The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lisbon Elementary
Lisbon Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Woodbine, an unincorporated rural community that straddles the Howard and Carroll county line. The school sits along Frederick Road in a setting of residential lots, farmland, and wooded hills, with no downtown or concentrated commercial core. Students here come from a commuter-shed community where daily life is defined by winding two-lane roads and open space; most residents travel to employment centers in Columbia, Baltimore, Frederick, or the Washington D.C. metro area. Housing in the zip code area is priced well above the state median and substantially higher than the national typical, reflecting the broader Howard County market. That high housing cost, combined with a price-to-income ratio that far exceeds the national benchmark, makes this an expensive corner of the county for families.
The school enrolls a moderate-sized student body for an elementary, with a student composition that is predominantly white, alongside smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which is well below the statewide average and consistent with the area’s affluence. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available here, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academically, the latest state assessments from the 2024–25 school year show a mixed but generally solid picture. In English language arts, Lisbon Elementary posted strong results across grades three, four, and five, with a strong majority of students scoring proficient or above; fourth graders were particularly high. Overall ELA proficiency across all tested grades lands at a solid level. Math results are more moderate: about six in ten third and fourth graders reached proficiency, while fifth graders were around half. The combined math proficiency across grades sits a little above half. In science, tested only in fifth grade, less than half of students scored proficient—a softer spot that a family might inquire about further. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data were not part of the provided information.
Lisbon Elementary is part of Howard County Public Schools, a district that has seen notable changes in recent years. A new high school opened in 2023, adding capacity and shifting attendance boundaries, which may affect future feeder patterns for this elementary. The district has also adopted a strategic plan focused on attendance, reading proficiency by third grade, middle school math, college and career readiness, and discipline practices. Meanwhile, teacher salaries have increased substantially, driving up the district’s operating budget and per-pupil spending—a dynamic that carries implications for county funding and property tax pressures. Families considering Lisbon should be aware that the school is nested in a district that is actively investing in its workforce and facilities, but also facing the cost pressures that come with a high-wealth, high-demand region.
For parents weighing this school, the character of the community is as defining as the test scores. Woodbine offers a quiet, low-density, rural-suburban lifestyle with no walkable town center; daily errands and activities require driving. The school itself appears to deliver strong literacy outcomes, more moderate math results, and a science score that falls below the other subjects. The combination of high housing costs, a district in motion, and a largely homogeneous student body with low poverty rates makes this a setting that will suit families who value a country feel within commuting distance of major job markets and who are comfortable with the academic profile the data describe.
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