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Swansfield Elementary

Q: Is Swansfield Elementary a good school?

Swansfield Elementary ranks 342 nd of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

342^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 865 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 60% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Swansfield Elementary in Columbia, MD, is a mid-sized school serving 594 students in grades PK through 5, and it is part of the highly-regarded Howard County Public Schools district.

Swansfield stands out as a "middle ground" school in a neighborhood with a wide range of school performances. While nearby schools like Pointers Run Elementary and Clarksville Elementary rank in the top 10% statewide, and others like Running Brook Elementary and Cradlerock Elementary rank lower, Swansfield sits in the 60th percentile. The school has shown a clear upward trend, rising from the 31st percentile in 2019. A key strength is its math performance, with 39.8% of students proficient—nearly matching the district average and far exceeding similar nearby schools like Longfellow Elementary (27.9%) and Bryant Woods Elementary (29.9%). However, the school faces a significant challenge in English Language Arts (ELA), where only 48.6% of students are proficient compared to the district average of 65.9%.

Swansfield invests heavily in its students, spending $20,540 per pupil and maintaining a low student-teacher ratio of 11.4:1—both higher than many top-performing area schools. This investment appears to be driving improvement, but the school still struggles with chronic absenteeism (18.9%) and supporting its economically disadvantaged learners. While the school has found success in math, its inconsistent science scores and the large ELA achievement gap suggest that literacy instruction is a critical area for continued focus.

594

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,540

Per pupil spending ?

38.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5610 Cedar Ln
Columbia, MD 21044-2737

(410) 313-6907

District: Howard County Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

39.2%

White:

28.1%

Hispanic:

12.6%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Swansfield Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 47th percentile in 2016 → 60th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 13 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Maryland median (60th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg53%

Maryland avg39%

342^nd of 865

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 40%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 47% (2016) to top 40% (2026)

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 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	58.0	342 of 865	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.8	285 of 865	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.0	353 of 859	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	364 of 855	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.1	462 of 862	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.6	389 of 802	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.3	587 of 853	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.5	550 of 857	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.8	465 of 847	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.2	449 of 845	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	38.3	498 of 859	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	58.2	419 of 867	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.6	365 of 847	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	46.7	520 of 857	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	45.0	520 of 853	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	36.8	619 of 855	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	40.2	584 of 850	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	52.6	456 of 838	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.7	476 of 818	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	37.6	557 of 804	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	30.7	604 of 805	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	30.5	611 of 803	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	34.7	331 of 504	34.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.6	398 of 796	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	25.3	478 of 546	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	40.2	360 of 788	54.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	63.2	169 of 528	68.0%	★★★☆☆

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)68th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2021)54th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2021)50th percentile~ school

African American (2021)34th percentile-17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)12th percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts49%-3 vs state

Mathematics40%+13 vs state

Science35%~ state avg

4.3

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★1

4★2

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, November 4, 2016

My kids have gone here for 2 years. The new principal is wonderful she is making a difference! Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

This is a great school. I love the racial diversity that exist within this school. My daughter has friends from all ethnic backgrounds which I feel will benefit her in the future.

There are great programs for students, lego clubs, chess clubs, etc... that the students can partake in.

My child has grown and learned numerous things throughout the school year. Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, August 29, 2009

Swansfield embraces diversity in learning and culture and does a great job of meeting the needs of each student! The staff is a nice balance of young & energetic combined with more experienced members and the result is a great environment for learning. Close Quote

Schools Near Swansfield 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
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%)	58	342^nd of 865 public elementary schools	60.5%		65.8	285^th of 865 public elementary schools	67.1%	57	41.8	40.4	37.2	39.8	46.8	52.6	44.8	48.6	34.9	$20,540	$1,637	$18,903
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%)	39	489^th of 865 public elementary schools	43.5%		42.3	471^st of 865 public elementary schools	45.5%	18	35.8	25.9	22.5	27.9	47.8	36.7	38.0	40.6	26.4	$23,238	$1,715	$21,523
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
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 865 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
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
Clarksville Elementary	Public	K-5	12041 Clarksville Pike	Clarksville	21029	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7050	543	40	13.6	17.7%	161 (29.7%)	96 (17.7%)	49 (9.0%)	202 (37.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.3%)	92.2	64^th of 865 public elementary schools	92.6%		93.6	48^th of 865 public elementary schools	94.5%	16	67.0	74.2	73.0	71.3	67.6	72.9	75.3	71.8	62.9	$18,787	$1,316	$17,471
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
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 865 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
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 865 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
Pointers Run Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6600 South Trotter Rd	Clarksville	21029	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7142	835	59	14.1	8.5%	308 (36.9%)	119 (14.3%)	58 (6.9%)	271 (32.5%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	73 (8.7%)	97.2	15^th of 865 public elementary schools	98.3%		96.2	26^th of 865 public elementary schools	97.0%	11	86.2	79.3	76.0	80.3	80.0	82.8	79.2	80.5	70.7	$17,726	$881	$16,845

Frequently Asked Questions about Swansfield Elementary

How many students attend Swansfield Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 594 students attended Swansfield Elementary.

What district is Swansfield Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Swansfield Elementary?

Students at Swansfield Elementary are 39% African American, 28% White, 13% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 9% Two or more races.

Is Swansfield Elementary a good school?

Swansfield Elementary ranks 342^nd of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Swansfield 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.