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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Current 6th graders (2023-24) would be 10th graders when Woodward opens for 2027-28.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the 6th graders probably impacted the most as their incoming freshman class will likely then be split and they may be separated from MS friends or 9th grade friends.

I’ve got a 7th grader and the impact is different — they probably won’t get any relief from the overcrowding so their classes will always be overwhelmed at WJ.

For those bummed about the split, one upside is that it will double the chances your kid can make a HS sports team. Right now it’s incredibly difficult because so many kids competing for slots of just one JV and one varsity team. And maybe they’ll all be able to find an open bathroom stall!

[Anonymous]

If we're playing "who is it worst for," may I nominate the 2027-28 7th graders who, after getting through the tough transition to middle school, then get sent to a brand new school in 7th grade and split up from many of their friends? As if middle school weren't hard enough! I wish they let rising 7th graders stay at their previous school like 8th, 11th, and 12th graders.

[Anonymous]

I have a current 6th grader and had been paying attention to this closely, but I am now confident that my kid will be at least a junior by the time any re-districting takes effect. I find it very unlikely that the new construction at Northwood will be completed on time to allow those students to return to Northwood for the 2027-2028 school year. Woodward may be ready for the Northwood students for the 2024-2025 school year but the Northwood kids obviously can’t move back until the new Northwood is ready. The track record does not suggest that project will be completed on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we're playing "who is it worst for," may I nominate the 2027-28 7th graders who, after getting through the tough transition to middle school, then get sent to a brand new school in 7th grade and split up from many of their friends? As if middle school weren't hard enough! I wish they let rising 7th graders stay at their previous school like 8th, 11th, and 12th graders.

It’s not worse than the first class of Woodward high or crown high (the current 6th grader) that colleges have no idea about these schools. Being the first graduating class also means the whole setting is new with new principals, new teachers. The students may find their choices of coursework limited in the new school for 11th and 12th grades, which are critical for college applicants. Your 7th graders in 2027-2028 will be fine when the colleges get familiarized with these schools performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 6th grader and had been paying attention to this closely, but I am now confident that my kid will be at least a junior by the time any re-districting takes effect. I find it very unlikely that the new construction at Northwood will be completed on time to allow those students to return to Northwood for the 2027-2028 school year. Woodward may be ready for the Northwood students for the 2024-2025 school year but the Northwood kids obviously can’t move back until the new Northwood is ready. The track record does not suggest that project will be completed on time.

The current planned opening is already two years past an “on time” opening. I’m not saying it won’t get delayed again but it’s been delayed two years in the past two years, so th e “in time” ship sailed a while ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 6th grader and had been paying attention to this closely, but I am now confident that my kid will be at least a junior by the time any re-districting takes effect. I find it very unlikely that the new construction at Northwood will be completed on time to allow those students to return to Northwood for the 2027-2028 school year. Woodward may be ready for the Northwood students for the 2024-2025 school year but the Northwood kids obviously can’t move back until the new Northwood is ready. The track record does not suggest that project will be completed on time.

The current planned opening is already two years past an “on time” opening. I’m not saying it won’t get delayed again but it’s been delayed two years in the past two years, so th e “in time” ship sailed a while ago.

Those were delays to get Woodward ready to re-open for the Northwood kids, that had nothing to do with Northwood’s rebuild. I have no doubt that Northwood’s raze and rebuild will not be completed in 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 6th grader and had been paying attention to this closely, but I am now confident that my kid will be at least a junior by the time any re-districting takes effect. I find it very unlikely that the new construction at Northwood will be completed on time to allow those students to return to Northwood for the 2027-2028 school year. Woodward may be ready for the Northwood students for the 2024-2025 school year but the Northwood kids obviously can’t move back until the new Northwood is ready. The track record does not suggest that project will be completed on time.

The current planned opening is already two years past an “on time” opening. I’m not saying it won’t get delayed again but it’s been delayed two years in the past two years, so th e “in time” ship sailed a while ago.

