Education

“Whenever School Boundaries Are Changed, Controversy is Inevitable”: MCPS Embarks on Major Boundary Adjustments to Accommodate New Schools

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is actively engaged in a significant boundary study, prompted by the upcoming openings of Crown High School and Woodward High School, as well as the planned expansion of Damascus High School. Our very own “Mr. MoCo” Alex Tsironis joined FOX 5 to discuss the proposed adjustments that are critical for populating the new and expanded facilities and for addressing persistent overcrowding in existing schools across the county (video below).

Over the past week, MCPS has released initial options for updated boundaries, presenting four distinct scenarios for each affected region. This marks a crucial step in a comprehensive process designed to gather community feedback and refine future school assignments. The boundary study is guided by four core factors, ensuring a holistic approach to student assignment:

• Demographic characteristics of student population: This factor aims to create diverse student bodies across schools.
•  Geography: Proximity of communities to schools is a key consideration, seeking to minimize travel times for students.
• Stability of school assignments over time: The goal is to create boundaries that are sustainable and limit future disruptions for families.
• Facility utilization: Ensuring that school buildings are used efficiently, aiming for optimal enrollment levels (typically between 80-100% capacity).

The Board of Education is offering virtual office hours that will be held weekly for the following dates & times beginning May 30, 2025:

Schools Included in the Crown High School and Damascus High School Expansion Study:

High Schools:
– Winston Churchill High School
– Poolesville High School
– Clarksburg High School
– Quince Orchard High School
– Damascus High School
– Seneca Valley High School
– Gaithersburg High School
– Watkins Mill High School
– Richard Montgomery High School
– Thomas S. Wootton High School
– Northwest High School

Middle Schools:
– John T. Baker Middle School
– Lakelands Park Middle School
– Cabin John Middle School
– Montgomery Village Middle School
– Roberto W. Clemente Middle School
– Neelsville Middle School
– Forest Oak Middle School
– John Poole Middle School
– Robert Frost Middle School
– Ridgeview Middle School
– Gaithersburg Middle School
– Rocky Hill Middle School
– Herbert Hoover Middle School
– Hallie Wells Middle School
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School
– Julius West Middle School
– Kingsview Middle School

Schools Included in the Woodward High School Opening Study:

High Schools:
– Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School
– Montgomery Blair High School
– Albert Einstein High School
– Walter Johnson High School
– John F. Kennedy High School
– Northwood High School
– Wheaton High School
– Walt Whitman High School

Middle Schools:
– Argyle Middle School
– Eastern Middle School
– A. Mario Loiederman Middle School
– Newport Mill Middle School
– North Bethesda Middle School
– Parkland Middle School
– Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
– Odessa Shannon Middle School
– Silver Creek Middle School
– Silver Spring International Middle School
– Sligo Middle School
– Takoma Park Middle School
– Tilden Middle School
– Westland Middle School

MCPS encourages community members to review the initial options and provide feedback. These initial proposals are subject to refinement throughout the summer and fall, with further opportunities for public input expected before final decisions are made. The new boundaries are anticipated to be finalized by March 2026 in order to be implemented for the 2027-2028 school year, with a phased approach for student assignments, potentially allowing rising 11th and 12th graders and rising eighth graders to remain at their current schools.