Silver Spring International Middle School

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

There is a lot of uncertainty right now as to all of your questions. Regarding the magnet programs, nobody knows because they are likely to change all of that. Regarding which middle school your child might be assigned to, you could look at a previous boundary option that proposed closing SSIMS and see where they suggested reassigning the kids. I know Options E, F and G in the second round of boundary options did this. Here is the page with the different options: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/woodward-boundary-options/home

Here is the proposed middle school map for option E: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G8PulOAyiWy5FAvfgb7xSzDJhkrPMj1B/view
Check this out as well as the maps for options F and G in the first link above.

[Anonymous]

Caveat that these were just options and it's entirely possible the ultimate outcome will be totally different from all of them

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, the SSIMS closing decision was delayed by a year, but there is still a lot of uncertainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

No one can help you. Superintendent T. Taylor is all about chaos. He is all about making decisions without a public process. Get a dart board and play along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Thank you, that's helpful. And thanks to other posters for info on magnets and links. This is overwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Thank you, that's helpful. And thanks to other posters for info on magnets and links. This is overwhelming.

DP - my kid is in 1st grade and I am learning to roll with the punches regarding MCPS. You have to accept a level of instability, changes and decisions from school system leaders you may very reasonably believe to be highly unwise. They constantly ask for feedback but ultimately their decisions are going to be primarily driven by politics. Which is frustrating but that's democracy for you. The worst system except for all the other ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Thank you, that's helpful. And thanks to other posters for info on magnets and links. This is overwhelming.

DP - my kid is in 1st grade and I am learning to roll with the punches regarding MCPS. You have to accept a level of instability, changes and decisions from school system leaders you may very reasonably believe to be highly unwise. They constantly ask for feedback but ultimately their decisions are going to be primarily driven by politics. Which is frustrating but that's democracy for you. The worst system except for all the other ones.

Not politics. Power and greed. Democracy would be following the established public process. Taylor has skipped all those steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Thank you, that's helpful. And thanks to other posters for info on magnets and links. This is overwhelming.

DP - my kid is in 1st grade and I am learning to roll with the punches regarding MCPS. You have to accept a level of instability, changes and decisions from school system leaders you may very reasonably believe to be highly unwise. They constantly ask for feedback but ultimately their decisions are going to be primarily driven by politics. Which is frustrating but that's democracy for you. The worst system except for all the other ones.

Not politics. Power and greed. Democracy would be following the established public process. Taylor has skipped all those steps.

He hasn't skipped them but I agree he doesn't care about what the public thinks and his community engagement processes reflect his indifference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Thank you, that's helpful. And thanks to other posters for info on magnets and links. This is overwhelming.

DP - my kid is in 1st grade and I am learning to roll with the punches regarding MCPS. You have to accept a level of instability, changes and decisions from school system leaders you may very reasonably believe to be highly unwise. They constantly ask for feedback but ultimately their decisions are going to be primarily driven by politics. Which is frustrating but that's democracy for you. The worst system except for all the other ones.

Not politics. Power and greed. Democracy would be following the established public process. Taylor has skipped all those steps.

He hasn't skipped them but I agree he doesn't care about what the public thinks and his community engagement processes reflect his indifference.

Taylor has skipped the public process. Master Plans, Feasibility Plans, Site Selections, Budget details, the list goes on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has avoided answering questions about the future of immersion programs. At this point, they have not said they are changing, but I would expect when they review boundaries for elementary schools, they will be reviewing and likely changing immersion programs.

But to specifically answer your question, at this point, I would assume French immersion will be continuing at SCES and SSIMS.

Spanish immersion at SSIMS will likely end, as most of the students in that program came from Rolling Terrace Elementary and that school has been rezoned to Takoma Park MS.

So where will these Spanish immersion students go for MS now? Westland?

I'm not so sure about the future of middle school Spanish immersion for the dual immersion kids. Rolling Terrace is a neighborhood dual immersion program. I would think the only meaningful way to continue Spanish for them would be to offer it at TPMS, but I've not heard that mentioned.

Westland MS is in Region 1 and has Spanish immersion. Alternatively students could articulate to White Oak MS but that’s now outside the region.

Newport Mill MS is also in Region 1 and has Spanish immersion

Does Newport Mill actually have Spanish immersion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Thank you, that's helpful. And thanks to other posters for info on magnets and links. This is overwhelming.

DP - my kid is in 1st grade and I am learning to roll with the punches regarding MCPS. You have to accept a level of instability, changes and decisions from school system leaders you may very reasonably believe to be highly unwise. They constantly ask for feedback but ultimately their decisions are going to be primarily driven by politics. Which is frustrating but that's democracy for you. The worst system except for all the other ones.

To be honest, look into this is making me rethink our plan to relocate to MCPS this summer. We are in DCPS now. A major impetus for moving out of the city is wanting to simplify the school situation. We live on Capitol Hill, our kids are happy at their elementary, but so many people leave before middle school, there's this big exodus at 4th for charters, no one likes the IB high school, the lottery is exhausting -- I am looking for stability and consistency and maybe MCPS is not it. I do like this house, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Correct me if I'm am wrong -- it's so hard to keep up with Taylor and reactions to Taylor -- but Eastern MS, which Taylor initially blew up to 1500 student capacity from the proposed 1200 student capacity, is likely to return to the 1200 student capacity (per county exec's budget reduction), after all the voting by the county council, on budget, and the BOE on the final specifics inside the budget they are handed by the county council.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to ask a question:

We are currently looking at a house zoned for SSIMS and Northwood (zoned for Forrest Knolls elementary). I have literally just learned about the proposed closure of SSIMS while looking into the schools associated with this house.

If we have a kid entering middle school in 2029, is there any way to figure out now what middle school they would end up attending, given SSIMS is likely to close before the 2029-2030 school year? I can't make heads or tails of what I'm reading online and have no prior experience with MCPS so I need some handholding. I also see there is a magnet middle school program but I have no idea how that works or how easy it is to get a match there or what the magnet programs even are.

TIA to anyone willing to explain this to me!

Forest Knolls is re-assigned to Sligo MS starting in 2027, not SSIMS anymore. You can see the final map here: https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=dbc077a0c6fe4b83bfc6593589a77c41

There's still a chance that if they close SSIMS in 2029 (the earliest the school would close, although the announcement of ES and MS closures will come in spring 2027), they would rework middle school boundaries for the other middle schools, so your child could still be indirectly affected. But I expect Forest Knolls would most likely stay at Sligo even if/when SSIMS closes.

Correct me if I'm am wrong -- it's so hard to keep up with Taylor and reactions to Taylor -- but Eastern MS, which Taylor initially blew up to 1500 student capacity from the proposed 1200 student capacity, is likely to return to the 1200 student capacity (per county exec's budget reduction), after all the voting by the county council, on budget, and the BOE on the final specifics inside the budget they are handed by the county council.

Correct. Eastern is still slated to get a new building, but normal sized, not super sized.