The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in English language arts. The lowest is 58% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Folly Quarter Middle
Folly Quarter Middle serves grades six through eight in Ellicott City, part of the Howard County Public Schools system. The school sits in a suburban area of the county, a setting of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors that extends outward from the historic downtown core. The broader Ellicott City community is defined by its mix of a walkable historic district along Main Street and extensive suburban subdivisions, with county government as a major employer and a long-running flood mitigation project reshaping the downtown landscape.
The student body is diverse in background. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Asian population, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a relatively affluent student population overall. The school serves grades six through eight and is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
On state assessments, Folly Quarter Middle shows a clear strength in English language arts. Across all three tested grades, a large majority of students scored at or above the proficient level. The school’s performance in social studies, tested in eighth grade, also reaches a high level. In science, a solid majority of eighth graders met the proficiency bar. Math results are more mixed. Sixth graders posted a strong proficiency rate, but seventh-grade math dropped noticeably, and eighth-grade math results fell into a lower range. The school offers Algebra 1, and students taking that course performed very well. A parent may want to ask the school about the dip in seventh-grade math and what supports are in place for students who need to strengthen their skills before high school.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for a middle school serving three grades. The student body is predominantly white and Asian, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs and supports.
The school sits within the Howard County Public Schools system, a district that has seen recent changes. A new high school opened in 2023, which may affect feeder patterns for families in the area. The district has adopted a strategic plan focused on attendance, early reading, middle school math, college and career readiness, and discipline. Teacher salaries have risen substantially in recent years, and per-pupil spending has increased, reflecting the district’s investment in staffing and programs.
Housing in the area is expensive. Home values in the zip code are well above the state and national medians, and rents are high relative to incomes. The typical home costs many times the national median household income, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is substantially higher than the typical rent. This is a high-cost market, and families moving here should expect a significant housing expense.
Folly Quarter Middle is a school where English language arts results are strong across all grades, and where the student body is academically oriented and economically advantaged. The math results, particularly in seventh grade, are a softer spot that a family may want to discuss with the school. The broader district is investing in teacher pay and has a new high school that may affect future feeder patterns. The community itself is defined by its historic downtown, ongoing flood recovery, and expensive housing market. This is a school that fits a family looking for a high-performing middle school in an affluent suburban setting, with the understanding that math achievement varies by grade and that the cost of living is steep.
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