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School
Howard County Public Schools

Centennial High School

#3 in Best Public High Schools in Baltimore Area
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Public
  • 9-12
  • Ellicott City, MD
  • 280 reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Diversity
    A
  3. Teachers
    A
  4. College Prep
    A+
  5. Clubs & Activities
    B+
  6. Health & Safety
    A
  7. Administration
    A
  8. Sports
    A
  9. Food
    C
  10. Resources & Facilities
    B-
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Centennial High School is a top rated, public school located in Ellicott City, MD. It has 1,465 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 98% of students are at least proficient in math and 94% in reading.
Address
4300 Centennial Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Telephone
(410) 313-2856
Website
hcpss.org

Centennial High School Rankings

Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.

Academics

Percent Proficient - Reading
94%
Percent Proficient - Math
98%
Average Graduation Rate
98%
Average SAT
1330
377 responses
Average ACT
30
50 responses
AP Enrollment
43%
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Living in the Area
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Crime & Safety
    NG
  2. Diversity
    A
  3. Cost of Living
    C+
  4. Good for Families
    A+
Area Feel
Suburban
Median Household Income
$121,019
National
$55,322
Median Rent
$1,582
National
$949
Median Home Value
$515,500
National
$184,700

Culture & Safety

Health & Safety
A
Based on chronic student absenteeism, suspensions/expulsions, and survey responses on the school environment from students and parents.
Poll
94%
of students agree that they feel safe at their school.31 responses
Poll
61%
of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there.31 responses
Poll
What are your favorite school events or traditions?
Based on 89 responses
Report
  • Class color day
    24%
  • Prom
    17%
  • Pajama day
    15%
  • World Fest
    11%
  • Crab feast
    10%
  • Homecoming pep rally
    9%
  • Senior week
    9%

Students

Diversity
A
Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
Students
1,465
Free or Reduced Lunch
10%
100%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive.32 responses
91%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy.32 responses
78%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic.32 responses

Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
National
17:1
Average Teacher Salary
$70,702
Teachers in First/Second Year
5.3%
64%
of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons.42 responses
76%
of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students.42 responses
83%
of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom.42 responses

Clubs & Activities

Clubs & Activities
B+
Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.
Girls Athletic Participation
High
Boys Athletic Participation
Very High
Expenses Per Student
$17,475/ year
National
$12,239
94%
of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in.52 responses
54%
of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need.52 responses
83%
of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations.52 responses
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Centennial High School Reviews

280 reviews
All Categories
I moved to Ellicott City from Orlando for my junior year of high school. The atmosphere was a huge change, in a good way. I love the close relationships the administration has with their students. I did not have that in Florida at all and I really appreciated it. It's a small school, and everyone knows each other. The learning environment is also so much better, and the teachers genuinely care about their students not just academically but personally as well. Overall, this school is heavily academically driven. However, it is well rounded in the sense that focus is split between academics and the arts as well as sports. There is a healthy relationship between fun and education that I haven't seen anywhere else. The arts and music is where I spent most of my time besides studying and it helped me be more successful in high school. It kept me sane, and I'm grateful for the opportunities I received by moving. This really is a great school that I would recommend anyone to attend.
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Centennial overall is a great school. The teachers are good, there are some great programs that you can't find anywhere else in the county, such as the Humanities program, and the test scores seem to speak for themselves. The biggest issue is the strain on students. Centennial is a highly competitive environment. Students have been known to stay up past midnight to complete assignments. Centennial is a great school if one is looking to be pushed academically and be challenged, however, it is important to know that Centennial can end up pushing too far.
Centennial is EXCELLENT for academic rigor and preparing students who wish to excel in college. Quality of education is excellent. However, resources seem to focus on the highest achieving students and average students can feel overwhelmed. Serious students will love Centennial. Football team and ice hockey club both folded but "It's Academic" quiz bowl team makes it to the championships almost every year.