Long Reach High

Q: Is Long Reach High a good school?

Long Reach High ranks 100 th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Long Reach High is a public high school located in Columbia, Maryland, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 1,714. It is part of the Howard County Public Schools district, which is ranked 2nd out of 25 districts in Maryland and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Compared to nearby schools like River Hill High, Centennial High, and Atholton High, Long Reach High has a more diverse student population with a higher percentage of African American (31.51%) and Hispanic (27.07%) students. However, its academic performance, as measured by MCAP test scores, is generally lower than the district and state averages, with only 9.7% of students proficient or better in MCAP Mathematics compared to 41.1% in the district and 24.1% statewide. Additionally, Long Reach High has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (41.42% in 2022-2023), indicating a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Despite the relatively high spending per student ($15,747 in 2020-2021) and a low student-teacher ratio (13.6 in 2022-2023), Long Reach High has consistently ranked in the lower half of Maryland high schools, with a ranking of 100 out of 146 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. These challenges may suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique needs of the diverse student population and improve academic outcomes at Long Reach High.

Detail:

Public 9-12

6101 Old Dobbin Ln
Columbia, MD 21045

(410) 313-7117

District: Howard County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
100^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,207

Feeder schools for Long Reach High:

Elementary:	Deep Run Elementary
	Rockburn Elementary
	Waterloo Elementary
Middle:	Elkridge Landing Middle
	Mayfield Woods Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 12.6

Number of students: 1,448

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

29.0%

African American:

28.7%

White:

24.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 37.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Long Reach High ranks worse than 68.5% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 11^th among 13 ranked high schools in the Howard County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.03. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Long Reach High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Long Reach High is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (29%), African American (28.7%), White (24%). (See more...)

Compare Details 37.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Long Reach High is 12.6, which is the 3^rd best among 13 high schools in the Howard County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Long Reach High employs 114.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Long Reach High is $18,207, which is the 4^th highest among 13 high schools in the Howard County Public Schools District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Long Reach High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Long Reach High 100^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Long Reach High in the ranking list.)

Howard County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Howard County Public Schools 2^nd of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Long Reach High.

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Rank History for Long Reach High

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	52.02	64^th	201	68.2%
2005	65.08	45^th	204	77.9%
2006	62.54	69^th	204	66.2%
2007	63.46	76^th	209	63.6%
2008	76.36	53^rd	214	75.2%
2009	73.40	65^th	213	69.5%
2010	76.63	51^st	220	76.8%
2011	67.69	72^nd	183	60.7%
2012	61.95	90^th	187	51.9%
2013	65.95	80^th	185	56.8%
2014	69.69	94^th	231	59.3%
2015	49.06	119^th	233	48.9%
2016	57.61	90^th	233	61.4%
2017	34.27	114^th	180	36.7%
2018	29.86	125^th	197	36.5%
2019	35.70	91^st	138	34.1%
2022	31.07	139^th	225	38.2%
2023	41.73	75^th	127	40.9%
2024	36.03	100^th	146	31.5%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, July 21, 2011

Howard County has done an excellent job in preparing our kids for college and the future. Long Reach is no exception. The pride is evident among the students and parents alike. Those who put in 100% effort get 110% back in return. Go Lightning. Continue to make excellence the standard! Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, November 27, 2010

Great School with competent and caring teachers. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Long Reach High

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1997	545	313	72	37	1	n/a	n/a	0	968
1998	755	377	112	42	1	n/a	n/a	0	1287
1999	802	408	125	44	2	n/a	n/a	0	1381
2000	867	445	149	59	2	n/a	n/a	0	1522
2001	806	401	163	58	2	n/a	n/a	0	1430
2002	810	404	204	77	2	n/a	n/a	0	1497
2003	810	404	204	77	2	n/a	n/a	0	1497
2004	805	437	223	95	2	n/a	n/a	0	1562
2005	719	434	219	103	3	n/a	n/a	0	1478
2006	672	417	217	121	1	n/a	n/a	0	1428
2007	649	414	195	97	1	n/a	n/a	0	1356
2008	591	397	166	92	1	n/a	n/a	0	1247
2009	576	384	148	100	4	n/a	n/a	0	1212
2010	542	397	149	107	5	n/a	n/a	0	1200
2011	485	359	141	139	6	1	81	0	1212
2012	505	379	167	147	6	2	94	0	1300
2013	461	418	188	166	5	1	91	0	1330
2014	451	443	197	169	5	4	84	0	1353
2015	446	487	206	202	7	2	84	0	1434
2016	417	516	215	250	6	0	79	0	1483
2017	409	500	231	308	7	1	83	0	1539
2018	420	552	228	331	3	1	97	0	1632
2019	381	535	228	305	3	1	101	0	1554
2020	370	614	219	388	3	2	100	0	1696
2021	372	547	205	380	3	1	87	0	1595
2022	371	559	190	435	1	1	78	4	1639
2023	402	540	206	464	4	3	87	8	1714
2024	347	416	174	420	4	2	77	8	1448