Those were delays to get Woodward ready to re-open for the Northwood kids, that had nothing to do with Northwood’s rebuild. I have no doubt that Northwood’s raze and rebuild will not be completed in 3 years.

Hard to say. They are even willing to open schools without it being completely built now. Like the auditorium will be built after opening of Woodard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're playing "who is it worst for," may I nominate the 2027-28 7th graders who, after getting through the tough transition to middle school, then get sent to a brand new school in 7th grade and split up from many of their friends? As if middle school weren't hard enough! I wish they let rising 7th graders stay at their previous school like 8th, 11th, and 12th graders.

It’s not worse than the first class of Woodward high or crown high (the current 6th grader) that colleges have no idea about these schools. Being the first graduating class also means the whole setting is new with new principals, new teachers. The students may find their choices of coursework limited in the new school for 11th and 12th grades, which are critical for college applicants. Your 7th graders in 2027-2028 will be fine when the colleges get familiarized with these schools performance.

Wow. Not everyone is as focused on college admissions as you. I'm more concerned with my kid's mental health at a highly vulnerable age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the 6th graders probably impacted the most as their incoming freshman class will likely then be split and they may be separated from MS friends or 9th grade friends.

I’ve got a 7th grader and the impact is different — they probably won’t get any relief from the overcrowding so their classes will always be overwhelmed at WJ.

For those bummed about the split, one upside is that it will double the chances your kid can make a HS sports team. Right now it’s incredibly difficult because so many kids competing for slots of just one JV and one varsity team. And maybe they’ll all be able to find an open bathroom stall!

Another upside for those reassigned to Woodward is that brand new schools will often attract the best teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're playing "who is it worst for," may I nominate the 2027-28 7th graders who, after getting through the tough transition to middle school, then get sent to a brand new school in 7th grade and split up from many of their friends? As if middle school weren't hard enough! I wish they let rising 7th graders stay at their previous school like 8th, 11th, and 12th graders.

It’s not worse than the first class of Woodward high or crown high (the current 6th grader) that colleges have no idea about these schools. Being the first graduating class also means the whole setting is new with new principals, new teachers. The students may find their choices of coursework limited in the new school for 11th and 12th grades, which are critical for college applicants. Your 7th graders in 2027-2028 will be fine when the colleges get familiarized with these schools performance.

Wow. Not everyone is as focused on college admissions as you. I'm more concerned with my kid's mental health at a highly vulnerable age.

That’s going to be very stressful for these first classes. Brand new schools, unfamiliar peers, changing plans for coursework… Mental health is a part of it. I would be more chilled if the schools are more established than brand new.

[Anonymous]

Which elementary schools are likely to be a part of Woodward?

[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.

Such as?

How many portables does WJ have?

15

Blair has 25 portables.

what are portables?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're playing "who is it worst for," may I nominate the 2027-28 7th graders who, after getting through the tough transition to middle school, then get sent to a brand new school in 7th grade and split up from many of their friends? As if middle school weren't hard enough! I wish they let rising 7th graders stay at their previous school like 8th, 11th, and 12th graders.

It’s not worse than the first class of Woodward high or crown high (the current 6th grader) that colleges have no idea about these schools. Being the first graduating class also means the whole setting is new with new principals, new teachers. The students may find their choices of coursework limited in the new school for 11th and 12th grades, which are critical for college applicants. Your 7th graders in 2027-2028 will be fine when the colleges get familiarized with these schools performance.

Wow. Not everyone is as focused on college admissions as you. I'm more concerned with my kid's mental health at a highly vulnerable age.

That’s going to be very stressful for these first classes. Brand new schools, unfamiliar peers, changing plans for coursework… Mental health is a part of it. I would be more chilled if the schools are more established than brand new.

The classes would be similar and a good chunk of WJ kids will go together. They will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Such as?

How many portables does WJ have?

15

Blair has 25 portables.

what are portables?

They are basically sheds outside the school that the kids have classes in.