Thomas S. Wootton High School is preparing for a major move, with the school scheduled to relocate to a new, larger facility at the Crown Farm site in Gaithersburg for the 2027-2028 school year. Renderings of the school’s interior can be seen below.
The Montgomery County Board of Education approved the relocation of Wootton High School to Crown Farm in March. The new school, located at 9410 Fields Rd, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in August 2027. The existing Wootton property will remain an MCPS facility, with plans for it to serve as a holding school for future secondary school construction projects.
New details shared by MCPS in a June 2026 presentation provide a closer look at what students can expect inside the future Wootton. The new facility will total 358,009 SF on a 31.7-acre site, compared with the current school’s 295,620 SF on 27.37 acres. Capacity will increase from 2,120 students at the existing building to 2,219 at the new school, with 106 teaching stations compared with the current 98.
The new Wootton will also include 16 science labs, up from 12, a 10,166 SF dining area compared with the existing 8,982 SF space, and a 9,473 SF media center, up from 7,681 SF. Plans call for a dedicated security vestibule, ADA-accessible spaces, new performing arts facilities, enhanced athletic amenities, sustainable building features and modern learning environments.
The main level is designed around several connected academic and student-service areas. Plans show a performing arts wing with music, theater and performing arts spaces, along with an auditorium intended for performances, assemblies and community events. The level will also include a child development area, library and media center, main office, counseling suite and health suite.
The competition gymnasium will be located below the main level. On the lower level, plans show the gymnasium, locker rooms, weight room, kitchen and a large dining area. Specialized spaces for special education and lab programs are also included.
The second and third floors will contain much of the school’s classroom and science space. Both levels feature classrooms surrounding elevated courtyards designed to bring additional natural light into the building. Science labs and preparation rooms are spread across both floors, while the third floor will also include a greenhouse for hands-on learning related to sustainability, growth and science.
The project will also significantly expand Wootton’s performing arts and athletic facilities, while providing larger common areas and updated classrooms throughout the building. Several programs are planned specifically for Wootton students, including cybersecurity, computer programming, early childhood education, and Fire Emergency & Medical Services (FEMS).
Wootton students will also have access to regional admissions programs as part of MCPS’ new regional secondary program model. Plans presented by MCPS list Science, Math & Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Visual Art, and Leadership for Social Justice among the regional admissions opportunities.
Additional regional services planned for the school include School Community-Based programming for students with significant cognitive and/or multiple disabilities, autism services, Social Emotional Special Education Services, and Connections to Wellness. MCPS previously said the final wellness model remains dependent on Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services budget decisions.
The Crown Farm project has a current budget of approximately $219.25 million. Construction has been divided into phases, with the second phase including completion of the auditorium interior, previously shelled classroom spaces and stadium turf. Montgomery County approved $20 million in FY2026 funding for that work.
The building was originally planned as a new Crown High School to help address overutilization in the mid-county area. Following updated enrollment projections and an extensive boundary study, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor recommended relocating Wootton to the new building rather than operating Crown as an additional high school. The Board approved that plan on March 26.
MCPS is planning additional community updates during fall 2026 and spring 2027. A transportation and logistics meeting is scheduled for June 2027, followed by school administration moving into the building in July 2027. The new Thomas S. Wootton High School is scheduled to officially open in August 2027.
The full MCPS presentation from June 2026 can be seen here.
