Phelps Luck Elementary School

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

Posted: August 14, 2026

From a parent’s perspective, I want to share our experience in a calm and balanced way. My children are very bright and have generally done well in school, so it was concerning to learn that my daughter was going through a brief period of difficulty academically and emotionally.

During that time, I had expected more proactive communication from the teacher so that we could address the situation early. Instead, we did not receive timely feedback about her struggles. When my husband and I reached out to better understand what was happening and how we could support her at home, we felt that our concerns were not fully engaged with, and it was difficult to establish a collaborative dialogue.

We also had a challenging experience with the IEP team. From our perspective, the process did not feel as collaborative as we had hoped. We expected a partnership approach where parents and school staff work closely together to support the child’s needs, but instead we often felt that our input was not fully incorporated into the discussion.

Overall, while we recognize that many educators are doing their best and appreciate the effort that goes into supporting students, our experience left us hoping for a more open and cooperative approach between parents and the school, particularly when addressing student challenges.

Posted: September 11, 2019

Posted: September 11, 2019

Posted: September 11, 2019

Posted: September 11, 2019

Posted: September 11, 2019

Posted: September 11, 2019

Posted: September 11, 2019

The GreatSchools rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt sometimes. Our son attended K-5 at Phelps Luck, after spending two years of PreK at Waterloo. I am so glad we lived in the Phelps Luck neighborhood. The school is extremely diverse, but the teachers are incredibly caring and build a wonderful culture of respect and empathy among the students. Our son was challenged and allowed to excel at math, and we found that on the whole they were very good about providing an education that challenged all students, while recognizing that in some cases there were learning challenges, external stresses (family moving frequently, etc), or other issues. One of the most striking things to me is how they provided the opportunities for each student to find something they love. Whether it is chorus, orchestra, band, or art, they allowed students to find an outlet beyond academic, where they could excel. Though our son is now in middle school, we will do whatever we can to keep supporting PLES as local residents.

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Great teachers very friendly all staff very helpful with all activity

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

Mrs. Leader is amazing! She and the other administrators are fantastic. When I've visited the school, I always see them engaged with students and teachers. School leaders are always present at every PTA meeting, event, or evening school event.

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

Teachers are quick to communicate any issues with students, even social issues!

Posted: January 30, 2018

Teachers are readily available to answer parent's questions about homework.

Posted: January 30, 2018

Every teacher my daughter has had over the past year has been wonderful! It amazes me how much she learns each year. My daughter has loved every teacher she's had.

Posted: January 30, 2018

10 stars! I'm very pleased by the education my daughter is getting. We love the administrators and teachers that we've gotten to know over the past 3 years. I'm shocked by the low rating and can't understand where the 4/10 rating is coming from. Phelps Luck is a 10/10 in my opinion.

Posted: May 12, 2017

I have the same feeling with many other parents of PLES students. PLES is such a great school under rated. The students are from different population, so it has diversity. PLES is full of wonderful teachers and staff, it deserves a much higher score of 10! The principle, Ms.Leader is so great and has good management. PLES organizes a lot of activities, reading nights, science fair, fit night, and it has the second language, Spanish, from K. My kids spent two years here, and we really love PLES!

Posted: May 12, 2017

Posted: May 12, 2017

Posted: May 12, 2017

Posted: May 12, 2017

Posted: May 12, 2017

Posted: May 12, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2016

Posted: June 28, 2016

Posted: June 28, 2016

Posted: June 28, 2016

The teachers and administration at this school are top notch. I have never come across so many talented educators under one roof. I am blown away after every parent/teacher conference by the level of care and encouragement my children get and how they are challenged to reach their fullest potential. I love that students have separate teachers for math and language arts -- the teachers get to specialize in a certain subject resulting in students receiving the very best level of instruction.

Posted: April 11, 2016

I am not sure why the rating of this school is so low. Phelps Luck is a wonderful Elementary School. All of the teachers are VERY engaged. The administrative staff is on it and the Principal and Assistant Principal are very hands on as well and very easy to approach. I have a 6 grader now, who had been in PL from 1st through 5th grade and I also have a 2nd grader that has been going to PL since Kindergarten. We have nothing but great things to say. Both of my kids are above grade level in some of their classes and the school is fantastic about making sure that each child is being challenged at the level they need. May it be the kids that are ahead or the ones that may need a little extra help. Phelps Luck deserves 5 stars !

