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

[Anonymous]

I have an MS student zoned for WJ. This is the latest news we received from the Cluster Rep:

Fall 2024: Phase 1 construction complete; Northwood HS students begin attending Woodward during 3 year Northwood HS construction; Phase 2 construction begins; RFP for Boundary Study released
November 2024: Board of Education to announce consultant for Boundary Study
January to October 2025: Community engagement around Boundary Study, consultant completes Boundary Study
December 2025: Superintendent receives Boundary Study Report, including boundary adjustment options
March 2026: Boundary changes adopted
Fall 2027: Woodward HS reopens, other boundary change decisions in effect

Phase 2 construction at Woodward will complete various parts of the school, including athletic fields and more classroom space. Due to budget constraints, the school auditorium will be a "shell" when the school reopens in 3 years, with additional funding needed to build out the interior. I'll share opportunities for our community to lobby for the funding needed to complete the auditorium on time for our students.

The Boundary Study is how MCPS will decide which students in our cluster will attend Woodward, Walter Johnson, or another area high school. Expect community engagement meetings in 2025, followed by Board of Ed meetings to consider the recommended options in early 2026.

What is the planned capacity of Woodward? Phase 1 (current) capacity is about 2000 students, and Phase 2 capacity will be about 2250 students.

Will Woodward host a magnet program (like arts, aerospace, etc.)? There is no current plan for a magnet program at Woodward. The boundary study may recommend such a program to help fully utilize the capacity of the new school.

When will Woodward officially reopen (not just as a holding school)? The current plan is for Woodward to reopen Fall 2027. This allows 3 years to complete construction at Northwood, and 18 months for our community to "digest" the adopted boundary changes.

Will Woodward open with all grades, just 9th grade, or some other combination? We don't know yet - the boundary study will recommend various options for the Superintendent and Board of Education to choose from in early 2026. We've heard that seniors are not likely to be required to change schools, but all other grades could be reassigned. So, for current middle school students zoned for WJ:
8th graders will attend WJ for 9th and 10th grade, possibly reassigned for 11th grade
7th graders will attend WJ for 9th grade, possibly reassigned for 10th grade
6th graders possibly reassigned for 9th grade

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, the Northwood construction is already behind schedule

[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.

WJ added more and is now at 19. The freshmen class is about 900 students, far more than last year’s senior class. Blair’s overcrowding could easily be relieved by moving the magnet programs to Woodward when it opens.

[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.

WJ added more and is now at 19. The freshmen class is about 900 students, far more than last year’s senior class. Blair’s overcrowding could easily be relieved by moving the magnet programs to Woodward when it opens.

Keep dreaming.

[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.

WJ added more and is now at 19. The freshmen class is about 900 students, far more than last year’s senior class. Blair’s overcrowding could easily be relieved by moving the magnet programs to Woodward when it opens.

West side wants it all.

[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.

WJ added more and is now at 19. The freshmen class is about 900 students, far more than last year’s senior class. Blair’s overcrowding could easily be relieved by moving the magnet programs to Woodward when it opens.

They are expanding the capacity of Northwood, just a mile away on University Blvd., to relieve Blair's overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, the Northwood construction is already behind schedule

Was t Northwood updated in the early 2000s?

[Anonymous]

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.

Calm down. My kid graduated from WJ in 2023, when it was already ultra-crowded. My other kids are at a different W school, which is not crowded.

Guess what? My oldest's education was still better at WJ! Despite the pandemic! I think it's a combination of:
1. Jennifer Baker's administration (I don't know the new Principal).
2. for the most part, excellent core teachers.
3. a lot of academically-engaged parents.

Unfortunately, you can't say the same thing of every MCPS high school, even some of the good ones...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, the Northwood construction is already behind schedule

Was t Northwood updated in the early 2000s?

A little bit around the edges, yes. But the old building was still largely in place.

[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.

WJ added more and is now at 19. The freshmen class is about 900 students, far more than last year’s senior class. Blair’s overcrowding could easily be relieved by moving the magnet programs to Woodward when it opens.

No need to move magnet from Blair to Woodward in order to attract people to the area and keep their kids in public. North Bethesda and surrounding areas growing fine just on their own.

[Anonymous]

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.

Calm down. My kid graduated from WJ in 2023, when it was already ultra-crowded. My other kids are at a different W school, which is not crowded.

Guess what? My oldest's education was still better at WJ! Despite the pandemic! I think it's a combination of:
1. Jennifer Baker's administration (I don't know the new Principal).
2. for the most part, excellent core teachers.
3. a lot of academically-engaged parents.

Unfortunately, you can't say the same thing of every MCPS high school, even some of the good ones...

Agree that it's terrible planning to have such crowded schools and open another right down the street and fill it for 3 entire years with another school's students.
That said, WJ has been a wonderful school and glad my kid attended, super crowded or not.
--Parent of another recent WJ grad under principal Baker's admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I understand, the Northwood construction is already behind schedule

Just slightly.

[Anonymous]

slightly at the very beginning

[Anonymous]

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.

Calm down. My kid graduated from WJ in 2023, when it was already ultra-crowded. My other kids are at a different W school, which is not crowded.

Guess what? My oldest's education was still better at WJ! Despite the pandemic! I think it's a combination of:
1. Jennifer Baker's administration (I don't know the new Principal).
2. for the most part, excellent core teachers.
3. a lot of academically-engaged parents.

Unfortunately, you can't say the same thing of every MCPS high school, even some of the good ones...

Agree that it's terrible planning to have such crowded schools and open another right down the street and fill it for 3 entire years with another school's students.
That said, WJ has been a wonderful school and glad my kid attended, super crowded or not.
--Parent of another recent WJ grad under principal Baker's admin.

There is a need due to the increased housing in the area.

[Anonymous]

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.

Calm down. My kid graduated from WJ in 2023, when it was already ultra-crowded. My other kids are at a different W school, which is not crowded.

Guess what? My oldest's education was still better at WJ! Despite the pandemic! I think it's a combination of:
1. Jennifer Baker's administration (I don't know the new Principal).
2. for the most part, excellent core teachers.
3. a lot of academically-engaged parents.

Unfortunately, you can't say the same thing of every MCPS high school, even some of the good ones...

The new principal is also wonderful. She genuinely cares about all the students and WJ. She’s been at WJ for sone time so was already part of our community.