Crown boundary study Option H

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

It makes sense to close unsafe Wootton and also make sense to shift some areas to QO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes zero sense to build a new HS and fix up a crumbling one when enrollment is decreasing, budgets are being cut, and tax revenue is down.

The kids will be fine taking a bus instead of walking. Thousands of kids do it in MCPS. They will be fine.

More like 50% of the kids who can walk to Wootton will be forced to take a bus. That means their parents will have to drive to pick up for after school activities, further clogging the roads around Crown.

Wootton can be repaired in the interim, and renovated in the long term. It's just that MCPS doesn't want to do that.

They will survive. Gosh, how do the rest of us schlubs manage put our kids on the bus and drive to pick them up after school for activities.

Moco tax revenues are down. Enrollment is declining. Makes zero sense to rebuild Wootton for a few neighborhoods to have to take a bus.

I don't work for MCPS, and I think it's a stupid idea to fix Wootton AND open Crown.

It’s stupid idea to build crown. MCPS’s mismanagement is undeniable. They poured resources into opening an unnecessary school while neglecting Wootton’s needs, now forcing Wootton to become the victim of their poor planning and lose its current building where they belong for 50+ years. It’s no different from Silver Spring international middle school which is forced to close.

Sure, MCPS sucks, but when they started to build Crown, all of the surrounding HS were projected to be over capacity, and they didn't have this regional model concept.

Now, they are projecting enrollment declines, and we have a huge budget issue.

Yes, they should've fixed Wootton a while ago, but there were a lot of schools that needed to be fixed in the CIP.

So, here we are, declining enrollments, budget issues, a brand new HS, and another HS next to that new build that is falling apart.

Common sense is to move the Wootton kids to Crown.

This. Move Wootton to Crown, move many feeders to QO and Crown and improve QO and Crown. Wootton will not suffer much because of this (other than the parents crying about mixing with the brown and black people).

Wootton is not that special that they get to segregate all the Asians there. Spread them around to improve the other schools. Tiger parents will make the other schools also better.

They may help make the test scores and ratings better but it won't help the struggling students.

Here are the total enrollment numbers, enrollments for Blacks/African American and Hispanic/Latinos and their 2025 MCAP proficiency rates for the Wootton feeder schools:

------------------------------
MCPS
Total enrollment: 159181
Overall FARMS Rate 42.9
Total Black/African American count: 34293
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 56716

MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 57
FARMS 35
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 34.3
Black/African American 48.3


Math All 35.7
FARMS 15.4
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 15.7
Black/African American 22.9


Looking at the feeder elementary schools for Wootton:


Cold Spring
Total enrollment: 362
Overall FARMS Rate 8.2
Total Black/African American count: 25
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 31

MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 84.2
FARMS 83.3
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 75
Black/African American 75


Math All 85.5
FARMS 79.2
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 90
Black/African American 47.1

Dufief
Total enrollment: 276
Overall FARMS Rate 19.1
Total Black/African American count: 46
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 40


MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 57.8
FARMS 8.7
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 21.4
Black/African American 41.7


Math All 58.8
FARMS 5
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 26.7
Black/African American 33.3



Fallsmead
Total enrollment: 512
Overall FARMS Rate 21.2
Total Black/African American count: 55
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 76


MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 73.9
FARMS 56.4
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 63.9
Black/African American 52.6


Math All 72.2
FARMS 53.4
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 50
Black/African American 57.9




Lakewood
Total enrollment: 406
Overall FARMS Rate 21.9
Total Black/African American count: 70
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 48


MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 73.6
FARMS 42.1
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 62.5
Black/African American 50


Math All 68
FARMS 32.5
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 47.1
Black/African American 33.3




Stone Mill
Total enrollment: 516
Overall FARMS Rate 15.5
Total Black/African American count: 55
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 65


MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 73.6
FARMS 58.3
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 60
Black/African American 57.1


Math All 74.1
FARMS 44.4
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 50
Black/African American 54.3



