkably stable over the long term, there is a potential area for focus with Asian student performance, which ranked in the 35th percentile in 2020-2021, suggesting an opportunity for the school to refine its instructional strategies.

764

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,662

Per pupil spending ?

17.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9125 Northfield Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042-5903

(410) 313-2806

District: Howard County Public Schools

Students who attend Northfield Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Dunloggin Middle
High:	Centennial High

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.1%

Asian:

28.9%

Two or more races:

9.8%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Northfield Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 94th percentile in 2016 → 91st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (66% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 9% of Maryland elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg53%

Maryland avg39%

81^st of 865

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 9%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

4^th of 24Howard 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
2026	91.0	81 of 865	90.6%	★★★★★
2025	91.3	79 of 865	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	93.9	48 of 859	94.4%	★★★★★
2023	93.6	52 of 855	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	91.7	65 of 862	92.5%	★★★★★
2021	94.1	46 of 802	94.3%	★★★★★
2019	89.7	81 of 853	90.5%	★★★★★
2018	86.2	104 of 857	87.9%	★★★★☆
2017	90.0	86 of 847	89.8%	★★★★☆
2016	92.8	49 of 845	94.2%	★★★★★
2015	96.1	19 of 859	97.8%	★★★★★
2014	87.9	24 of 867	97.2%	★★★★★
2013	86.2	30 of 847	96.5%	★★★★★
2012	84.5	46 of 857	94.6%	★★★★★
2011	86.1	40 of 853	95.3%	★★★★★
2010	86.1	44 of 855	94.9%	★★★★★
2009	87.7	22 of 850	97.4%	★★★★★
2008	86.9	32 of 838	96.2%	★★★★★
2007	3.1	796 of 818	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.3	780 of 804	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	2.2	785 of 805	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	3.3	773 of 803	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	97.8	9 of 504	98.2%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	42.0	83 of 128	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	91.1	46 of 796	94.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	93.7	40 of 788	94.9%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	60.2	17 of 52	67.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	87.7	38 of 528	92.8%	★★★★★

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)

African American (2021)98th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2021)95th percentile~ school

Female (2021)94th percentile~ school

White (2021)93rd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2021)67th percentile-27 vs school

Asian (2021)35th percentile-59 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts77%+25 vs state

Science59%+27 vs state

Mathematics58%+31 vs state

4.9

7 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★6

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Very nice teacher, professional with full of love. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, June 15, 2017

The education system is wonderful. The teachers are great. However, i find the parents a bit stuck up. If you are not on the PTA ,and not in all school activities then there is a group of parents that seem to click together. They seem to put there nose up to others. They started a girl scout group, picked 12 girls They knew and knew there parents, left 4 girls out instead of splitting all 16 girls in half and forming 2 girl scout groups. i tried to get a play date with one child and the parent kept saying yes. Knowing darn well she wasn't. I guess because I wasn't in her little group or PTA. i guess if I was her daughters dentist or went to her pool she would have had that play date/ I just found the parents there to be a bit stuck up. Close Quote

Schools Near Northfield Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)				MCAP English Language Arts (2026)				MCAP Science (2026)	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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Northfield Elementary	Public	K-5	9125 Northfield Rd	Ellicott City	21042	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2806	764	49	15.6	17.5%	322 (42.1%)	71 (9.3%)	74 (9.7%)	221 (28.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (9.8%)	91	81^st of 865 public elementary schools	90.6%		91.3	79^th of 865 public elementary schools	90.9%	2	64.5	55.2	54.7	58.3	76.9	78.4	75.7	77.0	59.3	$16,662	$682	$15,980
Veterans Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4355 Montgomery Road	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-1700	883	68	13.0	27.5%	193 (21.9%)	166 (18.8%)	82 (9.3%)	367 (41.6%)	7 (0.8%)	3 (0.3%)	65 (7.4%)	76.8	209^th of 865 public elementary schools	75.8%		81.8	162^nd of 865 public elementary schools	81.3%	47	58.8	44.5	45.5	49.2	64.1	52.6	60.6	58.9	53.0	$17,839	$979	$16,861
Centennial Lane Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3825 Centennial Ln	Ellicott City	21042	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2800	749	53	14.0	16.4%	238 (31.8%)	65 (8.7%)	45 (6.0%)	330 (44.1%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (8.4%)	94.2	41^st of 865 public elementary schools	95.3%		90	89^th of 865 public elementary schools	89.7%	48	68.9	71.7	64.5	68.2	75.4	82.5	77.5	78.5	58.7	$16,557	$748	$15,809
Thunder Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	9357 Mellenbrook Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6922	459	39	11.6	37.7%	106 (23.1%)	144 (31.4%)	97 (21.1%)	73 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.1%)	62.6	297^th of 865 public elementary schools	65.7%		65	292^nd of 865 public elementary schools	66.2%	5	48.7	36.0	40.7	41.6	55.1	52.3	45.7	51.0	40.0	$21,048	$1,067	$19,982
Worthington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4570 Roundhill Rd	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2825	403	34	11.7	11.7%	153 (38.0%)	51 (12.7%)	26 (6.5%)	142 (35.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.9%)	97.1	17^th of 865 public elementary schools	98.0%		97.4	11^th of 865 public elementary schools	98.7%	6	82.3	77.4	64.7	74.3	88.5	88.7	79.4	85.2	64.7	$23,142	$885	$22,257
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%)	33.6	540^th of 865 public elementary schools	37.6%		32.7	537^th of 865 public elementary schools	37.9%	3	36.0	11.8	22.2	22.1	46.0	39.7	35.2	40.1	21.8	$26,760	$1,840	$24,921
Phelps Luck Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5370 Oldstone Ct	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-6886	681	58	11.6	46.5%	189 (27.8%)	164 (24.1%)	224 (32.9%)	54 (7.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (7.2%)	64.2	288^th of 865 public elementary schools	66.7%		56.7	358^th of 865 public elementary schools	58.6%	70	44.5	40.0	38.9	41.4	54.7	50.9	53.7	53.1	42.7	$21,395	$1,428	$19,967
St. Johns Lane Elementary	Public	K-5	2960 Saint Johns Ln	Ellicott City	21042	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2813	636	44	14.3	20.6%	267 (42.0%)	63 (9.9%)	47 (7.4%)	215 (33.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (6.6%)	90.3	87^th of 865 public elementary schools	89.9%		86.1	122^nd of 865 public elementary schools	85.9%	35	73.3	54.2	56.1	61.4	77.9	72.9	67.5	72.8	56.1	$17,107	$826	$16,281
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%)	62.4	299^th of 865 public elementary schools	65.4%		51.3	395^th of 865 public elementary schools	54.3%	96	58.1	28.8	37.1	41.5	54.8	45.8	56.5	52.5	37.1	$24,018	$1,692	$22,326
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%)	43.5	453^rd of 865 public elementary schools	47.6%		42.9	466^th of 865 public elementary schools	46.1%	13	35.1	32.8	22.7	29.9	44.6	52.4	34.8	43.8	26.2	$25,646	$1,697	$23,949

Frequently Asked Questions about Northfield Elementary

What district is Northfield Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Northfield Elementary?

Students at Northfield Elementary are 42% White, 29% Asian, 10% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 9% African American.

How many students attend Northfield Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 764 students attended Northfield Elementary.

Is Northfield Elementary a good school?

Yes. Northfield Elementary ranks in the top 9.4% of Maryland elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Northfield Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northfield Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dunloggin Middle
High : Centennial High

Rate Northfield Elementary!

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

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.