Who We Are
At Columbia Academy, we know how much trust it takes to place your child in someone else's care each day. As a parent, you are not only looking for strong academics. You are looking for a school where your child will be understood, encouraged, and genuinely cared for by the people around them. You want to be confident that your little one is walking into an environment where they can be themselves, build meaningful relationships, and grow at a pace that feels right for them. That is what families find at Columbia Academy. Across our five Campuses serving families throughout Howard County, Maryland, we create warm, engaging learning environments where children from infancy through eighth grade are supported as whole individuals. Our approach goes beyond academics alone. We focus on helping your child build confidence, independence, kindness, creativity, and a true love of learning, so they are prepared not only for the next grade level but also for life beyond the classroom.
Testimonials
B.H.
April 14, 2026
I like how caring the teachers and school leaders are. No matter the classroom I find that all staff are friendly and respectful.
A.Y.
January 6, 2026
The communication with the staff. They are very knowledgeable, understanding, and caring
T.W.
December 14, 2025
All of the teachers are amazing. They are so friendly and very attentive to the children. You can tell they genuinely love what they do.
E.B.
September 9, 2025
Small class sizes, engaging and experienced teachers, play based curriculum
Our Story
Columbia Academy has been a meaningful part of the Howard County community since 1991, and the heart of our school has remained the same through every passing year. We were created to give your family a place where high-quality academics, strong character development, and genuine relationships come together to shape children into confident, capable, lifelong learners. Today, our community includes more than 600 students and 150 faculty and staff members across five Campuses in the Greater Baltimore region, Maryland, each of them working with care and intention to support your child every step of the way.
From the very beginning, our school was built on the belief that the early years of your child's life set the foundation for everything that follows. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, children who attend high-quality early childhood education programs are more prepared for kindergarten and develop stronger language, reading, writing, and math skills before entering elementary school. We see those outcomes reflected in our own students every day, and based on internal assessments aligned with national standards, 96% of our young learners meet or exceed the GOLD Readiness Benchmark, by the end of their early education years.
Emily Gilliam, School Leader at our Elementary and Middle School Campus, describes the heart behind our work this way, "Through my position as Head of School, it is an honor to watch students discover and develop their love of learning. By partnering with teachers to cultivate engaging, meaningful classrooms and working closely with families to bridge the gap between school and home, I strive to create a strong, supportive community where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed."
As we have grown from one location into a thriving network of five Campuses and joined the Endeavor Schools family, our promise to your family has never changed. We will always be a place where your child is celebrated for who they are and supported in becoming who they are meant to be.
Our mission is to cultivate successful learning opportunities that allow every student to become a responsible, valuable member of their community. We are committed to nurturing your child's individual potential through a vibrant, inclusive learning environment that supports the whole child in mind, heart, and character.
We envision a school where your child walks in each morning eager to discover something new. When children sense that they are safe, valued, and respected, they naturally become more curious, more confident, and more willing to take healthy academic risks. Our vision is to be the school where your family finds a nurturing home for your child year after year, from those first days in our infant program through their final year of middle school.
Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to grow alongside your child. We use a project-based learning approach that connects what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. Rather than passive listening, they are building, creating, asking questions, and working alongside their classmates in ways that make learning exciting and genuinely meaningful. We want your little one to feel curious, confident, and genuinely engaged in the classroom because children learn best when they are actively part of the experience. This hands-on approach is thoughtfully balanced with strong academic foundations in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts, all taught in ways that are developmentally appropriate, encouraging, and supportive for each stage of your child's growth.
We also believe play and creativity are essential parts of learning, not extras to be squeezed in around academics. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, play helps children build important executive functioning skills like memory, focus, self-control, and problem-solving, which support stronger academic performance over time. That is why our classrooms are designed to balance strong academics with meaningful exploration, giving your child space to learn, move, create, and connect throughout the day. We want them to feel supported and challenged while still having the freedom to be curious, expressive, and fully engaged in the learning experience.
What Makes Our Private School Different?