Travilah
Total enrollment: 372
Overall FARMS Rate 15.5
Total Black/African American count: 35
Total Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity count: 55

MCAP Proficiency rates:
ELA All 82.2
FARMS 62.5
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 73.3
Black/African American 69.6


Math All 74.7
FARMS 60.6
Hispanic/Latino of any ethnicity 68.8
Black/African American 41.7


---------------------------------

It's good that almost all of the groups at the schools are above the county averages. But look at Dufief. Dufief is middle of the pack when it comes to the FARMS rate out of those schools but barely above the county average for the ELA proficiency rates for all students. Then the FARMS, Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American subgroups have proficiency averages below the county average for the ELA test. Their FARMS student has a proficiency percentage of 5 percent compared to the county average of 15.4 percent.

Same thing with Stone Mill. Stone Mill is tied for the second lowest FARMS rate in the cluster with Travilah. However for overall ELA proficiency they're tied with Lakewood (which has a higher FARMS rate at 21.9 percent and highest in the cluster), only beating out Dufief. Their subgroups for ELA isn't bad. And their math numbers aren't bad, other then their FARMS Math proficiency rates are at the bottom three.

Cold Spring has great numbers but their populate of the FARMS, Hispanic/Latino Black/African American are small. So just one or two students can change the percentages a lot. And they also have the gifted program and more high performing students there.

This is just to point out, that even if demographics are spread out and evenly distributed, it doesn't necessarily help struggling students. To truly help struggling students would require a more quality of education and more resources need to be devoted to make sure they are truly understanding the material. Mixing up the demographics just kind of hides them.

It's not just Dufief. If you look at Lakewood's numbers by grade level, for whatever reason their Black/African American Grade 5 Math proficiency levels are way below county and state average:
State: 16.6
County: 30.4
Lakewood: 5.6

Same thing with their Grade 5 ELA proficiency rates for Black/African Americans:

State: 33.2
County: 43.1
Lakewood: 27.8

The numbers were below the county average for 2023-2024

Grade 5 Math Black/African American
State: 14.2
County: 26.5
Lakewood: 20


Grade 5 ELA Black/African American
State: 33.2
County: 43.1
Lakewood: 27.8

Lakewood got a new principal in the last couple of years and there was a lot of turnover during the transition. The fifth grade math teacher was one of those positions. Sounds like the person she initially hired in the position left and they have another person in the position now. But hopefully they'll have some stability the position now and will lead to better test scores.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1137808.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What no one has mentioned so far is logistics. Specifically transport.

If option H were to be the only change, I would be less concerned about bussing, but as it is, MCPS doesn't have enough buses/drivers for today's needs. So if option H becomes the way forward, then coupled with the proposed changes - namely grandfathered magnet students (so keeping current bussing levels) while implementing the new boundaries/regional programs which will overall increase demand for busses/drivers, how does MCPS then think they will also have enough to then bus all the Wootton students to Crown, many of whom are in the walk zone today?

We already know that Taylor's plan in his former school district caused bussing problems, making headline news - forcing students to opt-in to riding the school bus because there weren't enough seats. And that was for a much smaller school district. I see this being the likely scenario again - with or without Option H - but Option H will exacerbate this situation even more. Then I imagine that's even more clogged local roads as a result for all the students who can't get a bus even if they want one.

The folks who are highly in favor of Option H don't care about this. They also don't care about the increased amount of traffic because half of Wootton's students can't walk to Crown anymore.

Instead, they're convinced that the only reasons Wootton parents oppose Option H is because of racism and/or classism. When these are always what you're looking for, they're the only things you'll find (and you'll ignore pesky little facts that are inconsistent with your worldview).

Wootton parent here - so the Crown kids will walk now instead of the Wootton kids. Either way. At the end of the day there is no demand for both schools and one needs to close for the time being.

Let's be real if walkability were a priority, you would have bought in a city where they built sidewalks. You know why they don't build sidewalks in Potomac? Because they are trying to keep out the "pedestrians".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What no one has mentioned so far is logistics. Specifically transport.

