Most recent info on Walter Johnson/Woodward HS...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The latest info is that Woodward will be opening in August 2027, after Northwood uses the site as a holding school for 3 years.

This is the site for the Woodward project:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/woodwardhs

I'm not sure if I'm the only WJ parent that is super irritated by this. WJ is (I think) the most over-capacity school in the County. It is the 6th largest HS in the state and has the highest student to teacher ratio in the county. It's been a problem for over a decade and keeps getting worse, and to tell parents that it will be another three years in which the population continues to grow is totally unacceptable. In the past two years, they've pushed back the opening two years, so at this rate it will literally never open. I don't see why they can't find another spot for the Northwood kids--it was all really lousy planning on MCPS's part.

The decision to use Woodward as a holding school for Northwood was made back in 2019. They looked at several other options at the time but this was determined to be the most feasible. No one was or is thrilled about it, but at this point it is too late to do anything different. Northwood is packing up and moving in 4 months.

They should really do that for wootton as well. Crown can be a perfect holding school for Wootton renovation.

When was the last capital project at Wootton?

There's a meeting next week about ADA site improvements at Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The latest info is that Woodward will be opening in August 2027, after Northwood uses the site as a holding school for 3 years.

This is the site for the Woodward project:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/woodwardhs

I'm not sure if I'm the only WJ parent that is super irritated by this. WJ is (I think) the most over-capacity school in the County. It is the 6th largest HS in the state and has the highest student to teacher ratio in the county. It's been a problem for over a decade and keeps getting worse, and to tell parents that it will be another three years in which the population continues to grow is totally unacceptable. In the past two years, they've pushed back the opening two years, so at this rate it will literally never open. I don't see why they can't find another spot for the Northwood kids--it was all really lousy planning on MCPS's part.

Now imagine being an Ashburton ES parent. A crazy overcrowded elementary school, brief respit in middle school, and obscenely overcrowded high school. Thousands of kids have done it already and will continue to do so. Bruce Crispell, long retired, even saw this coming, and what exactly was done Adrienne Karamihas? Thanks for nothing MCPS

MCPS made a decision a long time ago that Ashburton would not get population relief. Nevertheless the enrollment has naturally gone down about 100 students. The real stories in the WJ cluster are places like Luxmanor, which 10 years ago was a small school, and is now over 700 students due to new development.

I don't know why they haven't rezoned within the cluster. Kensington Parkwood and Wyngate have space available that could be used instead of portables.

Sort of. WYngate gave up half its playground space to get the extra classrooms built and didn’t get any extra gym or cafeteria space. I think they are at capacity even so but the kids are packed in like sardines at lunch and recess so I’m not sure how they would add extra bodies unless they start lunch at 9 am (I think they already start a little after 10 or something ridiculous like that).

I personally hate all these expansions. They just need more schools rather than massive schools.

That requires land. And the County hasn't kept the school-compatible land it had (e.g., sweetheart decades-long tenancy deals to private schools taking over facilities that MCPS abandoned, rather than rehabilitate/preserve, in the 90s when enrollment temporarily declined). That matters where most of the school capacity is needed -- close-in, older developed areas, because there isn't much in the way of alternative spaces without taking scarce parkland. I hope they are making sure that there are ample reserves of land for public use, whether schools, parks or otherwise, with newer upcounty development, but I think with all the love the County Council shows developers that this hope likely is slim.

[Anonymous]

There's plenty of land that they own - it's the expense of the people: principals, teachers, building services, food services, all that have to be paid year after year after year. And, they think they can get away with bigger and bigger schools, and it won't matter. ESs used to be 350-450, now they are built to 700-800. MSs used to be built to 900, now its 1200. HSs used to be built to 2000, now Blair and WJ are over 3000 and almost 3000.

However, bigger is not always better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a board work session on Tuesday with "Overview of Boundary Studies (revised/new)" on the agenda, so we may get a sense of their latest timeline then.

At the work session this morning, staff recommended a revised timeline for the Woodward boundary study. The board's vote to finalize the new boundaries would happen in March 2026, and the school would still open in August 2027. Middle and high school boundaries could potentially change, but elementary boundaries would stay as is.

Detailed timeline:

Spring 2024--Request for Proposal released
Summer 2024--Board approves consultant
Fall 2024--Prepare for community engagement
Early 2025-Fall/Winter 2025--Boundary study process
January 2026--Boundary Study Report released
Early February 2026--Recommendation released
Late February-March 2026--Board work sessions, public hearings and action

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest on Crown? I thought it was to open Fall 2026 but didn't it get pushed back to Fall 2027? If it is Fall 2027, I thought they would start working on it around now? Seems like they've been working on Woodward for quite some time before it opens so Northwood can use it?

