Montgomery County Public Schools is preparing to begin a two-year planning process that could ultimately result in elementary and middle school closures, school consolidations and countywide boundary changes, with any resulting changes currently planned to take effect for the 2029-2030 school year.
According to MCPS, enrollment is declining for the first time in more than 40 years, leaving some schools with more available space than needed while other areas of Montgomery County continue to grow.
The process will be divided into two separate phases. During the 2026-2027 school year, MCPS will focus on determining whether any elementary or middle schools should be closed or consolidated. A countywide boundary study will not take place during this first phase.
MCPS said no schools have already been selected for possible closure or consolidation. An independent consultant will work with the school system to develop a decision-making framework consistent with state regulations, Board of Education Policy FAA and MCPS Regulation FAA-RA.
The framework will consider multiple factors and data related to schools, facilities, students and communities rather than relying solely on enrollment or available capacity. Community input will also be incorporated before Superintendent Thomas Taylor makes any recommendation to the Board of Education. Families, students, staff and other community members will have opportunities this fall to provide feedback on the metrics and criteria being considered, the student experience, community priorities and potential tradeoffs.
Once the review is complete, the superintendent will publicly present any recommendations for closures or consolidations to the Board. The public would then have additional opportunities to participate through hearings and written testimony before the Board makes a final decision.
The second phase is scheduled for the 2027-2028 school year. After decisions regarding the number and configuration of schools have been made, MCPS plans to conduct a countywide boundary study for elementary schools along with boundary adjustments for affected middle schools.
That process will include public information sessions, development of boundary options, multiple rounds of community feedback, a superintendent recommendation and public hearings before a final Board of Education decision. MCPS currently anticipates that changes resulting from the overall process would begin with the 2029-2030 school year.
The first round of community engagement meetings will take place from October 19 through November 2. In-person meetings are scheduled for Gaithersburg Middle School on October 19, Kingsview Middle School on October 20, Rosa Parks Middle School on October 21, A. Mario Loiederman Middle School on October 22, Julius West Middle School on October 28 and Eastern Middle School on October 29. Each in-person meeting is scheduled from 6:30-8:30pm.
Virtual sessions will be held October 19, October 23 and October 30 from noon-1pm, along with a November 2 session from 6-7pm.
A second round will run from November 30 through December 10. In-person meetings are scheduled from 6:30-8:30pm at Herbert Hoover Middle School on December 1, Ridgeview Middle School on December 2, Newport Mill Middle School on December 3, Benjamin Banneker Middle School on December 8, Rocky Hill Middle School on December 9 and Parkland Middle School on December 10.
Virtual meetings during the second round are scheduled for November 30 from noon-1pm and 6-7pm, December 4 from noon-1pm and December 7 from noon-1pm.
MCPS said each engagement session will cover the same information, and community members may attend more than one session. Additional information can be found here.
