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Running Brook Elementary

Q: Is Running Brook Elementary a good school?

Running Brook Elementary ranks 537 th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

537^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 865 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Running Brook Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, Maryland, serving 389 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.

Despite the school's high spending per student ($26,760 in 2023-2024) and low student-teacher ratio of 8.9, Running Brook Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom half of Maryland elementary schools, typically between 400-550 out of 800-900 schools. Its academic performance, as measured by MCAP test scores, is significantly lower than the district and state averages across all grades and subjects. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 26.6% of Running Brook students were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 42% for the district and 26.5% for the state. In English Language Arts, 35.3% of Running Brook students were proficient or better, compared to 65.2% for the district and 50.8% for the state. Additionally, Running Brook Elementary has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.3% to 30.7% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Clemens Crossing Elementary, Northfield Elementary, and Thunder Hill Elementary, Running Brook Elementary generally underperforms in academic achievement, with lower MCAP test scores and lower rankings among Maryland elementary schools. These nearby schools also have lower chronic absenteeism rates and a lower percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, which may contribute to their stronger academic performance.

407

Students ?

9.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,760

Per pupil spending ?

52.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5215 W Running Brook Rd
Columbia, MD 21044-1741

(410) 313-6893

District: Howard County Public Schools

Students who attend Running Brook Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Wilde Lake Middle
High:	Wilde Lake High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

51.4%

White:

16.5%

Hispanic:

14.7%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Running Brook Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 50th percentile in 2015 → 38th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (29% vs 38% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

!English Language Arts scores 16 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg52%

Maryland avg38%

537^th of 865

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 50% (2015) to bottom 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

39^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	32.7	537 of 865	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.3	489 of 859	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.2	524 of 855	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.0	543 of 862	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.5	382 of 802	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.4	459 of 853	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.2	531 of 857	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.8	479 of 847	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.3	506 of 845	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.5	428 of 859	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	56.9	440 of 867	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	64.3	320 of 847	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.4	453 of 857	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	60.9	366 of 853	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	29.4	679 of 855	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	37.4	603 of 850	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	49.1	497 of 838	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.2	498 of 818	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.8	411 of 804	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.6	481 of 805	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	33.9	589 of 803	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	39.6	288 of 504	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.7	397 of 796	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	50.6	196 of 546	64.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	42.4	345 of 788	56.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	57.8	192 of 528	63.6%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)64th percentile+12 vs school

White (2021)64th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2021)56th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2021)50th percentile~ school

African American (2021)43rd percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts35%-16 vs state

Mathematics27%~ state avg

Science14%-12 vs state

2.7

3 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

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1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, December 15, 2013

This is an excellent school as my daughter is in 2nd grade and I see the progress and all other activities year by year. Close Quote

Schools Near Running Brook 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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%)	91.3	79^th of 865 public elementary schools	90.9%		93.9	48^th of 859 public elementary schools	94.4%	31	62.1	70.7	60.3	64.4	69.9	78.0	73.5	73.9	47.4	$16,662	$682	$15,980

Frequently Asked Questions about Running Brook Elementary

How many students attend Running Brook Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 407 students attended Running Brook Elementary.

Is Running Brook Elementary a good school?

Running Brook Elementary ranks 537^th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Running Brook Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Running Brook Elementary attend?

Students who attend Running Brook Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Wilde Lake Middle
High : Wilde Lake High

What is the racial makeup of Running Brook Elementary?

Students at Running Brook Elementary are 51% African American, 16% White, 15% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

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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.