Yes, Crown is also currently scheduled to open August 2027.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/crownhs/

Woodward's phase I construction had to be complete by this year so Northwood could move in over the summer.

This morning, staff proposed combining the boundary studies for Crown and Damascus high schools into one large study with the following high schools and their feeder middle schools in scope: Churchill, Clarksburg, Damascus, Gaithersburg, Richard Montgomery, Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Watkins Mill, and Wootton.

The boundary study timeline would be the same as the one proposed for Woodward. Boundary study process during 2025, and final boundary vote to happen in March 2026.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a board work session on Tuesday with "Overview of Boundary Studies (revised/new)" on the agenda, so we may get a sense of their latest timeline then.

At the work session this morning, staff recommended a revised timeline for the Woodward boundary study. The board's vote to finalize the new boundaries would happen in March 2026, and the school would still open in August 2027. Middle and high school boundaries could potentially change, but elementary boundaries would stay as is.

Detailed timeline:

Spring 2024--Request for Proposal released
Summer 2024--Board approves consultant
Fall 2024--Prepare for community engagement
Early 2025-Fall/Winter 2025--Boundary study process
January 2026--Boundary Study Report released
Early February 2026--Recommendation released
Late February-March 2026--Board work sessions, public hearings and action

The other Woodward-related update from today was that when Woodward does reopen in fall 2027, the auditorium may not be built yet. It is still on the plans to be built, but it is now in a new Phase III of construction, due to funding challenges in light of the county executive/council's reductions in the CIP budget. This option was favored rather than another delay to the opening date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's plenty of land that they own - it's the expense of the people: principals, teachers, building services, food services, all that have to be paid year after year after year. And, they think they can get away with bigger and bigger schools, and it won't matter. ESs used to be 350-450, now they are built to 700-800. MSs used to be built to 900, now its 1200. HSs used to be built to 2000, now Blair and WJ are over 3000 and almost 3000.

However, bigger is not always better

I don't think that applies inside the Beltway or close to it east of the MARC tracks, other than taking scarce parkland or displacing one of those private schools who pay a song in rent for the spaces MCPS once abandoned. Do you know of other candidate sites?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the latest on Crown? I thought it was to open Fall 2026 but didn't it get pushed back to Fall 2027? If it is Fall 2027, I thought they would start working on it around now? Seems like they've been working on Woodward for quite some time before it opens so Northwood can use it?

Yes, Crown is also currently scheduled to open August 2027.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/crownhs/

Woodward's phase I construction had to be complete by this year so Northwood could move in over the summer.

This morning, staff proposed combining the boundary studies for Crown and Damascus high schools into one large study with the following high schools and their feeder middle schools in scope: Churchill, Clarksburg, Damascus, Gaithersburg, Richard Montgomery, Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Watkins Mill, and Wootton.

The boundary study timeline would be the same as the one proposed for Woodward. Boundary study process during 2025, and final boundary vote to happen in March 2026.

I think this is a good idea, rather than doing boundary studies in piecemeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where can I find the most recent information on this development? We have a 6th grader at the moment and was under the impression that the "split" would take place when this DC started 9th grade. But I recently heard someone saying that it's been delayed by an extra year? Would appreciate any info on this. Thanks!

To return to the OP's question, if you have a rising 6th grader currently zoned for Walter Johnson, is that where they will attend high school? Will the rezoning affect kids already in a school such as 10th graders at the time that Woodward opens?

I have a sixth grader too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where can I find the most recent information on this development? We have a 6th grader at the moment and was under the impression that the "split" would take place when this DC started 9th grade. But I recently heard someone saying that it's been delayed by an extra year? Would appreciate any info on this. Thanks!

To return to the OP's question, if you have a rising 6th grader currently zoned for Walter Johnson, is that where they will attend high school? Will the rezoning affect kids already in a school such as 10th graders at the time that Woodward opens?

I have a sixth grader too

To answer that question, we will have to wait for the boundary study to conclude. Rising 6th graders (i.e. current 5th graders) will be in 9th grade for the 27-28 school year when Woodward is set to open, so some of them will be rezoned to Woodward. Some may also be rezoned to other adjacent schools, and some may not be rezoned at all.

For kids already in a school, in the most recent HS boundary study, they had rising juniors and seniors stay at their prior schools, but rising sophomores were rezoned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a board work session on Tuesday with "Overview of Boundary Studies (revised/new)" on the agenda, so we may get a sense of their latest timeline then.

At the work session this morning, staff recommended a revised timeline for the Woodward boundary study. The board's vote to finalize the new boundaries would happen in March 2026, and the school would still open in August 2027. Middle and high school boundaries could potentially change, but elementary boundaries would stay as is.

