Montgomery County Public Schools has released additional information addressing frequently asked community questions about its proposed high school capital projects, including the potential relocation of Thomas S. Wootton High School to the Crown Farm site.
The information comes from a written highlight of the March 3 Board of Education facilities work session titled “What the Data Really Shows,” which MCPS shared publicly on Thursday. During the session, officials responded to several recurring questions from families about facilities planning, school boundaries, and long-term program changes.
One of the most common questions was whether Thomas S. Wootton High School would be closed. MCPS noted that the proposal is not to close the school but to relocate it to the Crown Farm site. If approved, the current Wootton building would remain an MCPS asset and serve as a holding school to help accelerate major capital construction projects across the county.
Officials also addressed speculation about the future of the existing Wootton property, stating there are no plans to sell the site. Under Maryland law and Board policy, school property is not sold for private development, and MCPS anticipates the facility would continue to be used for educational purposes.
Another concern raised by families involved the potential for overcrowding at a new Crown Farm high school. According to MCPS, current projections do not show the site exceeding capacity. The Crown Farm location was planned to accommodate growth and includes space for a possible future addition if enrollment increases.
MCPS also responded to questions about why the district is not prioritizing Magruder High School first for a major project. Officials acknowledged community frustration but said relocating Wootton would allow the district to preserve limited capital funds and position Magruder as the next major high school project after Damascus. Without a holding facility, renovation timelines and costs across the system would increase significantly.
Another topic raised by families involved the decision to expand Damascus High School rather than Clarksburg High School. MCPS said Clarksburg is currently well above recommended utilization levels, but adding capacity at Damascus through its planned replacement project is more cost-effective and eligible for state funding than building a standalone addition at Clarksburg.
The Board of Education is scheduled to take action on the Capital Improvements Program, boundary studies, the regional program model, and related proposals at its March 26 business meeting.
