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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In general, MCPS has said that they will try to preserve walk zones. So, if you live walking distance to a school, or would need to cross a significant barrier like a highway (particularly if the kids are younger), that should provide some consistency.

However, everyone needs to remember that the current boundaries were not handed down by G-d on the mountaintop. They are the result of specific geographic quirks, or a resistance to make big changes when a new school was built.

It's actually possible that boundary changes will increase the number of walk zones for many kids, if MCPS has the guts to just bite the bullet and do it all at once.

Thank you. I don’t see many parents on here complaining that their kid was assigned to a “better” (richer) school than the one they could walk to next door, but that happens too (I’m looking at you Town of Kensington).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In general, MCPS has said that they will try to preserve walk zones. So, if you live walking distance to a school, or would need to cross a significant barrier like a highway (particularly if the kids are younger), that should provide some consistency.

However, everyone needs to remember that the current boundaries were not handed down by G-d on the mountaintop. They are the result of specific geographic quirks, or a resistance to make big changes when a new school was built.

It's actually possible that boundary changes will increase the number of walk zones for many kids, if MCPS has the guts to just bite the bullet and do it all at once.

Also, just because you live in walking distance of a school (1.0 miles for ES, 1.5 miles for MS, 2.0 miles for HS), that doesn't mean MCPS will consider you a walker. If there's an even slightly big road between you and the elementary school, MCPS will likely not consider you a walker, unless there's a crossing guard there. If there's a big road between you and the middle school or high school, MCPS might not consider you a walker, especially if you live in a wealthy area. For example, Newport Mill MS kids on the other side of Veirs Mill Road are walkers, and so are Eastern MS kids on the other side of University Boulevard, but Silver Creek MS kids on the other side of Connecticut Avenue get a school bus.

So if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're assigned to, but you get bus service, and you don't want to be reassigned to a different school, then you should start agitating for MCPS to remove the bus service and make you a walker instead.

Also, if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're not assigned to, and you want to be reassigned to it, then you should make sure there is a safe walking route to that school, and if there isn't, start agitating for one.

[Anonymous]

It would really help parents if MCPS would clearly delineate each school's walk zone* on the official service area maps. They only seem to share this information on the boundary study maps, and even then not consistently.

*Some schools do not have a walk zone at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, MCPS has said that they will try to preserve walk zones. So, if you live walking distance to a school, or would need to cross a significant barrier like a highway (particularly if the kids are younger), that should provide some consistency.

However, everyone needs to remember that the current boundaries were not handed down by G-d on the mountaintop. They are the result of specific geographic quirks, or a resistance to make big changes when a new school was built.

It's actually possible that boundary changes will increase the number of walk zones for many kids, if MCPS has the guts to just bite the bullet and do it all at once.

Also, just because you live in walking distance of a school (1.0 miles for ES, 1.5 miles for MS, 2.0 miles for HS), that doesn't mean MCPS will consider you a walker. If there's an even slightly big road between you and the elementary school, MCPS will likely not consider you a walker, unless there's a crossing guard there. If there's a big road between you and the middle school or high school, MCPS might not consider you a walker, especially if you live in a wealthy area. For example, Newport Mill MS kids on the other side of Veirs Mill Road are walkers, and so are Eastern MS kids on the other side of University Boulevard, but Silver Creek MS kids on the other side of Connecticut Avenue get a school bus.

So if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're assigned to, but you get bus service, and you don't want to be reassigned to a different school, then you should start agitating for MCPS to remove the bus service and make you a walker instead.

Also, if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're not assigned to, and you want to be reassigned to it, then you should make sure there is a safe walking route to that school, and if there isn't, start agitating for one.

Wait, we can be reassigned?? I would LOVE for my kids to go to the other elementary school as we can WALK to it and it’s where 90% of our neighbors go. For some reason a very small pocket of houses in my neighborhood are assigned to our current, further away school (she’s bussed there). We watch kids walking to the other school as we wait for the bus. It makes no sense and we would love for our kids to be at the same school as our neighborhood kids.

[Anonymous]

There's no such thing. Sometimes you get assigned to a school that's farther away than your closest school; it would be logistically impossible to assign every single student to their closest school.

It's best not to get too emotionally attached to the idea of a single school and to keep an open mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, MCPS has said that they will try to preserve walk zones. So, if you live walking distance to a school, or would need to cross a significant barrier like a highway (particularly if the kids are younger), that should provide some consistency.

However, everyone needs to remember that the current boundaries were not handed down by G-d on the mountaintop. They are the result of specific geographic quirks, or a resistance to make big changes when a new school was built.

