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Ilchester Elementary

Q: Is Ilchester Elementary a good school?

Ilchester Elementary ranks 101 st of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

101^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Ilchester Elementary in Ellicott City, MD, is a high-performing school serving 482 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the top-ranked Howard County Public Schools district. This school stands out for its exceptional mathematics instruction, with 61.3% of students proficient in math—far exceeding the district average of 42.1% and the state average of 27.1%. Ilchester also boasts very low chronic absenteeism at 9.7%, nearly half the district average, and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6, supported by high per-student spending of $21,779. While its state ranking has declined from the 98th to the 88th percentile over the past decade, this is because other schools are improving faster, not because Ilchester's performance is slipping—its test scores have remained stable and strong.

Compared to nearby schools, Ilchester is a standout in math and student engagement. For example, Ducketts Lane Elementary has only 28.8% math proficiency, and Elkridge Elementary has 37.7%, while Ilchester's 61.3% even outpaces high-achieving peers like Bellows Spring Elementary (54.2%) and Waterloo Elementary (59.9%). Ilchester's low chronic absenteeism rate is also notably better than Veterans Elementary (14.4%) and Phelps Luck Elementary (46.55% free/reduced lunch rate). However, science is a relative weakness: 57.1% of Ilchester's 5th graders are proficient, compared to 62.5% at Rockburn Elementary and 64.7% at Worthington Elementary.

One interesting finding is a gender gap in performance: female students rank in the 99th percentile statewide, while male students rank in the 88th percentile, suggesting the school may want to examine its support for all students. Overall, Ilchester is a well-resourced, historically elite school with a highly engaged community, offering excellent math and literacy programs. Its main challenge is not a decline in quality, but the need to keep pace with rising standards across Maryland, making it a solid choice for families seeking a strong academic foundation in a supportive environment.

482

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,779

Per pupil spending ?

13.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4981 Ilchester Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21043

(410) 313-2524

District: Howard County Public Schools

Students who attend Ilchester Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bonnie Branch Middle
High:	Howard High

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.0%

Asian:

27.4%

African American:

12.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2016 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (64% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of Maryland elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg53%

Maryland avg39%

101^st of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 5% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^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	88.4	101 of 864	88.3%	★★★★☆
2025	89.9	92 of 865	89.4%	★★★★☆
2024	90.1	79 of 859	90.8%	★★★★★
2023	93.2	55 of 855	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	94.8	43 of 862	95.0%	★★★★★
2021	94.8	39 of 802	95.1%	★★★★★
2019	95.4	34 of 853	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	96.0	30 of 857	96.5%	★★★★★
2017	96.0	21 of 847	97.5%	★★★★★
2016	93.6	42 of 845	95.0%	★★★★★
2015	92.2	61 of 859	92.9%	★★★★★
2014	85.2	73 of 867	91.6%	★★★★★
2013	83.6	70 of 847	91.7%	★★★★★
2012	79.5	125 of 857	85.4%	★★★★☆
2011	86.7	29 of 853	96.6%	★★★★★
2010	87.0	26 of 855	97.0%	★★★★★
2009	86.0	45 of 850	94.7%	★★★★★
2008	86.6	33 of 838	96.1%	★★★★★
2007	6.7	768 of 818	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	7.3	754 of 804	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	3.0	778 of 805	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	4.7	763 of 803	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	74.6	52 of 504	89.7%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	60.6	56 of 128	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	98.7	8 of 796	99.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	83.7	91 of 788	88.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	83.5	60 of 528	88.6%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2021)99th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2021)90th percentile-5 vs school

White (2021)89th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2021)88th percentile-7 vs school

Asian (2021)56th percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts69%+17 vs state

Mathematics61%+34 vs state

Science57%+25 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, May 7, 2019

This is an awesome school. We considered a few other schools in Howard County before deciding on Ilchester. I am very glad we did. The teaching and supporting staff do an amazing job making each day for the students fun and educational. I can say at least the teachers we have had all genuinely care about each student. The school culture is great. I have not heard about any instance of bullying. The new principal is excellent and very involved in student activities and communicates well with parents. Close Quote

Schools Near Ilchester 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	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
Ilchester Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4981 Ilchester Rd	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2524	482	38	12.6	13.7%	212 (44.0%)	58 (12.0%)	29 (6.0%)	132 (27.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (10.4%)	88.4	101^st of 864 public elementary schools	88.3%		89.9	92^nd of 865 public elementary schools	89.4%	9	58.7	65.3	60.4	61.3	71.2	61.1	73.3	68.9	57.1	$21,779	$1,327	$20,452
Rockburn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6145 Montgomery Rd	Elkridge	21075	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5030	649	53	12.2	12.3%	270 (41.6%)	81 (12.5%)	34 (5.2%)	196 (30.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	64 (9.9%)	93.4	52^nd of 864 public elementary schools	94.0%		95.6	32^nd of 865 public elementary schools	96.3%	20	70.1	62.7	67.3	66.6	77.6	76.4	72.1	75.3	62.5	$18,033	$796	$17,237
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 864 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
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%)	75.9	218^th of 864 public elementary schools	74.8%		80.3	177^th of 865 public elementary schools	79.5%	41	57.3	57.9	46.7	54.2	57.7	68.6	49.5	59.1	38.7	$19,642	$925	$18,717
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%)	88.3	107^th of 864 public elementary schools	87.6%		86.6	115^th of 865 public elementary schools	86.7%	8	66.7	53.4	58.8	59.9	74.5	68.6	68.7	70.7	51.0	$20,202	$1,076	$19,126
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
Ducketts Lane Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6501 Ducketts Ln	Elkridge	21075	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 313-5050	573	54	10.5	60.6%	62 (10.8%)	195 (34.0%)	189 (33.0%)	77 (13.4%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	46 (8.0%)	47.7	430^th of 864 public elementary schools	50.2%		45.3	447^th of 865 public elementary schools	48.3%	17	40.0	26.4	20.0	28.8	52.9	57.0	44.6	51.6	23.5	$22,441	$1,578	$20,863
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 864 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
Elkridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7075 Montgomery Rd	Elkridge	21075	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5006	798	57	14.0	45.9%	214 (26.8%)	272 (34.1%)	75 (9.4%)	173 (21.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (7.8%)	58.3	340^th of 864 public elementary schools	60.6%		62	317^th of 865 public elementary schools	63.4%	23	45.4	32.8	36.2	37.7	54.2	49.6	47.3	50.1	36.4	$17,789	$818	$16,971
Westchester Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2300 Old Frederick Rd	Baltimore	21228	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-1088	662	44	15.0	26.6%	369 (55.7%)	55 (8.3%)	86 (13.0%)	94 (14.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (8.5%)	88.6	99^th of 864 public elementary schools	88.5%		76.5	209^th of 865 public elementary schools	75.8%	110	66.7	60.4	56.3	60.9	71.0	65.8	69.6	68.7	55.0	$16,919	$1,310	$15,609

Frequently Asked Questions about Ilchester Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Ilchester Elementary?

Students at Ilchester Elementary are 44% White, 27% Asian, 12% African American, 10% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

How many students attend Ilchester Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 482 students attended Ilchester Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Ilchester Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ilchester Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bonnie Branch Middle
High : Howard High

What district is Ilchester Elementary in?

Howard County Public Schools

Is Ilchester Elementary a good school?

Ilchester Elementary ranks 101^st of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 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.