Ducketts Lane Elementary, Elkridge MD

Original Research by School Decision on Ducketts Lane Elementary

Ducketts Lane Elementary is a regular public school in Elkridge, Howard County, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within a community that is unincorporated and car-oriented, shaped by highway corridors and suburban residential subdivisions. Elkridge has no traditional downtown; commercial activity lines Washington Boulevard, and the school occupies its own campus in that landscape. The area has seen rapid population growth in recent years, reflecting broader development pressures in Howard County, and the housing market carries home values well above national and state medians, with rents also elevated. For families considering this school, the cost of local housing is a significant factor.

On state assessments, the academic picture varies by subject and grade. In reading, roughly half of students met proficiency standards in third and fourth grade, with a slightly lower share in fifth grade. Math performance is more uneven: third graders showed a moderate level of proficiency, but that share dropped by a noticeable margin in fourth grade and fell further in fifth grade. Science results for fifth graders were low, with only a small proportion reaching proficiency. These numbers suggest that while early literacy is a relative strength, math achievement declines notably across the elementary years, and science is an area that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Only a single year of assessment data is available, so no trend comparison could be made.

The student body is diverse. The largest racial and ethnic groups are Black and Hispanic, together making up a substantial majority, with smaller shares of Asian, White, and multiracial students. A large share of students come from low-income households, as measured by free and reduced-price meal eligibility. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the source, which limits the full picture of support services. The school is not a charter or magnet school; its status regarding Title I funding was not reported.

Elkridge's character is suburban and family-oriented, with major parks like Patapsco Valley State Park and Rockburn Branch Park providing recreation. The community's rapid growth means more families moving in, which can affect school enrollment and classroom composition. The district, Howard County Public Schools, recently opened a new high school that shifted attendance boundaries and has implemented a strategic plan focused on early reading, middle school math, college and career readiness, and discipline practices. Teacher salaries in the district have increased substantially in recent years, which may affect budget pressures and local property taxes.

Ducketts Lane Elementary is a school where a parent will find a diverse student population and a community that is growing quickly. Academically, the school has room for improvement, particularly in math and science, while literacy scores are more solid. Families moving into the area should consider the high housing costs and the school's academic profile when deciding if it matches their priorities.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 344%

School 44% · district not reported

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 427%

School 27% · district not reported

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · district not reported

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 348%

School 48% · district not reported

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 449%

School 49% · district not reported

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 543%

School 43% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Science

Grade 514%

School 14% · district not reported

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

This schoolHoward County Public Schools, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income19%Higher-income16%3 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income23%Higher-income15%8 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income10%Higher-income33%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income12%Higher-income17%5 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income10%Higher-income16%6 pp gap