What’s the distance from a school where they will not rezone you?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if Pyle and Whitman have walk zones? They’re both on such busy streets that I wonder if needing to cross Wilson and Whittier prohibit them from having designated walkers

Yes, Pyle and Whitman both have walk zones. Students are not expected to cross River but are expected to cross Wilson.

As for Whittier being a busy street, compared Whittier to Connecticut and Veirs Mill, which Newport Mill students are expected to cross (Loiederman students are also expected to cross Connecticut), or University, which Eastern students are expected to cross, or Norbeck, which Wood students are expected to cross. And those are all just middle schools, so sixth graders.

^^^it would be super helpful if MCPS would publish maps of the walk zones, instead of requiring people to figure out where they are by comparing service area maps and bus stop locations.

+1 We just moved to MCPS and had no idea if there was a bus! We are walk zone, which makes sense, but there was no map to know. Just a list of bus stops where we don't know any of the streets yet.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/SchoolAssignmentTool2/Index.xhtml

Then click on the map for the grade level. It will show you the boundary.

Then go to the school website, which will have the bus schedule (normally). Or go here for the bus schedules
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/busroutes/

If you moved into your home, you would be somewhat familiar with the roads. Look on a map. The bus schedule will state the cross streets. Or ask a neighbor.

...or MCPS could post maps of the walk zones...

PP here.. that would be awesome, and that would make redrawing boundary analysis more clear.

They will indicate the walk zones on the maps produced during the boundary study.

It would be good if they did now, though.

Right? Obviously they have the maps. Why not just post them, like they post the service area maps?

Like how Howard County posts their walk zone maps:

https://www.hcpss.org/f/schools/fulton-es-walk-area.pdf

wow, one of the walk zone area crosses a major road

They have a crossing guard.
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/howard-county-seeks-school-crossing-guards-while-promoting-walkers-over-bus-riders/37131284#

Sure, but in MCPS, ES kids who have to cross a major road like that are bused.

No, not if there is a crossing guard. For example, Chevy Chase ES at Connecticut Avenue, which actually has, or at least used to have, 2 crossing guards, because it's a divided road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

They could be walkers to Ritchie Park, too, if MCPS and MCPD would get together to put a crossing guard at Falls Road. Not to mention that Ritchie Park is not over capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

Perhaps, but if you're in a school's walks zone you're safe to say otherwise is just fearmongering.

Yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

They could be walkers to Ritchie Park, too, if MCPS and MCPD would get together to put a crossing guard at Falls Road. Not to mention that Ritchie Park is not over capacity.

Why would you make kids cross a busy street, when they could walk on a sidewalk on back roads safely to their school? I am not in that neighborhood (currently zoned for Wayside and Churchill), but I know people over there and they all switched to private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

This is excellent. Thank you, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

They could be walkers to Ritchie Park, too, if MCPS and MCPD would get together to put a crossing guard at Falls Road. Not to mention that Ritchie Park is not over capacity.

Why would you make kids cross a busy street, when they could walk on a sidewalk on back roads safely to their school? I am not in that neighborhood (currently zoned for Wayside and Churchill), but I know people over there and they all switched to private schools.

Because they are currently zoned to Ritchie Park and could be walkers to the school they are currently zoned to, without rezoning?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if Pyle and Whitman have walk zones? They’re both on such busy streets that I wonder if needing to cross Wilson and Whittier prohibit them from having designated walkers

Yes, Pyle and Whitman both have walk zones. Students are not expected to cross River but are expected to cross Wilson.

As for Whittier being a busy street, compared Whittier to Connecticut and Veirs Mill, which Newport Mill students are expected to cross (Loiederman students are also expected to cross Connecticut), or University, which Eastern students are expected to cross, or Norbeck, which Wood students are expected to cross. And those are all just middle schools, so sixth graders.

^^^it would be super helpful if MCPS would publish maps of the walk zones, instead of requiring people to figure out where they are by comparing service area maps and bus stop locations.

+1 We just moved to MCPS and had no idea if there was a bus! We are walk zone, which makes sense, but there was no map to know. Just a list of bus stops where we don't know any of the streets yet.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/SchoolAssignmentTool2/Index.xhtml

Then click on the map for the grade level. It will show you the boundary.

Then go to the school website, which will have the bus schedule (normally). Or go here for the bus schedules
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/busroutes/

If you moved into your home, you would be somewhat familiar with the roads. Look on a map. The bus schedule will state the cross streets. Or ask a neighbor.

...or MCPS could post maps of the walk zones...

PP here.. that would be awesome, and that would make redrawing boundary analysis more clear.

They will indicate the walk zones on the maps produced during the boundary study.

It would be good if they did now, though.

Right? Obviously they have the maps. Why not just post them, like they post the service area maps?

Like how Howard County posts their walk zone maps:

https://www.hcpss.org/f/schools/fulton-es-walk-area.pdf

wow, one of the walk zone area crosses a major road

They have a crossing guard.
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/howard-county-seeks-school-crossing-guards-while-promoting-walkers-over-bus-riders/37131284#

Sure, but in MCPS, ES kids who have to cross a major road like that are bused.

No, not if there is a crossing guard. For example, Chevy Chase ES at Connecticut Avenue, which actually has, or at least used to have, 2 crossing guards, because it's a divided road.

How far is it?

Per MCPS, for ES if they have to cross a major road, they are supposed to be bused, I thought. We live pretty close to our ES, but there is a major road between us so my kids get bused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

This is excellent. Thank you, PP!

A walkzone by MCPS definition is based on distance and whether there is a major road between the school and neighborhood.

