Change of schools in mcps

[Anonymous]

How difficult is it to request a change of school? My kid is currently in 5th grade CES and has made friends with kids who will go to a different middle school than him. The other middle school is not far from our home. Is it possible to request that our DC be allowed to attend another middle school (different from the assigned)?

[Anonymous]

It’s called a COSA - change of school assignment. It’s possible.

But it won’t be granted for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s called a COSA - change of school assignment. It’s possible.

But it won’t be granted for this.

Sometimes if you're moving from an overcrowded to under-utilized school it can work. You have to supply your own transport, though.

[Anonymous]

Here's the info on how to request a COSA, but wanting to be with friends isn't an approved reason: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/info/transfers/2022/COSA_ChangeOfSchoolAssignment_ENGLISH_Web.pdf

The splitting up of friends is a real drawback of the magnet program. My kid just started at their home high school after being at a CES and a magnet middle, and they only know about 5 people there, some of whom they hadn't seen since 3rd grade. But it's supposed to be something you accept when you accept a magnet placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the info on how to request a COSA, but wanting to be with friends isn't an approved reason: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/info/transfers/2022/COSA_ChangeOfSchoolAssignment_ENGLISH_Web.pdf

The splitting up of friends is a real drawback of the magnet program. My kid just started at their home high school after being at a CES and a magnet middle, and they only know about 5 people there, some of whom they hadn't seen since 3rd grade. But it's supposed to be something you accept when you accept a magnet placement.

For my kid, it actually worked out to be a positive. When considering high school options, they didn’t have to factor friendships into the decision. Between home ES, CES, MS magnet, they knew they’d have a group wherever they ended up. It allowed them to hone in on the academics and the overall school environment to make their choice.