MCPS suggests postponing Crown High School opening for use as holding school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

To be fair, not all schools have sufficient acreage to build on-site while still using the old school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

To be fair, not all schools have sufficient acreage to build on-site while still using the old school.

You'd need a huge property to put a school on another section while keeping one open. It wouldn't work for all. Nor, who wants to deal with all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

The agreement with Gaithersburg just says the land is for a public high school. Seems like a holding school for high schools would meet that definition, especially if the intent is for Crown to eventually open as a school of its own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I signed the Change petition

https://www.change.org/p/crown-for-gaithersburg-not-a-holding-school .

MCPS is treating Gaithersburg like its toilet. First, all but one school has over 60% poverty rate in its proposed Region 5. If the regional model proposal is to move forward, schools in Regions 4, 5, and 6 need to be reassigned so the poverty (FARMS) rate is more even.

Now it is trying to suddenly change the terms of their agreement, probably due to $$$$ special interest (this time Wootton) once again. Gaithersburg agreed to Crown in order to relieve overcrowding. The agreement cannot be changed unilaterally.

MCPS is supposed to be about equity. It needs to show this through actions. Not by trying to isolate all the poors into one region and trying to break their agreement with the poors.

Plus 1000

Mcps pulling a classic white privilege move. Take land gifted for a lower income neighborhood and steal it for upper class rich kids with literally no warning

+1 I never know that gaithersburg is considered a "poor" area in Montgomery county until after the proposed Region 5 lists the poverty rates. We have kentlands and downtown crown , and the housing there is not cheap at all.

Gaithersburg has housing that is not cheap, but well over 60% of the students who attend all but one of the “Region 5” schools are from impoverished households, from lack of a better word for FARMS.

Why is MCPS trying to force all the impoverished students into one area and claim this is helping them access more opportunity??

Unfortunately, to make the boundaries make sense this is the way it looks. Same for Woodward boundary changes, unless you want busing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I signed the Change petition

https://www.change.org/p/crown-for-gaithersburg-not-a-holding-school .

MCPS is treating Gaithersburg like its toilet. First, all but one school has over 60% poverty rate in its proposed Region 5. If the regional model proposal is to move forward, schools in Regions 4, 5, and 6 need to be reassigned so the poverty (FARMS) rate is more even.

Now it is trying to suddenly change the terms of their agreement, probably due to $$$$ special interest (this time Wootton) once again. Gaithersburg agreed to Crown in order to relieve overcrowding. The agreement cannot be changed unilaterally.

MCPS is supposed to be about equity. It needs to show this through actions. Not by trying to isolate all the poors into one region and trying to break their agreement with the poors.

Plus 1000

Mcps pulling a classic white privilege move. Take land gifted for a lower income neighborhood and steal it for upper class rich kids with literally no warning

+1 I never know that gaithersburg is considered a "poor" area in Montgomery county until after the proposed Region 5 lists the poverty rates. We have kentlands and downtown crown , and the housing there is not cheap at all.

Gaithersburg has housing that is not cheap, but well over 60% of the students who attend all but one of the “Region 5” schools are from impoverished households, from lack of a better word for FARMS.

Why is MCPS trying to force all the impoverished students into one area and claim this is helping them access more opportunity??

Unfortunately, to make the boundaries make sense this is the way it looks. Same for Woodward boundary changes, unless you want busing.

Then Damascus should be grouped with Region 5 but conveniently they get grouped with Poolesville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I signed the Change petition

https://www.change.org/p/crown-for-gaithersburg-not-a-holding-school .

MCPS is treating Gaithersburg like its toilet. First, all but one school has over 60% poverty rate in its proposed Region 5. If the regional model proposal is to move forward, schools in Regions 4, 5, and 6 need to be reassigned so the poverty (FARMS) rate is more even.

Now it is trying to suddenly change the terms of their agreement, probably due to $$$$ special interest (this time Wootton) once again. Gaithersburg agreed to Crown in order to relieve overcrowding. The agreement cannot be changed unilaterally.

MCPS is supposed to be about equity. It needs to show this through actions. Not by trying to isolate all the poors into one region and trying to break their agreement with the poors.

Plus 1000

Mcps pulling a classic white privilege move. Take land gifted for a lower income neighborhood and steal it for upper class rich kids with literally no warning

+1 I never know that gaithersburg is considered a "poor" area in Montgomery county until after the proposed Region 5 lists the poverty rates. We have kentlands and downtown crown , and the housing there is not cheap at all.

Gaithersburg has housing that is not cheap, but well over 60% of the students who attend all but one of the “Region 5” schools are from impoverished households, from lack of a better word for FARMS.

Why is MCPS trying to force all the impoverished students into one area and claim this is helping them access more opportunity??

Unfortunately, to make the boundaries make sense this is the way it looks. Same for Woodward boundary changes, unless you want busing.

Then Damascus should be grouped with Region 5 but conveniently they get grouped with Poolesville.