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Long Reach High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	968	65.1	14.9	12
1998	1287	75.3	17.1	11.3
1999	1381	75.3	18.3	12.9
2000	1522	86.3	17.6	13.1
2001	1430	90.6	15.8	12.9
2002	1497	100.6	14.9	12.5
2003	1497	100.6	14.9	12.5
2004	1562	109.2	14.3	15.6
2005	1478	108.0	13.7	18.5
2006	1428	103.0	13.9	17.6
2007	1356	95.8	14.2	17.7
2008	1247	97.4	12.8	17.3
2009	1212	101.4	12.0	19.1
2010	1200	97.8	12.2	21.8
2011	1212	97.0	12.4	24.4
2012	1300	100.0	13.0	26.3
2013	1330	98.5	13.5	28.5
2014	1353	100.8	13.4	28.8
2015	1434	105.0	13.6	30.8
2016	1483	108.0	13.7	35.6
2017	1539	111.0	13.8	30.2
2018	1632	117.6	13.8	29.4
2019	1554	118.0	13.1	28.8
2020	1696	122.6	13.8	32.8
2021	1595	119.1	13.3	28.2
2022	1639	119.0	13.7	33.8
2023	1714	125.5	13.6	41.4
2024	1448	114.1	12.6	37.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Long Reach High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	968	65.1	14.9	12
1998	1287	75.3	17.1	11.3
1999	1381	75.3	18.3	12.9
2000	1522	86.3	17.6	13.1
2001	1430	90.6	15.8	12.9
2002	1497	100.6	14.9	12.5
2003	1497	100.6	14.9	12.5
2004	1562	109.2	14.3	15.6
2005	1478	108.0	13.7	18.5
2006	1428	103.0	13.9	17.6
2007	1356	95.8	14.2	17.7
2008	1247	97.4	12.8	17.3
2009	1212	101.4	12.0	19.1
2010	1200	97.8	12.2	21.8
2011	1212	97.0	12.4	24.4
2012	1300	100.0	13.0	26.3
2013	1330	98.5	13.5	28.5
2014	1353	100.8	13.4	28.8
2015	1434	105.0	13.6	30.8
2016	1483	108.0	13.7	35.6
2017	1539	111.0	13.8	30.2
2018	1632	117.6	13.8	29.4
2019	1554	118.0	13.1	28.8
2020	1696	122.6	13.8	32.8
2021	1595	119.1	13.3	28.2
2022	1639	119.0	13.7	33.8
2023	1714	125.5	13.6	41.4
2024	1448	114.1	12.6	37.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Long Reach High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$486 (3.1%)	$14,946 (96.9%)	$15,432
2020	$511 (3.3%)	$15,140 (96.7%)	$15,652
2021	$698 (4.4%)	$15,050 (95.6%)	$15,747
2022	$1,014 (5.7%)	$16,895 (94.3%)	$17,909
2023	$771 (4.2%)	$17,436 (95.8%)	$18,207

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Long Reach High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 91^st of 138 High schools	Ranks 75^th of 127 High schools	6.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1554	1714	10.3%
African American	535	540	0.9%
American Indian	3	4	33.3%
Asian	228	206	9.6%
Hispanic	305	464	52.1%
Pacific Islander	1	3	200%
White	381	402	5.5%
Two or More Races	101	87	13.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	28.8%	41.4%	12.7%