It's actually possible that boundary changes will increase the number of walk zones for many kids, if MCPS has the guts to just bite the bullet and do it all at once.

Also, just because you live in walking distance of a school (1.0 miles for ES, 1.5 miles for MS, 2.0 miles for HS), that doesn't mean MCPS will consider you a walker. If there's an even slightly big road between you and the elementary school, MCPS will likely not consider you a walker, unless there's a crossing guard there. If there's a big road between you and the middle school or high school, MCPS might not consider you a walker, especially if you live in a wealthy area. For example, Newport Mill MS kids on the other side of Veirs Mill Road are walkers, and so are Eastern MS kids on the other side of University Boulevard, but Silver Creek MS kids on the other side of Connecticut Avenue get a school bus.

So if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're assigned to, but you get bus service, and you don't want to be reassigned to a different school, then you should start agitating for MCPS to remove the bus service and make you a walker instead.

Also, if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're not assigned to, and you want to be reassigned to it, then you should make sure there is a safe walking route to that school, and if there isn't, start agitating for one.

Wait, we can be reassigned?? I would LOVE for my kids to go to the other elementary school as we can WALK to it and it’s where 90% of our neighbors go. For some reason a very small pocket of houses in my neighborhood are assigned to our current, further away school (she’s bussed there). We watch kids walking to the other school as we wait for the bus. It makes no sense and we would love for our kids to be at the same school as our neighborhood kids.

You could be reassigned in the event that there's a boundary study started that includes elementary school boundaries. The recently proposed one includes high school and middle school boundaries only.

[Anonymous]

I don't expect the changes to be all that major. Just in cases now where the assignment is suspect i.e. the home is closer to another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, MCPS has said that they will try to preserve walk zones. So, if you live walking distance to a school, or would need to cross a significant barrier like a highway (particularly if the kids are younger), that should provide some consistency.

However, everyone needs to remember that the current boundaries were not handed down by G-d on the mountaintop. They are the result of specific geographic quirks, or a resistance to make big changes when a new school was built.

It's actually possible that boundary changes will increase the number of walk zones for many kids, if MCPS has the guts to just bite the bullet and do it all at once.

Also, just because you live in walking distance of a school (1.0 miles for ES, 1.5 miles for MS, 2.0 miles for HS), that doesn't mean MCPS will consider you a walker. If there's an even slightly big road between you and the elementary school, MCPS will likely not consider you a walker, unless there's a crossing guard there. If there's a big road between you and the middle school or high school, MCPS might not consider you a walker, especially if you live in a wealthy area. For example, Newport Mill MS kids on the other side of Veirs Mill Road are walkers, and so are Eastern MS kids on the other side of University Boulevard, but Silver Creek MS kids on the other side of Connecticut Avenue get a school bus.

So if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're assigned to, but you get bus service, and you don't want to be reassigned to a different school, then you should start agitating for MCPS to remove the bus service and make you a walker instead.

Also, if you currently live in walking distance of a school you're not assigned to, and you want to be reassigned to it, then you should make sure there is a safe walking route to that school, and if there isn't, start agitating for one.

Wait, we can be reassigned?? I would LOVE for my kids to go to the other elementary school as we can WALK to it and it’s where 90% of our neighbors go. For some reason a very small pocket of houses in my neighborhood are assigned to our current, further away school (she’s bussed there). We watch kids walking to the other school as we wait for the bus. It makes no sense and we would love for our kids to be at the same school as our neighborhood kids.

You could be reassigned in the event that there's a boundary study started that includes elementary school boundaries. The recently proposed one includes high school and middle school boundaries only.

You can ask for the boundary study to include elementary schools. That doesn't mean they'll do it, but if you think it's worth doing, then it's probably also worth you asking for it.

[Anonymous]

The boundary analysis that was done a few years ago took anyone within a school's walk zone off the table for reassignment. They explained the rational in their analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The boundary analysis that was done a few years ago took anyone within a school's walk zone off the table for reassignment. They explained the rational in their analysis.

No, it didn't, because it couldn't have. Here's what it did do: in their models about the effects of incremental boundary changes between neighboring, contiguous zones, they kept the areas that are walk zones assigned to their current schools.

"In our models, some areas are “frozen,” meaning they cannot be reassigned [BY THE MODEL] to a
different school attendance area. Frozen areas were selected manually. All areas
immediately surrounding a school location, and within the school’s walk zone, are
frozen. Frozen areas are different for each school level.

