MCPS High School teacher here at a school very similar to WJ. Have your son keep his laptop at home. Very few (much less than 1%) students bring one to school. Laptops are generally too much of a pain to lug around with everything else students carry through the halls each day. They're also a prime target for theft as noted by earlier posters.

There's no such thing as a "study hall," at least at my school. Students with free periods become teacher aides, work in one of the offices, etc. If they can't find something like that to do they are enrolled in an elective that meets the period that is "free."

Thank you PPs. Lol, I know the Chipotle you speak of...they must really do a brisk business at lunch. I can see how the open lunch novelty might wear off. DS is coming from a school with closed lunch, so he may enjoy the freedom at least initially.

On free periods, he's used to having some in his current school due to block scheduling where classes are longer but don't meet every day. I guess this will be an adjustment, but I'm sure it's not going to be too big of a dea.

Regarding laptops, thanks for the info. My son's current school requires the kids to have laptops, so he's used to taking all of his notes that way. On the other hand, the hassle of stolen electronics and/or seeming too "nerdy" or strange if he's only one of a handful of kids with them makes we wonder if he should do without?

Friending kids on FB at WJ sounds like a good idea -- I will suggest it too him. I know my older son did this with college -- friending kids that summer before arrival -- and I think he found it very helpful. Hopefully by younger son won't think it's too "weird" to take the initiative.

If there are any more tips people think of that might help keep them coming! This is a great help!

At Whitman there are no free periods until senior year. In other grades if you aren't taking a full slate of academic classes you can be a TA for a class, you can be a buddy for the special needs program, and a couple of other options. At most that would be for one period. My DC has had a "free" period in 2 semesters, both with specific activities. I know there are some seniors who can come late or leave early (usually for internships) but not sure they have free periods that happen at school. I don't know if WJ is the same.

Lunch is about 45 minutes so not long enough to go too far. There is a chipotle next to WJ that does a big lunch business. Whitman is closed lunch other than seniors.

Anonymous wrote:I have a son coming in as a junior this Fall. We are coming from another school district in a different state. Can anyone tell me how the MCPS high schools handle lunch and free periods? Can kids go off campus at lunch? Are there free periods to do some of their homework during the instructional day? Are there study halls and are they mandatory for upper classmen? Also, what's the policy and/or practice on cell phones and laptops? Can kids have them during the day or do they need to stay in lockers?

Thanks in advance! My son has lots of questions and anything I can answer for him in advance is helpful.

Sorry I missed the rest of your question. There are no study halls built into the instructional day. There are seven periods and juniors would be enrolled in all seven periods. Cell phones are allowed on campus but the rule (widely ignored) is that a student may not use them except at lunch. Laptops can be brought to school but be careful. Make sure that the laptop is inscribed with the owners name and parents drivers license number. Not directed at WJ but security will tell you that its a pain since electronic devices are frequently stolen.


If your son has a lot of questions (I know I would) I'd tell him to "friend" a few WJ kids on Facebook and then they can email each other back and forth.

Anonymous wrote:Hi, this is the OP. He will be at Walter Johnson.

Walter Johnson has what is called an open lunch. It means that all students can leave campus for lunch. Most who do leave campus go to one of the two shopping centers next to the school. Only seniors can drive at lunch. From prior experience I can tell you that leaving campus is a novelty and it lasts for about a month for many. Then its too much of a hassle and the kids stay inside the building.

As another poster said every high school has a different policy. At some no one can leave campus. At others that are near commercial areas juniors and seniors can leave campus. Some allow students to drive at lunch and others don't.

Hi, this is the OP. He will be at Walter Johnson.

I think the answer depends on which school your son will attend about lunch especially. Do you know where he will be yet?

I have a son coming in as a junior this Fall. We are coming from another school district in a different state. Can anyone tell me how the MCPS high schools handle lunch and free periods? Can kids go off campus at lunch? Are there free periods to do some of their homework during the instructional day? Are there study halls and are they mandatory for upper classmen? Also, what's the policy and/or practice on cell phones and laptops? Can kids have them during the day or do they need to stay in lockers?

Thanks in advance! My son has lots of questions and anything I can answer for him in advance is helpful.