The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved a sweeping set of changes that will reshape school boundaries and how specialized programs are offered across the district, with implementation set for the 2027-2028 school year.
The decision, finalized on March 26, 2026, brings together multiple major initiatives into one coordinated plan aimed at addressing uneven enrollment, underused school capacity, and disparities in access to academic programs.
At the center of the plan are three interconnected actions approved as a single package. The Board voted 7-1 on reopening Charles W. Woodward High School and expanding Northwood High School, relocating Thomas S. Wootton High School to the Crown Farm site while also expanding Damascus High School, and introducing a new regional model for secondary school programs across Montgomery County Public Schools.
District leaders say these changes are designed to better align where students live with where they attend school, while also making it easier for students to access specialized programs closer to home. The new boundaries are intended to correct outdated assignment patterns and make more efficient use of school buildings across the county.
A key component of the overhaul is the introduction of a regional framework that divides the district into six regions, each consisting of four to five high school clusters. Under this model, each region will offer similar access to high-demand programs tied to student interest and workforce needs. Officials say the goal is to create more consistency in programming while reducing the need for long-distance travel.
According to MCPS, the regional boundaries were developed using a mix of transportation data, enrollment trends, and demographic information, with collaboration between academic and operational teams. The district believes this structure will improve both efficiency and equity in how programs are delivered.
MCPS says the approval follows months of public engagement, including in-person and virtual meetings, multilingual outreach, and the use of interactive tools that allowed families to review proposed changes. Thousands of community members participated in the process, providing feedback that helped shape the final recommendations.
With the plan now adopted, the district will move into the implementation phase. This includes direct outreach to families explaining how the changes will affect individual school assignments, as well as continued development of the regional program offerings in collaboration with educators.
Additional steps will include engaging families of elementary and middle school students about future program options, hiring leadership for the reopening of Woodward High School, continuing construction of the new Wootton High School at Crown Farm, and planning for the transition to the new facility.
Officials noted that some students will follow different timelines. This includes current 8th, 11th, and 12th grade students, as well as those already assigned through the Northeast or Downcounty Consortiums or enrolled in existing regional or countywide programs. More detailed guidance on those exceptions is expected to be shared directly with families.
The changes represent one of the most significant shifts in Montgomery County’s school system in recent years, with leaders emphasizing that while no boundary plan is perfect, the goal is to create a more balanced, accessible, and future-ready system for students across the county.
To learn more about the Superintendent’s recommendation click here and see the adopted resolutions below. A recording of the Board meeting where the resolutions were adopted can be watched here. Read the Resolutions:
