Why is the proposed region5 68% FARMS 70% URM, and region6 45% FARMS 52% URM?

[Anonymous]

Swapping Damascus with QO does not make any sense if MCPS is trying to increase equity--Damascus has a lower FARMS rate than QO (42% vs 50%), using SY23–24 figures.

In region 5, all schools except QO are over 60% FARMS. In region 6, the only school above 60% FARMS is Seneca Valley.

With Crown being redesignated as a holding school, MCPS needs to rethink the schools within these regions: region6 would have an enrollment of 9714 compared to region5's 7884. Having such a skewed FARMS and URM population between the two regions is inequitable. Is MCPS trying to create a ghetto?

On top of that, excluding high-FARMS region 5 from being able to access Poolesville's established and renowned SMCS seems wrong. Those interested in attending SMCS would have to do so at a new one that would be set up at Gaithersburg HS.

And we all know how it turned out when MCPS "expanded access" with the IB program Watkins Mill.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Region 1, so not familiar with this part of the county, but yes OP, it does seem inequitable to me looking at it as an outsider.

Regions 5 and 6 could be combined to be one large region so all students could access the existing strong programs at Poolesville.

and/or

1 or 2 of Poolesville's 3 magnets could be moved to different, more centrally located high schools - Northwest, Seneca Valley?

I know the argument is that Poolesville "has" to host so many programs because it's a huge school with low in-boundary enrollment, but then.... redraw the boundaries? This is not that hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in Region 1, so not familiar with this part of the county, but yes OP, it does seem inequitable to me looking at it as an outsider.

Regions 5 and 6 could be combined to be one large region so all students could access the existing strong programs at Poolesville.

and/or

1 or 2 of Poolesville's 3 magnets could be moved to different, more centrally located high schools - Northwest, Seneca Valley?

I know the argument is that Poolesville "has" to host so many programs because it's a huge school with low in-boundary enrollment, but then.... redraw the boundaries? This is not that hard.

+1

[Anonymous]

Maybe some lawyers can help to argue at next board meeting? I know wotton HS has lawyers and signs up to defend for them after the first round of boundary rezone. Now the wotton families are stirring a petition to start renovation plan to rebuild their schools and no chance to moving them to crown HS as a holding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe some lawyers can help to argue at next board meeting? I know wotton HS has lawyers and signs up to defend for them after the first round of boundary rezone. Now the wotton families are stirring a petition to start renovation plan to rebuild their schools and no chance to moving them to crown HS as a holding school.

The equitable distribution of schools within the regions should not have to depend on whether a region can hire high-powered lawyers or lobbyists. If it has come to this, then MCPS is truly corrupt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe some lawyers can help to argue at next board meeting? I know wotton HS has lawyers and signs up to defend for them after the first round of boundary rezone. Now the wotton families are stirring a petition to start renovation plan to rebuild their schools and no chance to moving them to crown HS as a holding school.

The equitable distribution of schools within the regions should not have to depend on whether a region can hire high-powered lawyers or lobbyists. If it has come to this, then MCPS is truly corrupt.

Oh, even worse, not hire, but rather *has* high-powered lawyers or lobbyists who can advocate for the region pro bono. So a region would either have to have these powerful individuals living in their community or be connected. Region 5, having such a high poverty rate, is less likely than Wootton to have a voice, basically. Is MCPS really for equity, or is this in name only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in Region 1, so not familiar with this part of the county, but yes OP, it does seem inequitable to me looking at it as an outsider.

Regions 5 and 6 could be combined to be one large region so all students could access the existing strong programs at Poolesville.

and/or

1 or 2 of Poolesville's 3 magnets could be moved to different, more centrally located high schools - Northwest, Seneca Valley?

I know the argument is that Poolesville "has" to host so many programs because it's a huge school with low in-boundary enrollment, but then.... redraw the boundaries? This is not that hard.

Also in region 1 and unfamiliar but that does sound messed up and unequal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe some lawyers can help to argue at next board meeting? I know wotton HS has lawyers and signs up to defend for them after the first round of boundary rezone. Now the wotton families are stirring a petition to start renovation plan to rebuild their schools and no chance to moving them to crown HS as a holding school.

The equitable distribution of schools within the regions should not have to depend on whether a region can hire high-powered lawyers or lobbyists. If it has come to this, then MCPS is truly corrupt.

Oh, even worse, not hire, but rather *has* high-powered lawyers or lobbyists who can advocate for the region pro bono. So a region would either have to have these powerful individuals living in their community or be connected. Region 5, having such a high poverty rate, is less likely than Wootton to have a voice, basically. Is MCPS really for equity, or is this in name only?

+1. There are many high-powered lawyers living in Wootton neighborhoods, and they use their knowledge and power to get the voice out easily to advocate for themselves. They feel that they are entitled to certain privileges and rights because they live in those areas. That is really not about equity. I wish region 5 has the resources and voices as well.

[Anonymous]

Wait.. so Crown HS is not opening in 2027? It's now going to be used as a holding school for Wootton? Has this been 100% decided?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe some lawyers can help to argue at next board meeting? I know wotton HS has lawyers and signs up to defend for them after the first round of boundary rezone. Now the wotton families are stirring a petition to start renovation plan to rebuild their schools and no chance to moving them to crown HS as a holding school.

The equitable distribution of schools within the regions should not have to depend on whether a region can hire high-powered lawyers or lobbyists. If it has come to this, then MCPS is truly corrupt.

Oh, even worse, not hire, but rather *has* high-powered lawyers or lobbyists who can advocate for the region pro bono. So a region would either have to have these powerful individuals living in their community or be connected. Region 5, having such a high poverty rate, is less likely than Wootton to have a voice, basically. Is MCPS really for equity, or is this in name only?

+1. There are many high-powered lawyers living in Wootton neighborhoods, and they use their knowledge and power to get the voice out easily to advocate for themselves. They feel that they are entitled to certain privileges and rights because they live in those areas. That is really not about equity. I wish region 5 has the resources and voices as well.

+2 It’s an arbitrary grouping influenced by special interests. It needs to be redone so it’s more equitable. I like the idea of 3 regions, disbanding all special programs to focus on developing home schools, no regions and adding programs, or breaking up MCPS. These all sound better than the money pit 6 region idea that decreases equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait.. so Crown HS is not opening in 2027? It's now going to be used as a holding school for Wootton? Has this been 100% decided?

MCPS announced this in the last BOE meeting—it sounds like it’s been decided, but someone please confirm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait.. so Crown HS is not opening in 2027? It's now going to be used as a holding school for Wootton? Has this been 100% decided?

MCPS announced this in the last BOE meeting—it sounds like it’s been decided, but someone please confirm.

These “iterative” decisions are opaque and undemocratic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait.. so Crown HS is not opening in 2027? It's now going to be used as a holding school for Wootton? Has this been 100% decided?

MCPS announced this in the last BOE meeting—it sounds like it’s been decided, but someone please confirm.

So does that mean the new regions won't be happening next school year, either?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait.. so Crown HS is not opening in 2027? It's now going to be used as a holding school for Wootton? Has this been 100% decided?

I'm posting my response on the Crown thread so as not to derail this thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait.. so Crown HS is not opening in 2027? It's now going to be used as a holding school for Wootton? Has this been 100% decided?

MCPS announced this in the last BOE meeting—it sounds like it’s been decided, but someone please confirm.

So does that mean the new regions won't be happening next school year, either?

The new regions is just a proposal, as is the proposal to make Crown a holding HS. BOE is now scheduled to vote on the 6 regions in March, although this should be delayed or cancelled so MCPS can see how the large drop in student enrollment affects everything.