Detailed timeline:

Spring 2024--Request for Proposal released
Summer 2024--Board approves consultant
Fall 2024--Prepare for community engagement
Early 2025-Fall/Winter 2025--Boundary study process
January 2026--Boundary Study Report released
Early February 2026--Recommendation released
Late February-March 2026--Board work sessions, public hearings and action

What happened?! That's way too sensible for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a board work session on Tuesday with "Overview of Boundary Studies (revised/new)" on the agenda, so we may get a sense of their latest timeline then.

At the work session this morning, staff recommended a revised timeline for the Woodward boundary study. The board's vote to finalize the new boundaries would happen in March 2026, and the school would still open in August 2027. Middle and high school boundaries could potentially change, but elementary boundaries would stay as is.

Detailed timeline:

Spring 2024--Request for Proposal released
Summer 2024--Board approves consultant
Fall 2024--Prepare for community engagement
Early 2025-Fall/Winter 2025--Boundary study process
January 2026--Boundary Study Report released
Early February 2026--Recommendation released
Late February-March 2026--Board work sessions, public hearings and action

The other Woodward-related update from today was that when Woodward does reopen in fall 2027, the auditorium may not be built yet. It is still on the plans to be built, but it is now in a new Phase III of construction, due to funding challenges in light of the county executive/council's reductions in the CIP budget. This option was favored rather than another delay to the opening date.

What about crown? Any update if it will open on time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a board work session on Tuesday with "Overview of Boundary Studies (revised/new)" on the agenda, so we may get a sense of their latest timeline then.

At the work session this morning, staff recommended a revised timeline for the Woodward boundary study. The board's vote to finalize the new boundaries would happen in March 2026, and the school would still open in August 2027. Middle and high school boundaries could potentially change, but elementary boundaries would stay as is.

Detailed timeline:

Spring 2024--Request for Proposal released
Summer 2024--Board approves consultant
Fall 2024--Prepare for community engagement
Early 2025-Fall/Winter 2025--Boundary study process
January 2026--Boundary Study Report released
Early February 2026--Recommendation released
Late February-March 2026--Board work sessions, public hearings and action

The other Woodward-related update from today was that when Woodward does reopen in fall 2027, the auditorium may not be built yet. It is still on the plans to be built, but it is now in a new Phase III of construction, due to funding challenges in light of the county executive/council's reductions in the CIP budget. This option was favored rather than another delay to the opening date.

What about crown? Any update if it will open on time?

It's still scheduled for August 2027, though also without an auditorium at first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where can I find the most recent information on this development? We have a 6th grader at the moment and was under the impression that the "split" would take place when this DC started 9th grade. But I recently heard someone saying that it's been delayed by an extra year? Would appreciate any info on this. Thanks!

To return to the OP's question, if you have a rising 6th grader currently zoned for Walter Johnson, is that where they will attend high school? Will the rezoning affect kids already in a school such as 10th graders at the time that Woodward opens?

I have a sixth grader too

To answer that question, we will have to wait for the boundary study to conclude. Rising 6th graders (i.e. current 5th graders) will be in 9th grade for the 27-28 school year when Woodward is set to open, so some of them will be rezoned to Woodward. Some may also be rezoned to other adjacent schools, and some may not be rezoned at all.

For kids already in a school, in the most recent HS boundary study, they had rising juniors and seniors stay at their prior schools, but rising sophomores were rezoned.

This revised timeline has the boundaries being finalized in March 2026, so that's nearly a year and a half before Woodward actually opens. That means the first 9th graders to attend Woodward are the students currently in 5th grade, who will be in 7th grade at the time the new boundaries are announced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where can I find the most recent information on this development? We have a 6th grader at the moment and was under the impression that the "split" would take place when this DC started 9th grade. But I recently heard someone saying that it's been delayed by an extra year? Would appreciate any info on this. Thanks!

To return to the OP's question, if you have a rising 6th grader currently zoned for Walter Johnson, is that where they will attend high school? Will the rezoning affect kids already in a school such as 10th graders at the time that Woodward opens?

I have a sixth grader too

To answer that question, we will have to wait for the boundary study to conclude. Rising 6th graders (i.e. current 5th graders) will be in 9th grade for the 27-28 school year when Woodward is set to open, so some of them will be rezoned to Woodward. Some may also be rezoned to other adjacent schools, and some may not be rezoned at all.

For kids already in a school, in the most recent HS boundary study, they had rising juniors and seniors stay at their prior schools, but rising sophomores were rezoned.

This revised timeline has the boundaries being finalized in March 2026, so that's nearly a year and a half before Woodward actually opens. That means the first 9th graders to attend Woodward are the students currently in 5th grade, who will be in 7th grade at the time the new boundaries are announced.

The first class would be the current 6 graders which are impacted the most.