Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Phelps Luck Elementary

Q: Is Phelps Luck Elementary a good school?

Phelps Luck Elementary ranks 358 th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

358^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 865 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 59% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Phelps Luck Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, Maryland, serving 704 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.

While Phelps Luck Elementary has a relatively high per-student spending of $21,395 and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.4, its academic performance lags behind the district and state averages. The school's proficiency rates in Mathematics (39.7%) and English Language Arts (49.4%) are significantly lower than the district (42% and 65.2%) and state (26.5% and 50.8%) averages. Phelps Luck Elementary also has a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 17.3%, compared to the state average of 14.1%. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged student population, with 46.73% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Compared to nearby schools, Waterloo Elementary and Northfield Elementary significantly outperform Phelps Luck Elementary in test scores, chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic status. These nearby schools rank in the top 15% and top 10% of Maryland elementary schools, respectively, while Phelps Luck Elementary's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with the most vulnerable students struggling the most.

681

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,395

Per pupil spending ?

46.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5370 Oldstone Ct
Columbia, MD 21045-2457

(410) 313-6886

District: Howard County Public Schools

Students who attend Phelps Luck Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bonnie Branch Middle
High:	Howard High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

32.9%

White:

27.8%

African American:

24.1%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Phelps Luck Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 51st percentile in 2015 → 59th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Maryland median (59th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school42%

District avg52%

Maryland avg38%

358^th of 865

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▲ up 8 pts since 2015

From top 49% (2015) to top 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

30^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	56.7	358 of 865	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.4	390 of 859	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.3	457 of 855	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.0	391 of 862	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.2	302 of 802	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.0	412 of 853	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.4	475 of 857	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.9	405 of 847	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	37.3	505 of 845	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.8	422 of 859	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	56.4	446 of 867	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	59.9	363 of 847	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.7	448 of 857	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.4	559 of 853	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	51.2	482 of 855	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.0	577 of 850	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.5	533 of 838	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	57.3	389 of 818	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.9	362 of 804	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	53.8	416 of 805	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	33.3	594 of 803	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	51.7	161 of 504	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	56.4	238 of 796	70.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	27.0	455 of 546	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	39.1	368 of 788	53.3%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	18.2	46 of 52	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	76.4	105 of 528	80.1%	★★★★☆

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)80th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2021)70th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2021)68th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2021)53rd percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)17th percentile-46 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)12th percentile-51 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts49%~ state avg

Mathematics40%+13 vs state

Science22%-3 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★0

4★2

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Phelps Luck Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 27, 2018

Mrs. Leader, the principle, is fantastic! I just wish they were better about communicating with parents. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

My son goes to PLES and I have always been very satisfied with the education and knowledge he's been getting.
PLES teacher are very professional and knowledgeable about teaching.
KUDOS to the staff and of course the one who is leading them the school principal. Close Quote

Schools Near Phelps Luck 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
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%)	56.7	358^th of 865 public elementary schools	58.6%		48.4	390^th of 859 public elementary schools	54.6%	32	49.6	40.0	28.0	39.7	54.8	50.5	41.8	49.4	22.4	$21,395	$1,428	$19,967
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%)	65	292^nd of 865 public elementary schools	66.2%		58.2	317^th of 859 public elementary schools	63.1%	25	44.3	47.3	38.6	43.2	55.7	55.4	51.1	53.9	27.3	$21,048	$1,067	$19,982
Jeffers Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6001 Tamar Dr	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6872	406	35	11.5	44.1%	86 (21.2%)	162 (39.9%)	83 (20.4%)	34 (8.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.6%)	59.2	342^nd of 865 public elementary schools	60.5%		53.5	343^rd of 859 public elementary schools	60.1%	1	34.7	37.9	34.7	35.7	50.0	43.3	57.4	50.2	38.8	$23,156	$997	$22,159
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
Waterloo Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5940 Waterloo Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5014	666	52	12.8	32.1%	215 (32.3%)	201 (30.2%)	94 (14.1%)	96 (14.4%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (8.4%)	86.6	115^th of 865 public elementary schools	86.7%		85.4	115^th of 859 public elementary schools	86.6%		57.4	67.0	51.0	58.3	69.6	75.8	69.2	71.5	37.9	$20,202	$1,076	$19,126
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
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%)	97.4	11^th of 865 public elementary schools	98.7%		97.7	10^th of 859 public elementary schools	98.8%	1	81.6	72.1	75.0	75.7	85.7	86.8	82.9	85.0	56.9	$23,142	$885	$22,257
Bellows Spring Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8125 Old Stockbridge Dr	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5057	806	64	12.5	26.3%	146 (18.1%)	256 (31.8%)	79 (9.8%)	274 (34.0%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (5.6%)	80.3	177^th of 865 public elementary schools	79.5%		79.1	173^rd of 859 public elementary schools	79.9%	4	57.7	62.9	46.8	56.2	64.8	68.0	55.0	63.0	33.6	$19,642	$925	$18,717
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
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%)	81.8	162^nd of 865 public elementary schools	81.3%		83	143^rd of 859 public elementary schools	83.4%	19	57.7	56.6	51.4	55.1	63.1	66.9	54.6	61.3	44.0	$17,839	$979	$16,861

Frequently Asked Questions about Phelps Luck Elementary

What district is Phelps Luck Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

Is Phelps Luck Elementary a good school?

Phelps Luck Elementary ranks 358^th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Phelps Luck Elementary?

Students at Phelps Luck Elementary are 33% Hispanic, 28% White, 24% African American, 8% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

How many students attend Phelps Luck Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 681 students attended Phelps Luck Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Phelps Luck Elementary attend?

Students who attend Phelps Luck Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bonnie Branch Middle
High : Howard High

Rate Phelps Luck Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MDMaryland Elementary School Rankings

MDMaryland District Rankings

Schools in Columbia, MD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Phelps Luck Elementary!

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.