If option H were to be the only change, I would be less concerned about bussing, but as it is, MCPS doesn't have enough buses/drivers for today's needs. So if option H becomes the way forward, then coupled with the proposed changes - namely grandfathered magnet students (so keeping current bussing levels) while implementing the new boundaries/regional programs which will overall increase demand for busses/drivers, how does MCPS then think they will also have enough to then bus all the Wootton students to Crown, many of whom are in the walk zone today?

We already know that Taylor's plan in his former school district caused bussing problems, making headline news - forcing students to opt-in to riding the school bus because there weren't enough seats. And that was for a much smaller school district. I see this being the likely scenario again - with or without Option H - but Option H will exacerbate this situation even more. Then I imagine that's even more clogged local roads as a result for all the students who can't get a bus even if they want one.

The folks who are highly in favor of Option H don't care about this. They also don't care about the increased amount of traffic because half of Wootton's students can't walk to Crown anymore.

Instead, they're convinced that the only reasons Wootton parents oppose Option H is because of racism and/or classism. When these are always what you're looking for, they're the only things you'll find (and you'll ignore pesky little facts that are inconsistent with your worldview).

Wootton parent here - so the Crown kids will walk now instead of the Wootton kids. Either way. At the end of the day there is no demand for both schools and one needs to close for the time being.

Let's be real if walkability were a priority, you would have bought in a city where they built sidewalks. You know why they don't build sidewalks in Potomac? Because they are trying to keep out the "pedestrians".

Just saying, I know the book, "Where the sidewalk ends", and it happens to end right at the border between RM and Wooton school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What no one has mentioned so far is logistics. Specifically transport.

If option H were to be the only change, I would be less concerned about bussing, but as it is, MCPS doesn't have enough buses/drivers for today's needs. So if option H becomes the way forward, then coupled with the proposed changes - namely grandfathered magnet students (so keeping current bussing levels) while implementing the new boundaries/regional programs which will overall increase demand for busses/drivers, how does MCPS then think they will also have enough to then bus all the Wootton students to Crown, many of whom are in the walk zone today?

We already know that Taylor's plan in his former school district caused bussing problems, making headline news - forcing students to opt-in to riding the school bus because there weren't enough seats. And that was for a much smaller school district. I see this being the likely scenario again - with or without Option H - but Option H will exacerbate this situation even more. Then I imagine that's even more clogged local roads as a result for all the students who can't get a bus even if they want one.

The folks who are highly in favor of Option H don't care about this. They also don't care about the increased amount of traffic because half of Wootton's students can't walk to Crown anymore.

Instead, they're convinced that the only reasons Wootton parents oppose Option H is because of racism and/or classism. When these are always what you're looking for, they're the only things you'll find (and you'll ignore pesky little facts that are inconsistent with your worldview).

Wootton parent here - so the Crown kids will walk now instead of the Wootton kids. Either way. At the end of the day there is no demand for both schools and one needs to close for the time being.

Let's be real if walkability were a priority, you would have bought in a city where they built sidewalks. You know why they don't build sidewalks in Potomac? Because they are trying to keep out the "pedestrians".

And this is also why Maryland does not allow a train station in Potomac to connect to Virginia on the other side of Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

It’s wishful thinking that they remain with Wootton if option H is adopted. Are they not paying attention that fields road votes for option H only if option H includes them? That means Wootton would be 110+% overcapacity so Dufief would be moved to QO to make room for fields road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

It’s wishful thinking that they remain with Wootton if option H is adopted. Are they not paying attention that fields road votes for option H only if option H includes them? That means Wootton would be 110+% overcapacity so Dufief would be moved to QO to make room for fields road.

That's quite an assumption. Why would you assume it's Dufief and not one of the feeders much further from Crown like Cold Spring or Fallsmead? A-D have Dufief going to Lakelands and then Crown. QO is not currently on the table at all. It also is no longer a clean move of Wootton as a whole to Crown if you kick out a feeder school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

It’s wishful thinking that they remain with Wootton if option H is adopted. Are they not paying attention that fields road votes for option H only if option H includes them? That means Wootton would be 110+% overcapacity so Dufief would be moved to QO to make room for fields road.