Posted: November 17, 2015

Posted: November 17, 2015

Posted: November 17, 2015

Posted: November 17, 2015

Phelps Luck Elementary is a fantastic school with great staff and wonderful children. The school has been recently renovated and boasts tremendous technology resources which always impress me. There are great after school opportunities that are provided to the children, including Chess Club and Girls on the Run, an afterschool running program for girls.

We have been thrilled throughout our time at Phelps Luck with the open lines of communication we have had with the administration and the staff. We also have been very happy with the ability of the school to get our children above grade level work when necessary.

Howard County Schools have consisitently ranked as 1st in Maryland, and our experiences at Phelps Luck Elementary show us why.

Posted: August 11, 2015

Posted: August 11, 2015

I think our school rating is lower than it should be due to parents not taking the time to rank it. PLES offers a variety of programs ranging from Gifted and Talented to ESOL, and everything in between. It has a very diverse population of students, and a committed and wonderful team of teachers and administrative staff. My husband and I have been extremely satisfied with the education that our children are getting. The school building itself (although aging) has been recently remodeled. The surrounding community is very nice with mature trees, walking paths and modest, well-kept homes. With a few exceptions, PLES students will likely attend Bonnie Branch Middle School and Howard High school.

Posted: August 11, 2015

Posted: August 11, 2015

Posted: June 10, 2015

The teachers are outstanding. They work with the children above and beyond what is usually expected.

Posted: June 10, 2015

Posted: June 10, 2015

The teachers and Administrators are role models for the students in these areas. It is a multicultural school with vast economic diversity and the teachers respect and support all students regardless of their ethnic or economic status.

Posted: June 10, 2015

it's time to remove the 2011 reviews. They do not reflect the current administration of the school or the teachers. The principal is one of the most committed and caring school administrators I have ever run into. He know all the children by name and has introduced a new and innovative curriculum into the school. The children have an opportunity to learn a language- Spanish- as well as a musical instrument along with a strong math, social science and English program. There are plenty of opportunities for students in the GT and AP programs. The school reflects the multicultural nature and economic diversity of the community and the administration and teachers recognize and support each child. Phelps Lunch is an outstanding elementary school

Posted: January 28, 2015

My three grandchildren attend Phelps Luck Elementary school Their mother, my daughter, attended the school when she was a child. It is an outstanding school that offers foreign languages,art, music, including musical instrument education, in addition to an excellent math program, science, and the liberal arts . The teachers are exceptional and really care about the children. The curriculum is equal to any at private schools. The Principal appears to know every child at the school as well as their parents. The students as well as the faculty are representative of the community which is diverse and multicultural; as a result the children learn about many cultures and customs. This school should be rated much higher than a six out of 10.

Posted: September 15, 2014

Wonderful school that needs to be rated higher! I have two children at this school, and I think they are getting an excellent education. The teachers are wonderfully supportive, the administration is stellar, and the community around the school is inviting. Whenever someone comments about our school's ratings, I tell them that they are simply too low. If you are looking to move into the area, I highly recommend it.

Posted: January 3, 2014

We have had three children attend PLES (the youngest will graduate in 2014). We can't say enough positive things about this school. The current principal is fantastic, and the teachers and staff are wonderful. The PTA is active, and are involved in a variety of activities. This neighborhood is a hidden gem, given the relatively low housing costs, when compared to some nearby upscale neighborhoods. We have found that our children remain top of their class as they continue to middle school (Bonnie Branch) and high school (Howard). I would say that the PLES educators have done an amazing job preparing our children both academically and socially. And the part that I think is invaluable - is the cultural diversity of friendships they have developed while at PLES. As our family income grew, we were financially able to move to a different neighborhood. However, we chose to stay at PLES and have been pleased with this decision!!! Welcome to the neighborhood!

