MCPS Boundary Studies Updates from 2/27/24 BOE Meeting (Woodward / Crown / Damascus High Schools)

March 1, 2024

On 2/27/24 MCPS went over some upcoming boundary study updates at the board of education Facilities and Boundaries work session meeting. See the full video here or read below for a summary and to see the images. Note that as this was a discussion and work session, nothing is set in stone.

MCPS Non-Recommended Reductions

First they go over the budget and “non-recommended reductions” based on expected budget availability from the county. These are delays and project impacts proposed by MCPS/BOE.

We reported the details of the non-recommended reductions in this tweet here on 2/20/24 and wrote that: “MCPS sent to the County Council about their non-recommended CIP reductions which shows two options for dealing with County Executive proposed reductions of $346.2 million for capital improvements over the first 4 years of the 6 year plan (years 5 and 6 get an increase seems unlikely to actually happen).”

Both plans include delays for Damascus High School renovation completion date to 2029 which could also impact the next section regarding the boundary studies if those delays are approved. The boundary study recommendation of combining the Damascus HS study with Crown HS study may be impacted if Damascus HS renovation is delayed because then they would be years apart from implementation (opening of new/renovated schools).

General Scope

All discussed boundary studies below are recommended to include High Schools and Middle Schools but not Elementary Schools.

The presentation (available to view/download at bottom of article) also shows detailed views of the construction plans for the following projects:

  • Crown High School (New)
  • Damascus High School (Major Capital Project)
  • Charles W. Woodward High School (New)
  • Burtonsville Elementary School (Replacement)
  • JoAnn Leleck Elementary School at Broad Acres (Replacement)

Woodward Boundary Study Forward Plan

From the presentation, here is the revised timeline for the boundary study since “As part of the adopted FY2023-2028 amended CIP, the completion date for the reopening was delayed one year” to open in August 2027.

  • Spring 2024 – Request for Proposal released
  • Summer 2024 – Board approves consultant
  • Fall 2024 – Prepare for community engagement
  • Early 2025–Fall/Winter 2025 – Boundary Study process
  • January 2026 – Boundary Study Report released
  • Early February 2026 – Recommendation released
  • Late February–March 2026 – Board work sessions, public hearings, and action
  • No change in the original boundary scope is recommended other than the timeline
  • Charles W. Woodward High School is scheduled to reopen in August 2027

Proposed Scope

  • Charles W. Woodward
  • Downcounty Consortium
  • Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS
  • Blair HS
  • Einstein HS
  • Walter Johnson HS
  • Kennedy HS
  • Northwood HS
  • Wheaton HS
  • Whitman HS

Crown and Damascus Boundary Studies Combined / Proposed Scope

The following schools were previously selected to fill Crown HS (slated to open August 2027)

  • Gaithersburg
  • Northwest
  • Quince Orchard
  • Richard Montgomery
  • Thomas S. Wootton

The current plan is to complete the Damascus HS project (and expansion to ease crowding in Clarksburg) for opening August 2027 so the interim Superintendents plan is to combine the two studies (unknown how this will change if Damascus HS is delayed 2 years).

Crown and Damascus Studies Combined

The combined boundary study which is currently recommended would include the following list of schools:

  • Winston Churchill
  • Northwest
  • Clarksburg
  • Poolesville
  • Damascus
  • Quince Orchard
  • Gaithersburg 
  • Seneca Valley
  • Richard Montgomery
  • Watkins Mill
  • Thomas Wootton

Combined Crown / Damascus Plan Timeline

The following is the current recommended timeline (may be impacted by any delays)

  • “Spring 2024 – Request for Proposal released
  • Summer 2024 – Board approves consultant
  • Fall 2024 – Prepare for community engagement
  • Early 2025−Fall/Winter 2025 – Boundary Study process
  • January 2026 – Boundary Study Report released
  • Early February 2026 – Recommendation released
  • Late February−March 2026 – Board work sessions, public hearings, and action”

Both Recommended Boundary Scopes

Overall, between the Woodward Study Area and the Crown/Damascus Study Area, the studies would include 21 out of 27 MCPS high schools (and their associated Middle Schools) which is 77.78% of all MCPS high schools.

Note the graphic below from MCPS appears to be missing the Woodward HS location.

Full Meeting Presentation

Includes Images of School Design Plans as well as more details including decision making

BoxChangeFY-2025-2030-CIPSpring-Amendments-240227-PPT-ACDownload
BoxChangeFY-2025-2030-CIPSpring-Amendments-240227-PPT-AC

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