Montgomery County Public Schools Planning and Design officials recently met with the Damascus High School community to provide an update on the long-awaited Damascus High School rebuild project during a June 10 meeting held at the school. The presentation outlined the scope, timeline, and features planned for the new campus.
According to MCPS, the project represents a $306 million investment and will involve a complete replacement of the existing Damascus High School facility while students and staff remain on-site during construction. The new building is expected to be approximately 368,000 SF, an increase of about 132,000 SF over the current facility.
The rebuilt school is being designed to accommodate enrollment changes following recent boundary studies and is expected to serve approximately 2,250 students, compared to the current capacity of 1,543 students. The school’s core capacity will increase to approximately 2,700 students. Planned improvements include:
- A dedicated security vestibule
- Fully ADA-compliant facilities
- Expanded performing arts spaces
- Enhanced athletic amenities
- Sustainable, energy-efficient building features
- Approximately 34 additional teaching stations
- Larger dining and media center spaces
- Additional science labs and classrooms
Project documents indicate the new facility will likely be four or more stories tall and will require construction on portions of the school’s existing athletic fields. MCPS says the goal is to create a modern, right-sized facility that supports current and future student needs.
The presentation also highlighted several academic and career-focused opportunities planned for the school. Existing local programs such as automotive technology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, horticulture, and early childhood education would continue, while regional programs in environmental science, music, and leadership and social justice are expected to remain available at Damascus High School.
The project remains in the planning stage. According to the timeline shared by MCPS, schematic design is scheduled to begin in October 2026, followed by design development in 2027. Construction is anticipated to run from July 2028 through August 2031, with students and staff moving into the new building at the start of the 2031-32 school year. Demolition of the existing building and final site work would follow, with full project completion targeted for August 2032.
MCPS notes that community input will be especially important during the schematic design phase, when decisions regarding building layout, learning spaces, site circulation, and project priorities are finalized. The full presentation can be seen here.