Many families searching for a private school in Howard County, Maryland, are looking for something deeper than academics alone. You want to be confident that your child will be truly seen, understood, and cared for by the people guiding them each day. You want a school where your little one feels safe walking through the doors each morning, where their personality is celebrated, and where they are supported not only as a student, but as a whole person. That sense of connection and belonging is what makes Columbia Academy so special to the families in our community.
Our small student-to-teacher ratios allow us to slow down and truly get to know your child. Whether your little one is taking their very first steps in our infant program or your older child is building confidence before high school in our 16:1 elementary and middle school classrooms, they are never treated like just another student in a crowded room. They are known by name, understood as an individual, and supported in ways that help them be comfortable, capable, and confident.
Daijah Daniels, School Leader at Columbia Academy at Kings Contrivance, shares how this care shows up in everyday moments: "We get on your child's level and communicate in a way they understand. We make eye contact, use words they can comprehend, and give them choices, helping them make decisions when they are struggling to make them on their own." These thoughtful interactions may seem small, but they help children feel respected, secure, and emotionally supported throughout the school day.
Inside our classrooms, your child is encouraged to learn through curiosity, creativity, and meaningful discovery rather than pressure or memorization. Michelle Rellorosa, School Leader at Columbia Academy Kendall Ridge, with fifteen years of experience in education, explains it this way: "Our approach to learning is grounded not only in standards and research, but also in three core academic pillars: relational pedagogy, developmentally appropriate practices, and an inspiring learning environment. We prioritize building strong relationships with our children and families, fostering trust, respect, and a sense of belonging."
That sense of belonging extends far beyond the classroom walls. We believe families should feel just as connected to our school community as their children do. Through parent conferences, school events, daily communication, and ongoing partnership, we work closely with you every step of the way because your child thrives best when home and school support one another.
Early Childhood Leadership & Staff
One of the biggest things parents want to know is whether their child will truly be known, cared for, and safe each day. At Columbia Academy, that sense of trust is part of everything we do. Every staff member undergoes extensive background checks and a thoughtful hiring process before joining our community, and our team continues to grow through ongoing training in areas such as child development, Conscious Discipline, CPR, First Aid, medication administration, and emergency preparedness. Most importantly, we build classrooms where your child is genuinely supported, respected, and cared for by the adults guiding them each day.
Emily Gilliam
School Leader, Columbia Academy Elementary and Middle School Campus
With a decade of experience in education, including seven years as a classroom teacher, Emily holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational leadership. She is passionate about creating a learning community where students, families, and staff all feel like essential partners in each child's success.
LinkedInMichelle Rellorosa
School Leader, Columbia Academy at Kendall Ridge
Michelle has fifteen years of experience in early childhood education and is known for her servant-leadership approach. She believes in supporting her team so they can support each child, and she finds her greatest joy in seeing children feel loved, secure, and inspired in her care.
LinkedInDaijah Daniels
School Leader, Columbia Academy at Kings Contrivance
Daijah brings five years of early childhood education experience to her role, with a deep love for mentoring teachers so they can give every child exactly what they need. Her favorite part of the job is watching her team grow alongside the children in their care, helping each classroom be a place of warmth, learning, and joyful discovery.
LinkedInAchievements & Accreditations
We are proud of the recognition our school has earned over the years, but we are even more proud of what those achievements mean for your child. Based on internal assessments aligned with national standards, 96% of our students meet or exceed the GOLD Readiness Benchmark, and 93% of our students perform above average on standardized achievement tests in reading. Every classroom from preschool through eighth grade includes foreign language, art, and music instruction, along with the integrated STEAM opportunities that prepare your child for the world they will grow into.
"Our students are always at the heart of everything we do. We believe children thrive when families, educators, and the entire school community work together to support, encourage, and guide them every step of the way."
- Emily Gilliam, School Leader at Columbia Academy Elementary and Middle School Campus.
Endeavor Schools is a community of more than 100 schools across the country, brought together by a shared commitment to caring for children during the most important years of their lives. Each school is thoughtfully connected to its local community, creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Behind every classroom is a team of educators and parents who understand how much these early experiences matter, and who are dedicated to helping children build confidence, develop essential skills, and find a genuine love for learning. At the heart of Endeavor Schools is a focus on one simple goal: to give every child the support and foundation they need to thrive, both in school and in life.