Most recent info on Walter Johnson/Woodward HS...

[Anonymous]

Where do folks provide comments if any before Thursday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an MS student zoned for WJ. This is the latest news we received from the Cluster Rep:

Fall 2024: Phase 1 construction complete; Northwood HS students begin attending Woodward during 3 year Northwood HS construction; Phase 2 construction begins; RFP for Boundary Study released
November 2024: Board of Education to announce consultant for Boundary Study
January to October 2025: Community engagement around Boundary Study, consultant completes Boundary Study
December 2025: Superintendent receives Boundary Study Report, including boundary adjustment options
March 2026: Boundary changes adopted
Fall 2027: Woodward HS reopens, other boundary change decisions in effect

Phase 2 construction at Woodward will complete various parts of the school, including athletic fields and more classroom space. Due to budget constraints, the school auditorium will be a "shell" when the school reopens in 3 years, with additional funding needed to build out the interior. I'll share opportunities for our community to lobby for the funding needed to complete the auditorium on time for our students.

The Boundary Study is how MCPS will decide which students in our cluster will attend Woodward, Walter Johnson, or another area high school. Expect community engagement meetings in 2025, followed by Board of Ed meetings to consider the recommended options in early 2026.

What is the planned capacity of Woodward? Phase 1 (current) capacity is about 2000 students, and Phase 2 capacity will be about 2250 students.

Will Woodward host a magnet program (like arts, aerospace, etc.)? There is no current plan for a magnet program at Woodward. The boundary study may recommend such a program to help fully utilize the capacity of the new school.

When will Woodward officially reopen (not just as a holding school)? The current plan is for Woodward to reopen Fall 2027. This allows 3 years to complete construction at Northwood, and 18 months for our community to "digest" the adopted boundary changes.

Will Woodward open with all grades, just 9th grade, or some other combination? We don't know yet - the boundary study will recommend various options for the Superintendent and Board of Education to choose from in early 2026. We've heard that seniors are not likely to be required to change schools, but all other grades could be reassigned. So, for current middle school students zoned for WJ:
8th graders will attend WJ for 9th and 10th grade, possibly reassigned for 11th grade
7th graders will attend WJ for 9th grade, possibly reassigned for 10th grade
6th graders possibly reassigned for 9th grade

I think reassigning 11th graders is really cruel and will not only affect one school but many.

Last time they did a HS boundary change, they did not reassign the 11th or 12th graders.

I think they should just reassign the incoming 9th graders. It’s also very cruel to ask kids who already attended the high school to leave.

My high school went through similar population swings. The district kept it as one single high school with a one administration etc. but a split campus model (9th graders attended one campus and the 10-12 graders another). When numbers got small, the district rented one campus for short term. When the area had an increase, the district went back to the split campus model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taylor is recommending FLO Analytics as the boundary study consultant. The board votes on approving the contract on Thursday.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DB5TS478B637/$file/Cont%20Apprv%20RFP%204998.1%20Boundary%20Study%20Consultant%20241121%20PPT.pdf

More about FLO:

https://www.flo-analytics.com/industries/school-districts/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, the Northwood construction is already behind schedule

Was t Northwood updated in the early 2000s?

No. Northwood was a closed school that they re-opened in 2002 with paint and a prayer. It was a disaster and needed to be rebuilt.

What us unforgivable is MCPS dragging their feet, first a Round Table, then a Study Group, then delaying and delaying, and when they finally realized that what the parents had been saying forn10 years was actually happening, we have supply chain issues, things cost more and take longer. And the split phases, so that Northwood is in there without an auditorium, fields, or a second gym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taylor is recommending FLO Analytics as the boundary study consultant. The board votes on approving the contract on Thursday.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DB5TS478B637/$file/Cont%20Apprv%20RFP%204998.1%20Boundary%20Study%20Consultant%20241121%20PPT.pdf

They ended up not voting on this today, opting to delay the vote until the December 5 meeting. Members requested clarifications about the districtwide program analysis deliverables and about the vendors' experiences working with diverse communities.

[Anonymous]

Taylor has a new video about the boundary study:

[Anonymous]

We are looking at houses. Any update on Woodward boudary options?

I know many posters get angry but I don't want to buy and lose 10% value immediately. I am personally fine with any boundary for our kids but swallowing 10-15% drop in value will be a huge financial hit for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at houses. Any update on Woodward boudary options?

I know many posters get angry but I don't want to buy and lose 10% value immediately. I am personally fine with any boundary for our kids but swallowing 10-15% drop in value will be a huge financial hit for us.

The first round options are scheduled to be presented at public meetings in May and June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at houses. Any update on Woodward boudary options?

I know many posters get angry but I don't want to buy and lose 10% value immediately. I am personally fine with any boundary for our kids but swallowing 10-15% drop in value will be a huge financial hit for us.

No one knows but there are some guesses about neighborhoods less likely to be reassigned. I think most people think Wyngate and Ashburton will stay at WJ. Buy close to a school is your best bet. Tilden will almost certainly go to Woodward so that’s probably already priced into that market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at houses. Any update on Woodward boudary options?

I know many posters get angry but I don't want to buy and lose 10% value immediately. I am personally fine with any boundary for our kids but swallowing 10-15% drop in value will be a huge financial hit for us.

The first round options are scheduled to be presented at public meetings in May and June.

Thank you for the information. It's probbaly safer to wait till July then. We can't affrord a huge hit finacially.

[jsteele]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1264491.page