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Stevens Forest Elementary

Q: Is Stevens Forest Elementary a good school?

Stevens Forest Elementary ranks 270 th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

270^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 69% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Stevens Forest Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Columbia, MD, serving 314 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the highly-regarded Howard County Public Schools district. The school has shown remarkable improvement over the past decade, rising from the 43rd percentile in 2019 to the 69th percentile in 2026, a testament to its strategic investments and dedicated staff.

One of the most striking features of Stevens Forest is its exceptional per-student spending of $26,356, which is significantly higher than nearby high-performing schools like Atholton Elementary ($17,575) and Clemens Crossing Elementary ($19,838). This investment translates into a very low student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, the lowest among comparable schools in the area, allowing for more individualized attention. The school excels in math, achieving proficiency rates (40.8%) that rival schools with much lower poverty levels, such as Thunder Hill Elementary (41.6%) and Phelps Luck Elementary (41.4%). However, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency (55.2%) lags behind the district average (65.9%), creating a 15-point gap between math and reading scores that suggests literacy instruction is an area for targeted improvement.

Chronic absenteeism remains a challenge, though it has improved dramatically from a peak of 32.2% in 2021-2022 to 18.9% in 2024-2025, still above the district average of 17.4%. Compared to its closest neighbor, Talbott Springs Elementary, Stevens Forest performs slightly better in both math and ELA despite serving a higher percentage of students from low socio-economic backgrounds, indicating that its higher spending and smaller class sizes are yielding positive results. The school's overall trajectory is one of strong progress, with a clear focus on overcoming challenges through resource allocation and effective instructional strategies.

314

Students ?

9.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,356

Per pupil spending ?

59.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6045 Stevens Forest Rd
Columbia, MD 21045-3828

(410) 313-6900

District: Howard County Public Schools

Students who attend Stevens Forest Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Oakland Mills Middle
High:	Oakland Mills High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

39.5%

Hispanic:

25.2%

White:

18.5%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 51st percentile in 2016 → 69th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (48% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Maryland median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg53%

Maryland avg39%

270^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 31%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From top 49% (2016) to top 31% (2026)

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
2026	67.7	270 of 864	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.4	297 of 865	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.3	257 of 859	70.1%	★★★★☆
2023	69.0	242 of 855	71.7%	★★★★☆
2022	65.0	286 of 862	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.3	349 of 802	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.9	489 of 853	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.0	496 of 857	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.4	433 of 847	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	47.5	415 of 845	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	29.6	582 of 859	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	44.6	559 of 867	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.6	388 of 847	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	73.7	202 of 857	76.4%	★★★★☆
2011	63.7	334 of 853	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.6	433 of 855	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	61.7	369 of 850	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.2	445 of 838	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	46.8	485 of 818	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	35.0	574 of 804	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	47.2	463 of 805	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2004	27.4	631 of 803	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.0	310 of 504	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	41.6	367 of 796	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	34.2	379 of 546	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	41.8	350 of 788	55.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	78.8	91 of 528	82.8%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2021)83rd percentile+26 vs school

Male (2021)56th percentile~ school

Female (2021)54th percentile-3 vs school

African American (2021)38th percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)31st percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts55%+3 vs state

Science46%+14 vs state

Mathematics41%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Stevens Forest 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
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%)	67.7	270^th of 864 public elementary schools	68.8%		64.4	297^th of 865 public elementary schools	65.7%	27	46.3	39.2	38.2	40.8	56.1	53.1	56.4	55.2	46.3	$26,356	$1,845	$24,511
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 864 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
Cradlerock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6700 Cradlerock Way	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 319-7601	453	44	10.3	55.6%	81 (17.9%)	218 (48.1%)	95 (21.0%)	17 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (9.1%)	36.2	511^th of 864 public elementary schools	40.9%		34.8	516^th of 865 public elementary schools	40.3%	5	27.3	17.1	20.3	21.5	35.5	45.1	49.3	43.3	25.7	$23,814	$1,624	$22,190
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%)	55.3	364^th of 864 public elementary schools	57.9%		59.2	342^nd of 865 public elementary schools	60.5%	22	45.0	26.4	32.3	34.0	63.3	50.0	44.6	52.3	32.3	$23,156	$997	$22,159
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%)	85.6	129^th of 864 public elementary schools	85.1%		81.1	169^th of 865 public elementary schools	80.5%	40	70.6	50.0	48.2	55.0	79.4	63.9	63.4	68.0	56.6	$17,575	$823	$16,752
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 864 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
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%)	87	121^st of 864 public elementary schools	86.0%		80.1	180^th of 865 public elementary schools	79.2%	59	65.9	58.6	48.8	57.9	72.5	67.1	63.5	67.9	56.5	$19,838	$838	$19,000
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 864 public elementary schools	65.6%		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
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	539^th of 864 public elementary schools	37.6%		32.7	537^th of 865 public elementary schools	37.9%	2	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%)	64.1	288^th of 864 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

Frequently Asked Questions about Stevens Forest Elementary

What district is Stevens Forest Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Stevens Forest Elementary attend?

Students who attend Stevens Forest Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Oakland Mills Middle
High : Oakland Mills High

What is the racial makeup of Stevens Forest Elementary?

Students at Stevens Forest Elementary are 39% African American, 25% Hispanic, 18% White, 10% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

Is Stevens Forest Elementary a good school?

Stevens Forest Elementary ranks 270^th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Stevens Forest Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 314 students attended Stevens Forest 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.