They switched QO with Crown, I believe. Not sure if that means that Crown FARMs > QO FARMs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

The agreement with Gaithersburg just says the land is for a public high school. Seems like a holding school for high schools would meet that definition, especially if the intent is for Crown to eventually open as a school of its own.

The agreement was made to relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools. To open Crown but not relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools is breaking the contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I signed the Change petition

https://www.change.org/p/crown-for-gaithersburg-not-a-holding-school .

MCPS is treating Gaithersburg like its toilet. First, all but one school has over 60% poverty rate in its proposed Region 5. If the regional model proposal is to move forward, schools in Regions 4, 5, and 6 need to be reassigned so the poverty (FARMS) rate is more even.

Now it is trying to suddenly change the terms of their agreement, probably due to $$$$ special interest (this time Wootton) once again. Gaithersburg agreed to Crown in order to relieve overcrowding. The agreement cannot be changed unilaterally.

MCPS is supposed to be about equity. It needs to show this through actions. Not by trying to isolate all the poors into one region and trying to break their agreement with the poors.

Plus 1000

Mcps pulling a classic white privilege move. Take land gifted for a lower income neighborhood and steal it for upper class rich kids with literally no warning

+1 I never know that gaithersburg is considered a "poor" area in Montgomery county until after the proposed Region 5 lists the poverty rates. We have kentlands and downtown crown , and the housing there is not cheap at all.

Gaithersburg has housing that is not cheap, but well over 60% of the students who attend all but one of the “Region 5” schools are from impoverished households, from lack of a better word for FARMS.

Why is MCPS trying to force all the impoverished students into one area and claim this is helping them access more opportunity??

Unfortunately, to make the boundaries make sense this is the way it looks. Same for Woodward boundary changes, unless you want busing.

Then Damascus should be grouped with Region 5 but conveniently they get grouped with Poolesville.

MCPS needs to change school assignments for Regions 4, 5, and 6 so that the highest poverty schools are not mostly in Region 5. Especially west of 270. These three regions are close together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

The agreement with Gaithersburg just says the land is for a public high school. Seems like a holding school for high schools would meet that definition, especially if the intent is for Crown to eventually open as a school of its own.

The agreement was made to relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools. To open Crown but not relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools is breaking the contract.

Which Gaithersburg high schools are overcrowded?

[KDavid]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

The agreement with Gaithersburg just says the land is for a public high school. Seems like a holding school for high schools would meet that definition, especially if the intent is for Crown to eventually open as a school of its own.

The agreement was made to relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools. To open Crown but not relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools is breaking the contract.

Which Gaithersburg high schools are overcrowded?

According to the Boundary Study Data Tables. Quince Orchard is at like 120% utilization and Gaithersburg is at like 106%. Then factor in that Watkins Mill is expected to explode with the completion of the Village Town Center, Bloom Village, and eventual Lakeforest Mall projects, those students are going to have to be shuffled around to avoid Watkins Mill reaching similar levels.

[Anonymous]

KDavid wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

The agreement with Gaithersburg just says the land is for a public high school. Seems like a holding school for high schools would meet that definition, especially if the intent is for Crown to eventually open as a school of its own.

The agreement was made to relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools. To open Crown but not relieve overcrowding of Gaithersburg schools is breaking the contract.

Which Gaithersburg high schools are overcrowded?

According to the Boundary Study Data Tables. Quince Orchard is at like 120% utilization and Gaithersburg is at like 106%. Then factor in that Watkins Mill is expected to explode with the completion of the Village Town Center, Bloom Village, and eventual Lakeforest Mall projects, those students are going to have to be shuffled around to avoid Watkins Mill reaching similar levels.

Yes, but how long will it be overcrowded? MCPS is forecasting massive enrollment declines in the future, seeing as much as 6,000 fewer kids over the several years.

SOURCE: https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/montgomery-county-schools-see-student-enrollment-drop-project-its-part-of-trend/

Connelly showed a graphic that illustrated projections for continued enrollment declines heading into 2031.

He said the school system is anticipating a loss of 6,000 students over the next six years. That would bring the enrollment figures down to 149,706 from a high of 165,267 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

That's a loss of 15,561 kids. It is very likely that Gaithersburg high schools will not, in fact, be overcrowded in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people suggest remodeling or replacing schools without a holding school? It makes sense to use the schools not aready with students.

Do you really live in a bubble? Seneca valley, Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery were ALL done with kids on site. God forbid your precious snowflakes have to hear a bulldozer or miss a football game

Yes, I do as we’ve never been through a remodel and in falling apart schools. It makes no sense. Use a holding school.

MCPS cannot break its agreement with Gaithersburg. It would have to find a holding school elsewhere. Crown is not an option.

Almost every school that’s been renovated had students on site.

The agreement with Gaithersburg just says the land is for a public high school. Seems like a holding school for high schools would meet that definition, especially if the intent is for Crown to eventually open as a school of its own.

I thought the crown HS has to serve gaithersburg residents. Being a holding school won't do. That is a decade after being returned to the hands of residents living in gaithersburg.