- Veterans Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 883 students
- Hanover Hills Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 875 students
- Fulton Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 872 students
- Pointers Run Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 835 students
- Waverly Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 827 students
- Bellows Spring Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 806 students
- Elkridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 798 students
- Bollman Bridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 775 students
- Northfield Elementary — Grades K–5 · 764 students
- Hammond Elementary — Grades K–5 · 763 students
- Gorman Crossing Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 750 students
- Centennial Lane Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 749 students
- Dayton Oaks Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 739 students
- Manor Woods Elementary — Grades K–5 · 697 students
- Phelps Luck Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 681 students
- Hollifield Station Elementary — Grades K–5 · 677 students
- Waterloo Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 666 students
- Forest Ridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 659 students
- Rockburn Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 649 students
- Deep Run Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 638 students
- St. Johns Lane Elementary — Grades K–5 · 636 students
- Bushy Park Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 631 students
- Laurel Woods Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 625 students
- Triadelphia Ridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 619 students
- Swansfield Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 594 students
- + 17 more elementary schools
- Mount View Middle — Grades 6–8 · 881 students
- Patuxent Valley Middle — Grades 6–8 · 840 students
- Burleigh Manor Middle — Grades 6–8 · 777 students
- Thomas Viaduct Middle — Grades 6–8 · 758 students
- Bonnie Branch Middle — Grades 6–8 · 739 students
- Mayfield Woods Middle — Grades 6–8 · 731 students
- Ellicott Mills Middle — Grades 6–8 · 698 students
- Elkridge Landing Middle — Grades 6–8 · 686 students
- Folly Quarter Middle — Grades 6–8 · 682 students
- Clarksville Middle — Grades 6–8 · 679 students
- Lime Kiln Middle — Grades 6–8 · 675 students
- Patapsco Middle — Grades 6–8 · 670 students
- Wilde Lake Middle — Grades 6–8 · 643 students
- Dunloggin Middle — Grades 6–8 · 623 students
- Murray Hill Middle — Grades 6–8 · 616 students
- Hammond Middle — Grades 6–8 · 604 students
- Lake Elkhorn Middle — Grades 6–8 · 569 students
- Glenwood Middle — Grades 6–8 · 494 students
- Harpers Choice Middle — Grades 6–8 · 471 students
- Oakland Mills Middle — Grades 6–8 · 415 students
- Marriotts Ridge High — Grades 9–12 · 1,741 students
- Reservoir High — Grades 9–12 · 1,597 students
- Atholton High — Grades 9–12 · 1,540 students
- Howard High — Grades 9–12 · 1,493 students
- Mount Hebron High — Grades 9–12 · 1,455 students
- Oakland Mills High — Grades 9–12 · 1,413 students
- River Hill High — Grades 9–12 · 1,383 students
- Centennial High — Grades 9–12 · 1,377 students
- Glenelg High — Grades 9–12 · 1,363 students
- Long Reach High — Grades 9–12 · 1,334 students
- Guilford Park High — Grades 9–12 · 1,218 students
- Wilde Lake High — Grades 9–12 · 1,197 students
- Hammond High — Grades 9–12 · 1,159 students
- Cedar Lane Special Center — Grades PK–12 · 133 students
- Homewood School — Grades 6–12 · 109 students
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| Metric | Howard County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 77 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $17,400/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Howard County Public Schools
ZIP 21738 in Howard, Maryland falls within the boundaries of Howard County Public Schools. Its 6/10 rating is roughly in line with the Maryland average across the funding and enrollment measures NCES tracks. The district covers Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
Howard County Public Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $17,400 per year, placing it near the Maryland state average of approximately $16,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With multiple schools, Howard County Public Schools operates as a district of unknown size serving students from Pre-K – 12th. Contact Howard County Public Schools to learn about available programs and services.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
Howard County Public Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 6/10, placing it in the average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Howard County Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 21738
Children in zip code 21738 are assigned to Howard County Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 21738, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Howard County Public Schools at (410)313-6600 or visit www.hcpss.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maryland districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Howard
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Howard County Public Schools serves zip code 21738, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 21738 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maryland, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Howard County Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 21738.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Howard County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 21738 data.