Posted: June 10, 2013

My son is just about to complete 5th grade at PLES. He has attended PLES since Kindergarten. This school has been absolutely phenomenal! Every single teacher he has had, from Kindergarten through 5th grade, has been awesome! I can't say enough about their genuine efforts, dedication, and individual attention to each and every one of their students. The curriculum is always current for teaching methods and lessons. The interaction and communication between parents, the school, and the teachers are extremely open. Events at the school are well planned, and parents are always actively invited to participate. The PTA is great! In addition, we have had a special education plan in place for our son, and we have been so impressed with the level of dedication and concern for his quality of education. Plus, the school's new principal is doing a fabulous job. Every staff member that we have dealt with over the last six years have taken their job seriously, and gave 100% plus of their time to ensure that our son was taken care of. If an issue arose, it was always addressed right away. I can't say enough about PLES. This school is a "10" in our book! - TC

Posted: May 27, 2013

Phelps Luck Elementary School has been a great experience for my two kids. We feel like they are getting the education they deserve. The school has been under construction but that should be completed this Summer. They added more classrooms, closed up all the pods to make individual classrooms, expanded the parking lot and will expand the media center to make it bigger. Most of the portables will be removed once the construction is completed. The Principal makes it a high priority to set the student/teacher ratio to about 21 per classroom. He has even brought in more teachers to stay around that number. The PTA is actively involved and has the support of the teachers and the Administration. The Principal backs all the PTA functions, like Science Fair and Bingo night. This school was recently redistricted and will have approximately 165 less kids next year.

Posted: January 24, 2013

CHECK MSA TEST SCORES BEFORE CONSIDER THIS SCHOOL!!! I am sending my 3 kids to PLES and not really satisfied with academic programs and some teachers. Compared to other schools in Howard county, the students are not academically challenged, not enough homeworks are given and no adequate feedbacks from some teachers. I have to supplement extra workbooks at home to be challenged and to prepare for the middle school. Check out their MSA test scores for science 45% vs 67% state avg for 5th grade in 2011!!! EVEN BELOW STATE AVERAGE!!!

Posted: October 10, 2012

School curriculum is horrible! School started since the end of August. It is now October and my child just started receiving homework. I feel as if students are not learning much. This is my youngest second year in this school and, hopefully the last. The test scores explain a lot. I would not recommend this school. You're better off teaching your child yourself.

Posted: June 26, 2012

Phelps Luck is a very nice school. The teachers and staff are welcoming and friendly. They encourage parent participation. The front office administration is organized and helpful if you call with questions. I find it truly significant and noteworthy that the school leaders make regular rounds visiting the classrooms and talking with students throughout the day at all grade levels. The PTA is active. The school hosts a variety of different actcivities for students and their families throughout the school year. Currently, the school is under construction, which means lots of portables and absolutely no parking. In the long term, the construction will pay off as this area in Howard County continues to grow. Not sure if anything can be done about the parking, but it certainly should be reviewed by county leadership.

Posted: March 20, 2012

The Great school rating is wrong. My child is thriving in this school and every teacher she has had has gone above and beyond for her and her classmates. The new principal has done a great job. His staff and students come first. I am proud to say that my child attends PLES.

Posted: January 28, 2011

Someteachers are great. Principal has hidden behind an awesome asst principal, but now that AP is gone and I have dealt with the principal and seen what she is about. She dismisses parental concerns with the stating staff "are the experts" on my child. If you are unfortunate to have a teacher who follows the principals lead, your child may be in a bad situation. It is luck of the draw on what teacher you get and you do not have an administrator interested in ensuring the safety or wellbeing of the children. Because I had previously dealt only with the asst principal, and had minimal needs, in the past years I would have said this school was good. This principal seems to have no compassion or concern for the children. A couple examples- no contact to the family of childen in her school when their baby passed away or concern when a child is so upset that they don't want to go to school. I strongly recommend parents observe and ask for examples of what staff is doing for your child, rather than simply accept what is stated due to integrity issues. If I knew what I know now, with the current adminstration, I would not buy a house in this district.

Posted: May 4, 2010

Teachers and administrators are great and we have been very pleased with our son's progress at Phelps Luck.

Posted: June 24, 2009

Posted: February 20, 2009

Posted: August 21, 2008

Posted: October 24, 2006