MCPS suggests postponing Crown High School opening for use as holding school

[Anonymous]

People arent fleeing the schools, although thats part of it.
People are fleeing Maryland, in general.
Its poorly run, the infrastructure doesnt support the people, the crime is astronomical, the schools do not educate children, the neighborhoods are overcrowded, the people who are here have fractured societies that dont follow the same cultural expectations, there arent enough jobs, theres too little Greenspace, the architecture is mostly ugly and the taxes are appalling.
Why would you stay?

[Anonymous]

Since enrollment is declining and Crown is nearly completed, why couldn’t Wootton eventually be closed, with students reassigned to Churchill, RM, QC, and Crown based on proximity? Wootton could then serve as a holding school during future renovation projects at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People arent fleeing the schools, although thats part of it.
People are fleeing Maryland, in general.
Its poorly run, the infrastructure doesnt support the people, the crime is astronomical, the schools do not educate children, the neighborhoods are overcrowded, the people who are here have fractured societies that dont follow the same cultural expectations, there arent enough jobs, theres too little Greenspace, the architecture is mostly ugly and the taxes are appalling.
Why would you stay?

I know some families move to Virginia from Maryland because there are better schools in FCPS, more job opportunities (corporate headquarters), cost living is relatively cheaper, and more better public universities choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People arent fleeing the schools, although thats part of it.
People are fleeing Maryland, in general.
Its poorly run, the infrastructure doesnt support the people, the crime is astronomical, the schools do not educate children, the neighborhoods are overcrowded, the people who are here have fractured societies that dont follow the same cultural expectations, there arent enough jobs, theres too little Greenspace, the architecture is mostly ugly and the taxes are appalling.
Why would you stay?

I know some families move to Virginia from Maryland because there are better schools in FCPS, more job opportunities (corporate headquarters), cost living is relatively cheaper, and more better public universities choice.

I know people who moved to Loundon county because their High Schools start time is after 9 am. People move for all kind of reasons .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People arent fleeing the schools, although thats part of it.
People are fleeing Maryland, in general.
Its poorly run, the infrastructure doesnt support the people, the crime is astronomical, the schools do not educate children, the neighborhoods are overcrowded, the people who are here have fractured societies that dont follow the same cultural expectations, there arent enough jobs, theres too little Greenspace, the architecture is mostly ugly and the taxes are appalling.
Why would you stay?

This, for sure. We definitely would not stay if it wasn't for my job. We have lived here for the past 20 years and watched our solidly middle-class neighborhood change dramatically over that time. And the school system is a dysfunctional mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since enrollment is declining and Crown is nearly completed, why couldn’t Wootton eventually be closed, with students reassigned to Churchill, RM, QC, and Crown based on proximity? Wootton could then serve as a holding school during future renovation projects at other schools.

Exactly, each of those first two schools could get an addition of 200-400 seats and QO renovated/replaced and enlarged to about 2200-2400 seats. Of course replacing QO would cost a lot but given its location it is more critical. However QO will need to be renovated in the next 15-20 years. The cost of an addition at the first two schools likely is a fraction of replacing an entire school not to mention operation budget being way more cost effective to have one less school.

I think others have likely suggested a relocation of Wootton in full to Crown after Damascus/Magruder are done using crown as holding school because this avoids the fighting about moving people out of Wootton. The whole school moves and takes in 300-500 kids from Gaithersburg/QO to relieve overcrowding at those.

Should be interesting to see what happens with enrollment. Anecdotally I’m hearing immigration policy is a big factor for this as well.

[Anonymous]

Agree, immigration policy + declining birth rates. Can claim MCPS families are jumping ship to private, but not sure that's enough to make a significant dent to long-term MCPS enrollment numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, immigration policy + declining birth rates. Can claim MCPS families are jumping ship to private, but not sure that's enough to make a significant dent to long-term MCPS enrollment numbers.

It's probably all of the above.

[Anonymous]

Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

Nothing is close to done deal at this point and no high school is currently planned to be renovated in 2027

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

They are still insisting on being full steam ahead on the regional model, no matter how many people tell them to slow down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People arent fleeing the schools, although thats part of it.
People are fleeing Maryland, in general.
Its poorly run, the infrastructure doesnt support the people, the crime is astronomical, the schools do not educate children, the neighborhoods are overcrowded, the people who are here have fractured societies that dont follow the same cultural expectations, there arent enough jobs, theres too little Greenspace, the architecture is mostly ugly and the taxes are appalling.
Why would you stay?

I know some families move to Virginia from Maryland because there are better schools in FCPS, more job opportunities (corporate headquarters), cost living is relatively cheaper, and more better public universities choice.

Never thought I’d say this, but am now strongly considering this too—moving closer to our NOVA relatives, when my middle schooler is in 8th grade. This school system is going into the toilet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

Nothing is close to done deal at this point and no high school is currently planned to be renovated in 2027

Correct. East county pro-bussing advocates are mobilizing to try to keep this from happening. Given that a few of them are on the BOE, it could go either way. People really should let the school board know that using Crown as a holding school is the best solution given the money trouble, declining student population, and desperate need for renovations.

You clearly aren’t from down county or even Gaithersburg Cluster. Have to disagree. Best solution for whom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

Taylor is proposing to make Crown a holding HS for the next few years to house Magruder, Damascus, and Wootton students as their HS are being renovated.

(See BOE Oct 16 meeting after 1:46: https://mcpsmd.new.swagit.com/videos/358280)
Another reason he cites for making Crown a holding HS is due to sharp drops in student enrollment. MCPS lost 2600 students from the prior year, and "our international enrollments are also sharply down" (probably border related). The CIP manager projects another loss of 6000 over the next six years:
(
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/montgomery-county-schools-see-student-enrollment-drop-project-its-part-of-trend/
).
Taylor wants BOE to consider delay making Crown a HS to study how the declining enrollment affects the school district.

If Taylor wants to delay making Crown a HS due to the changing enrollment situation, I don't understand why he would not also want to delay the 6 region proposal. The proposal calls for enormous, costly changes to communities that do not want it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

Taylor is proposing to make Crown a holding HS for the next few years to house Magruder, Damascus, and Wootton students as their HS are being renovated.

(See BOE Oct 16 meeting after 1:46: https://mcpsmd.new.swagit.com/videos/358280)
Another reason he cites for making Crown a holding HS is due to sharp drops in student enrollment. MCPS lost 2600 students from the prior year, and "our international enrollments are also sharply down" (probably border related). The CIP manager projects another loss of 6000 over the next six years:
(
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/montgomery-county-schools-see-student-enrollment-drop-project-its-part-of-trend/
).
Taylor wants BOE to consider delay making Crown a HS to study how the declining enrollment affects the school district.

If Taylor wants to delay making Crown a HS due to the changing enrollment situation, I don't understand why he would not also want to delay the 6 region proposal. The proposal calls for enormous, costly changes to communities that do not want it.

100% agree. I have been asking why they are building two new schools when the projected enrollment is on the decline, and they are expecting an academic cliff.

They'd have to redo the regions and programs without Crown.

My goodness. What terrible decision making MCPS has.