> According to data compiled by Niche, an education research platform, Howard County Public Schools in Columbia, Maryland, ranks as the best school district in the state. Niche based its ranking on a weighted index of several measures, including self-reported standardized test scores, parent and student surveys, extracurricular activities, and indicators of teacher quality.

Which is all code words for "mostly affluent."

Howard County? Sure

Columbia? Doubt

You know what? I initially read the statement "Howard County Public Schools in Columbia, Maryland" as the location of the Board of Ed or something. But I just looked it up and Board of Ed is in Ellicott City. So I'm not fully understanding this statement.

My overall understanding is that they mean HoCo as a whole and not specifically the schools in Columbia

Cue the Kittleman supporters giving Kittleman all the credit and claiming things would be even better if it weren’t for Calvin Ball.

Howard County is also known for its terrible reputation with special education.

People are so bitter about the schools here. I get the redistricting was controversial, but even when good news surfaces (like new schools to deal with crowding ) people just spew out complaints and bitterness.

Agreed. Thank you for saying it

I had a pretty good time with Hammond and they were very supportive of me, lots of friends at atholton would say the same

I’m a teacher in Howard county and they put the wrong emphasis on that statement. It should say “we’re the top school district?”

If I was going to provide any criticism of HoCo schools, it would be how they lagged behind in tackling COVID. Specifically, elementary school in the Spring of 2020 was garbage with asynchronous learning covering topics kids already accomplished in earlier quarters. It was a giant waste. Then the school system lagged behind in virtualization. Maybe I expected too much as a parent in what is touted as one of the best school districts in the country.

I'm sure plenty of kids did, and they're fine schools overall. But the article named Columbia specifically when crediting Howard County. HCPS rank as the best district in the state in spite of most schools in Columbia.

In addition to most schools in Columbia*. The quality of education in Howard County regardless of school, location, etc., is still so much higher than many others in the state.

[deleted]

What are you basing this on?

Edit - asking bc most school districts in Columbia are at or below the average for the state in graduation rate and college readiness. I wouldn’t call that a top MD program.