Schools Near Long Reach High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)	MCAP English Language Arts (2024)		MCAP Algebra I (2024)	MCAP Algebra II (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Long Reach High	Public	9-12	6101 Old Dobbin Ln	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7117	1,448	114	12.6	37.2%	347 (24.0%)	416 (28.7%)	420 (29.0%)	174 (12.0%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	77 (5.3%)	36	100^th of 146 public high schools	31.5%		41.7	75^th of 127 public high schools	40.9%	25	9.7	63.3	63.3	5.9	11.9	$18,207	$771	$17,436
Howard High	Public	9-12	8700 Old Annapolis Rd	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2867	1,529	101	15.2	19.6%	555 (36.3%)	365 (23.9%)	101 (6.6%)	394 (25.8%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	105 (6.9%)	58.7	35^th of 146 public high schools	76.0%		47	62^nd of 127 public high schools	51.2%	27	26.4	75.8	75.8	15.8	30.5	$17,408	$746	$16,662
Oakland Mills High	Public	9-12	9410 Kilimanjaro Rd	Columbia	21045	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6945	1,422	108	13.1	44.7%	216 (15.2%)	629 (44.2%)	339 (23.8%)	118 (8.3%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	108 (7.6%)	32.9	114^th of 146 public high schools	21.9%		39.6	84^th of 127 public high schools	33.9%	30	6.7	52.0	52.0		8.0	$19,229	$876	$18,354
Wilde Lake High	Public	9-12	5460 Trumpeter Rd	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6965	1,270	98	12.9	42.3%	287 (22.6%)	561 (44.2%)	217 (17.1%)	82 (6.5%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	109 (8.6%)	36.7	98^th of 146 public high schools	32.9%		35.1	100^th of 127 public high schools	21.3%	2	5.8	54.1	54.1		8.8	$19,604	$808	$18,797
Hammond High	Public	9-12	8800 Guilford Rd	Columbia	21046	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7615	1,167	85	13.7	38.9%	249 (21.3%)	499 (42.8%)	197 (16.9%)	132 (11.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (7.5%)	39.5	91^st of 146 public high schools	37.7%		50.5	53^rd of 127 public high schools	58.3%	38	13.2	66.2	66.2	10.5	15.1	$18,815	$871	$17,944
Atholton High	Public	9-12	6520 Freetown Rd	Columbia	21044	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7065	1,498	94	15.9	24.0%	421 (28.1%)	470 (31.4%)	202 (13.5%)	276 (18.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	121 (8.1%)	44.9	73^rd of 146 public high schools	50.0%		49.6	58^th of 127 public high schools	54.3%	15	14.9	66.2	66.2	7.4	18.4	$17,727	$746	$16,982
Centennial High	Public	9-12	4300 Centennial Ln	Ellicott City	21042	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2856	1,364	86	15.8	17.8%	461 (33.8%)	169 (12.4%)	98 (7.2%)	569 (41.7%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	58 (4.3%)	77.4	10^th of 146 public high schools	93.2%		76.1	8^th of 127 public high schools	93.7%	2	43.3	86.0	86.0	20.5	52.6	$16,805	$794	$16,011
Homewood School	Public	6-12	10914 Clarksville Pike	Ellicott City	21042	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-7081	131	38	3.4	15.3%	41 (31.3%)	56 (42.7%)	17 (13.0%)	5 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.9%)	14.1	139^th of 146 public high schools	4.8%					(n/a)		30.8	25.6		5.3
Applications and Research Laboratory	Public	9-12	10920 Clarksville Pike	Ellicott City	21042	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-6698	0	42	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies	Public	9-12	901 S Rolling Rd	Baltimore	21228	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 809-0934	60	17	3.5	71.7%	9 (15.0%)	46 (76.7%)	2 (3.3%)	1 (1.7%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)								(n/a)						$70,083	$6,424	$63,659

Frequently Asked Questions about Long Reach High

What district is Long Reach High in?

Howard County Public Schools

How many students attend Long Reach High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,448 students attended Long Reach High.

What is the racial makeup of Long Reach High?

Students at Long Reach High are 29% Hispanic, 29% African American, 24% White, 12% Asian, 5% Two or more races.

Is Long Reach High a good school?

Long Reach High ranks 100^th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Long Reach High?

Long Reach High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Deep Run Elementary
Elementary : Rockburn Elementary
Elementary : Waterloo Elementary
Middle : Elkridge Landing Middle
Middle : Mayfield Woods Middle

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.