We live walking distance to a school, and the area used to be a walkzone, and by today's standards, it should still be a walkzone, but it's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

This is excellent. Thank you, PP!

A walkzone by MCPS definition is based on distance and whether there is a major road between the school and neighborhood.

We live walking distance to a school, and the area used to be a walkzone, and by today's standards, it should still be a walkzone, but it's not.

Well, no. A walk zone by MCPS definition is based on distance, walking safety, and whether the area is assigned to the school.

If you live within walking distance of a school, but you are not assigned to that school, then you are not in that school's walk zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if Pyle and Whitman have walk zones? They’re both on such busy streets that I wonder if needing to cross Wilson and Whittier prohibit them from having designated walkers

Yes, Pyle and Whitman both have walk zones. Students are not expected to cross River but are expected to cross Wilson.

As for Whittier being a busy street, compared Whittier to Connecticut and Veirs Mill, which Newport Mill students are expected to cross (Loiederman students are also expected to cross Connecticut), or University, which Eastern students are expected to cross, or Norbeck, which Wood students are expected to cross. And those are all just middle schools, so sixth graders.

^^^it would be super helpful if MCPS would publish maps of the walk zones, instead of requiring people to figure out where they are by comparing service area maps and bus stop locations.

+1 We just moved to MCPS and had no idea if there was a bus! We are walk zone, which makes sense, but there was no map to know. Just a list of bus stops where we don't know any of the streets yet.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/SchoolAssignmentTool2/Index.xhtml

Then click on the map for the grade level. It will show you the boundary.

Then go to the school website, which will have the bus schedule (normally). Or go here for the bus schedules
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/busroutes/

If you moved into your home, you would be somewhat familiar with the roads. Look on a map. The bus schedule will state the cross streets. Or ask a neighbor.

...or MCPS could post maps of the walk zones...

PP here.. that would be awesome, and that would make redrawing boundary analysis more clear.

They will indicate the walk zones on the maps produced during the boundary study.

It would be good if they did now, though.

Right? Obviously they have the maps. Why not just post them, like they post the service area maps?

Like how Howard County posts their walk zone maps:

https://www.hcpss.org/f/schools/fulton-es-walk-area.pdf

wow, one of the walk zone area crosses a major road

They have a crossing guard.
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/howard-county-seeks-school-crossing-guards-while-promoting-walkers-over-bus-riders/37131284#

Sure, but in MCPS, ES kids who have to cross a major road like that are bused.

No, not if there is a crossing guard. For example, Chevy Chase ES at Connecticut Avenue, which actually has, or at least used to have, 2 crossing guards, because it's a divided road.

How far is it?

Per MCPS, for ES if they have to cross a major road, they are supposed to be bused, I thought. We live pretty close to our ES, but there is a major road between us so my kids get bused.

No, per MCPS, for ES if they have to cross a "primary road", there needs to be either a crossing guard, or bus service.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/eea.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

Technically correct but it's unusual for anyone to live 0.20 miles from a school they're assigned and get bus service. Sure maybe 1% do because the school happens to be on the other side of the beltway but that's about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

Technically correct but it's unusual for anyone to live 0.20 miles from a school they're assigned and get bus service. Sure maybe 1% do because the school happens to be on the other side of the beltway but that's about it.

Personally, I think this focus on walk zones is misguided. I live 3.5 miles from our HS, but the next closest is 6 miles. It seems unlikely we'll be reassigned but if we were, it's not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

Technically correct but it's unusual for anyone to live 0.20 miles from a school they're assigned and get bus service. Sure maybe 1% do because the school happens to be on the other side of the beltway but that's about it.

It's less unusual than you might think, and it's not because it's on the other side of the Beltway. There are schools where MCPS buses students literally across the street. I know they do at Rachel Carson (Darnestown), Fields Road (Muddy Branch), Matsunaga (Richter Farm), Clarksburg (Stringtown), Little Bennett (Clarksburg). That's just in the upcounty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

Technically correct but it's unusual for anyone to live 0.20 miles from a school they're assigned and get bus service. Sure maybe 1% do because the school happens to be on the other side of the beltway but that's about it.

Personally, I think this focus on walk zones is misguided. I live 3.5 miles from our HS, but the next closest is 6 miles. It seems unlikely we'll be reassigned but if we were, it's not the end of the world.

This is a healthy attitude!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all this redrawing the boundaries talk, is there a distance you live from a school where they will not be allowed to change your designated school? Like if you live on the same block as a school? If you’re considered a walker and don’t have an assigned bus? If you live within a half mile? Or is no one safe?

No one is safe. You can live .20 miles from a school and walk but you are not assigned to that school. The Horizon Hill neighborhood is still a huge issue because they are zoned to Ritchie Park (bus transportation) a school which is overcapacity while they could be walkers to Cold Spring ES, which is underutilized. If schools were centrally located in their zoned area then this is an easier topic. School boundaries should be looked at as neighborhoods do go through periods of increase and decreases of school aged kids.

"Safe"

Here's a helpful guide...

If you live 0.20 miles from School X, but you are assigned to School Y, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, but you get bus service, then you ARE NOT a walker to School X.
If you live 0.20 miles from School X, and you are assigned to School X, and you are in School X's walk zone, then you ARE a walker to School X.

Posters seem to be having trouble understanding these ideas, and I don't understand why.

Sibling 1 is .20 miles from School X and a walker assigned to School X then rezoning happens and Sibling 2 is .20 from School X and is assigned now to School Y. So yes it has happened and my exact point. Obviously you are not local to the area and have no concept of how rezoning works. This is the exact thing that happened to Wootton/RM and other schools. Schools are not perfectly built in the middle of their zoned areas.