That's quite an assumption. Why would you assume it's Dufief and not one of the feeders much further from Crown like Cold Spring or Fallsmead? A-D have Dufief going to Lakelands and then Crown. QO is not currently on the table at all. It also is no longer a clean move of Wootton as a whole to Crown if you kick out a feeder school.

Also, this isn't a vote. The survey is feedback, but the board is going to do what it wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

It makes sense to close unsafe Wootton and also make sense to shift some areas to QO.

+1

The entitlement of some of these Wootton parents is astonishing.

If you look at this map, you can see how some of these Wootton feeders should have been zoned for QO but they go all the way to Wootton. MCPS should move Dufief and part of Travilah schools to QO and move entire Fields Road ES to Crown - not just the wealthy parts.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps.html

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/WoottonHS.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/QuinceOrchardHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/NorthwestHS.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/GaithersburgHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/RichardMontgomeryHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/DuFiefES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/TravilahES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/StoneMillES.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/FieldsRoadES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/RosemontES.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

Are you obtuse? What I am saying is they should not remain in Wootton. Wootton cluster needs an overhaul. Move Wootton to Crown AND move Dufief/Travilah to QO. MCPS should not care what Dufief wants or Wootton wants - they should do what is right factoring in proximity to schools. No more different rules for the rich and poor.

And the overcrowding in QO is not a factor, if Fields Rd, which rightfully should be in Crown, goes to Crown. Dufief and part of Travilah should go to QO, and Fields Rd to Crown. So your point about QO being overcrowded is moot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

It makes sense to close unsafe Wootton and also make sense to shift some areas to QO.

+1

The entitlement of some of these Wootton parents is astonishing.

If you look at this map, you can see how some of these Wootton feeders should have been zoned for QO but they go all the way to Wootton. MCPS should move Dufief and part of Travilah schools to QO and move entire Fields Road ES to Crown - not just the wealthy parts.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps.html

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/WoottonHS.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/QuinceOrchardHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/NorthwestHS.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/GaithersburgHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/RichardMontgomeryHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/DuFiefES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/TravilahES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/StoneMillES.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/FieldsRoadES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/RosemontES.pdf

One of the reasons for the new school at Crown was to alleviate the overcrowding of schools in Gaithersburg. When this whole process started, Quince Orchard was stated to be at 124% capacity. This is compared to Churchill's 115% capacity which people are saying why more areas can't be added to Churchill.

Quince Orchard already had two of it's high FARMS areas removed from their school zone. With Brown Station and Fields Road ES currently proposed to go to Gaithersburg HS.

So it wouldn't really make sense to have QO, a school that had over capacity issues, shed off it's high FARMS areas, just to pick up some low FARMS areas. In the initial round of proposals, some of the proposals had QO's farm rate going from 36 percent down to about 14 percent. In this most recent round, just reassigning Brown Station and Fields Road has their FARMS rate go down to about 25 percent. I didn't look at this round of proposals as closely and am not sure of any other changes proposed for the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

It makes sense to close unsafe Wootton and also make sense to shift some areas to QO.

+1

The entitlement of some of these Wootton parents is astonishing.

If you look at this map, you can see how some of these Wootton feeders should have been zoned for QO but they go all the way to Wootton. MCPS should move Dufief and part of Travilah schools to QO and move entire Fields Road ES to Crown - not just the wealthy parts.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps.html

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/WoottonHS.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/QuinceOrchardHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/NorthwestHS.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/GaithersburgHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/RichardMontgomeryHS.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/DuFiefES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/TravilahES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/StoneMillES.pdf

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/FieldsRoadES.pdf
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/RosemontES.pdf

And now we have officially come full circle. Back to the summer options 1-4 where they just did a massive rezone for everyone, before they released A-D and said it had to be tied to the new regional model. It didn't work and they switched to A-D and only moved schools that would go to Crown. Then they got new numbers and that no longer worked, they still couldn't fill Crown enough and they started exploring the holding school/hybrid options. They threw in Option H too and here we all. Everyone fighting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

It’s wishful thinking that they remain with Wootton if option H is adopted. Are they not paying attention that fields road votes for option H only if option H includes them? That means Wootton would be 110+% overcapacity so Dufief would be moved to QO to make room for fields road.