Freezing areas at the core of each school attendance area prevents the models from
exploring nonsensical possibilities, generally keeping the shapes of boundaries
similar to their current boundaries. This approach implicitly maximizes assigned
stability by design."

The Board of Education could decide to reassign an area in a walk zone to a different school. I wouldn't expect them to do so, in general, but they could do it. One obvious case would be where the same area would be in the walk zone for more than one school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The boundary analysis that was done a few years ago took anyone within a school's walk zone off the table for reassignment. They explained the rational in their analysis.

No, it didn't, because it couldn't have. Here's what it did do: in their models about the effects of incremental boundary changes between neighboring, contiguous zones, they kept the areas that are walk zones assigned to their current schools.

"In our models, some areas are “frozen,” meaning they cannot be reassigned [BY THE MODEL] to a
different school attendance area. Frozen areas were selected manually. All areas
immediately surrounding a school location, and within the school’s walk zone, are
frozen. Frozen areas are different for each school level.

Freezing areas at the core of each school attendance area prevents the models from
exploring nonsensical possibilities, generally keeping the shapes of boundaries
similar to their current boundaries. This approach implicitly maximizes assigned
stability by design."

The Board of Education could decide to reassign an area in a walk zone to a different school. I wouldn't expect them to do so, in general, but they could do it. One obvious case would be where the same area would be in the walk zone for more than one school.

Well on page 35 of the study under the heading "Frozen Areas" it states: "In our models, some areas are “frozen,” meaning they cannot be reassigned to a different school attendance area. Frozen areas were selected manually. All areas immediately surrounding a school location, and within the school’s walk zone, are frozen. Frozen areas are different for each school level.

Freezing areas at the core of each school attendance area prevents the models from exploring nonsensical possibilities, generally keeping the shapes of boundaries similar to their current boundaries. This approach implicitly maximizes assigned stability by design."

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/Boundary_Analysis/BoundaryAnalysis_Final%20Report.pdf

[Anonymous]

There but is no guarantee, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The boundary analysis that was done a few years ago took anyone within a school's walk zone off the table for reassignment. They explained the rational in their analysis.

No, it didn't, because it couldn't have. Here's what it did do: in their models about the effects of incremental boundary changes between neighboring, contiguous zones, they kept the areas that are walk zones assigned to their current schools.

"In our models, some areas are “frozen,” meaning they cannot be reassigned [BY THE MODEL] to a
different school attendance area. Frozen areas were selected manually. All areas
immediately surrounding a school location, and within the school’s walk zone, are
frozen. Frozen areas are different for each school level.

Freezing areas at the core of each school attendance area prevents the models from
exploring nonsensical possibilities, generally keeping the shapes of boundaries
similar to their current boundaries. This approach implicitly maximizes assigned
stability by design."

The Board of Education could decide to reassign an area in a walk zone to a different school. I wouldn't expect them to do so, in general, but they could do it. One obvious case would be where the same area would be in the walk zone for more than one school.

Well on page 35 of the study under the heading "Frozen Areas" it states: "In our models, some areas are “frozen,” meaning they cannot be reassigned to a different school attendance area. Frozen areas were selected manually. All areas immediately surrounding a school location, and within the school’s walk zone, are frozen. Frozen areas are different for each school level.

Freezing areas at the core of each school attendance area prevents the models from exploring nonsensical possibilities, generally keeping the shapes of boundaries similar to their current boundaries. This approach implicitly maximizes assigned stability by design."

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/Boundary_Analysis/BoundaryAnalysis_Final%20Report.pdf

Maybe you have a different takeaway here but to me this indicates that if you are in a school's current walk zone you would not be reassigned by their model. Sure I guess the school board could do anything. For example, they could institute random bussing but that seems unlikely.

[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?

Ask Horizon Hill neighborhood - who literally back up to Frost MS and Wootton HS and were re-zoned and bused to JW and RM 2-3 miles away.

It also lowered their home values by $50K at the time and about $100-$130K now.

That’s terrible and a huge concern for many. Not just moving out of a walkable neighborhood school, but losing a huge amount of equity on a house. That is a lot of money!

[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?

Ask Horizon Hill neighborhood - who literally back up to Frost MS and Wootton HS and were re-zoned and bused to JW and RM 2-3 miles away.

It also lowered their home values by $50K at the time and about $100-$130K now.

That’s terrible and a huge concern for many. Not just moving out of a walkable neighborhood school, but losing a huge amount of equity on a house. That is a lot of money!

Who can forget the Rezoning Of Horizon Hill in 1987? It's right up there with Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Bleeding Kansas, the Stamp Act...