And this is how it should be. Imagine living near a brand new high school and you are forced to take the bus to an old high school further away so some rich kids can come and occupy it. Dufief is not all that special. They need to go to QO, and Fields Road needs to go to Crown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way to petition to the Maryland regulatory bodies to force MCPS to do a full redraw of the boundaries?

What would be the basis or reasoning to ask them to intervene?

The only way an outside party MIGHT be able to force MCPS to do anything is if the boundaries are in anyway illegal or discriminatory.

Which while there may be people unhappy with the proposals, I don't think any of the proposed boundaries are either.

Like how far could they force a whole school district to be bussed?

I mean the obviously left out certain school districts as "protected" from being redrawn.

I'm not sure if you're aware of current bussing distances. Where some students are on the bus for 40 minutes.

It definitely looks like there are some areas that help grease the wheels. And even though we originally weren't interested in living there, will have to put it into consideration once everything is finalized and we know what everything looks like.

I'm not against you. And I think the fact that Wootton kept getting pushed off is bs and there was some discrimination in it. But you'd need valid reasons and proof if you plan or hope to bring outside parties in to intervene.

I get 45-minute bus rides. I grew up in a rural county where the entire county went to one school K-12.

What is the reason for Wooton being required to bus three miles in urban/suburban setting? If it's oops bad planning. Isn't that evidence enough. MCPS has a problem bigger than they can handle.

This is not bad planning. For once I think MCPS is doing the right thing - they are giving Gaithersburg residents what they need to prevent overcrowding and giving Wootton a new school 3 miles away so the kids are not in a school that is unsafe (at least that is what all these next door petitions were saying)

MCPS: We have addressed your petitions and will be moving you to Crown permanently along with some feeders from Gaithersburg

Wootton parents shocked that it will be a new Wootton with more URM: Bussing 3 miles is a problem

MCPS: We have addressed your concerns by moving some of the feeders to QO which is closer so you will not have a long commute

I sincerely hope Dufief and Travilah (all or part of it - the new homes on QO Rd) which are 2 miles from QO get zoned to QO, and Fields Road fully goes to Crown/Wootton.

Dufief and Travilah are the ones who care the least about this move since they are on a bus regardless. Those I have talked to actually like this option and welcome adding other schools to the wootton community. Also, there isn’t room at QO. Remember- this whole thing was to alleviate overcrowding at Crown and Gaithersburg? But that’s an inconvenient point when you just want to “punish” wootton kids.

And is that why I see all these signs on Dufief Drive asking to save Dufief? It sooo horrible that Dufief may end up going to QO that we need signs asking to save the school.

Dufief wants to remain with the Wootton cluster. They are the only cluster being removed from Wootton in options A-D. They do not mind as much about option H as some of the schools geographically closer to Wootton mind because they are on a bus regardless. They remain with Woottton even though Wootton moves physically. It's not hard to understand the difference unless you are just being deliberately obtuse.

Are you obtuse? What I am saying is they should not remain in Wootton. Wootton cluster needs an overhaul. Move Wootton to Crown AND move Dufief/Travilah to QO. MCPS should not care what Dufief wants or Wootton wants - they should do what is right factoring in proximity to schools. No more different rules for the rich and poor.

And the overcrowding in QO is not a factor, if Fields Rd, which rightfully should be in Crown, goes to Crown. Dufief and part of Travilah should go to QO, and Fields Rd to Crown. So your point about QO being overcrowded is moot.

Then what you are saying is you want to go back to the summer options with this type of desired outcome and methodology behind it, 1-4. Which the county has said is pretty much off the table.