Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:32
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Of course not. That would make too much sense. They had Dufief out of Wootton by itself in A-D and Dufief understandably threw a fit. If MCPS had included Stone Mill and Travillah with Dufief (and left Churchill alone) I bet this would be over by now.
I really agree with this. I’m just curious what happens to Fallsmead, Cold Spring and Lakewood. Do they continue to use the Wootton building? Just them?
Wouldn't that make Wootton way under capacity? It's already under capacity. Moving half of the ES out of the cluster would make it half empty.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:28
Subject: Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:When people are referring to Lakelands-are they talking about the community near kentlands? Thats what I assumed but i’m not sure why they aren’t siding with Dufief/stone mill etc…with being for H-isn’t it much closer to them?
Or maybe i’m confused and it’s a totally different place?
Lakelands goes to QO. Are you thinking of Lakewood? That's a Wootton feeder, who can walk to Wootton now.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:19
Subject: Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:When people are referring to Lakelands-are they talking about the community near kentlands? Thats what I assumed but i’m not sure why they aren’t siding with Dufief/stone mill etc…with being for H-isn’t it much closer to them?
Or maybe i’m confused and it’s a totally different place?
I live in Lakelands, but my kid goes to private school (like a not-insignificant number of kids in Kentlands and Lakelands).
Both neighborhoods have fought against fixing overcrowding in RCES because they didn’t want to split up the neighborhoods in terms of where kids went to school. It’s honestly incredibly stupid, and is one of the reasons we opted out of the system.
But you can expect most Lakelands/Kentlands people to want the neighborhoods to have no split articulation and to have everyone go to QOHS (which is itself a joke of a school).
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:17
Subject: Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Where does Frost Middle School factor into all this discussion about MCPS being unable to even remediate Wootton? Frost needs similar remediation. Where is the new school for them if MCPS can’t afford to remediate their building?
This is the reason that either crown or Wootton needs to become a holding facility. Because you are correct, in addition to the high schools, we have several middle schools that need renovations and nowhere to send the students. So essentially, we have a Fallsmead/Lakewood vs Gaithersburg battle over whose school will become the holdout by facility.
So MCPS spent $400M building a now under enrolled school that could have been used to fix a bunch of schools on a rotating basis over the next several years?
10/10 agree with this—how MCPS didn’t run a new set of numbers before putting a shovel in the ground is BEYOND EXPLAINABLE. Had they realized it at the time, they would have forfeited the land and been out many millions on plans, contracts (?) but undoubtedly nowhere near as many millions as building the darn school is taking up. Unfortunately, this is where we are and so we have to make our next moves from this place.
MCPS and Gaithersburg likely promised the Crown developers that they would build a school, so there was no way they were going to go back on that promise. A new high school was part of the developers’ representations to families and tenants who bought/rented there. It was also likely what they promised the business owners who signed long term leases.
Put simply, MCPS had to deliver a full, permanently enrolled high school or developers wouldn’t trust it anymore (and local politicians wouldn’t get any more campaign contributions). Moving Wootton to Crown not only delivers a full, permanently enrolled high school, it dramatically sweetens the deal - giving MCPS a chit it can call in later from those same developers. Maybe MCPS is going to have those same developers bid on school renovations in the future, offering pricing that fits MCPS’ budget.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:13
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Of course not. That would make too much sense. They had Dufief out of Wootton by itself in A-D and Dufief understandably threw a fit. If MCPS had included Stone Mill and Travillah with Dufief (and left Churchill alone) I bet this would be over by now.
I really agree with this. I’m just curious what happens to Fallsmead, Cold Spring and Lakewood. Do they continue to use the Wootton building? Just them?
I think they can either be redistricted to a closer school or I had mentioned in a comment above that if it was only them for a period of time they could essentially close off parts of Wootton one by one to do repairs to those areas without moving the kids out. With a much smaller population they could definitely do that temporarily. Then when the repairs are done they can redraw some boundaries to ease overcrowding at other nearby schools.
Sorry, you’re right, you had said that. I think the only concern if it is just those 3 schools there is that they absolutely wouldn’t be able to have the same variety of classes as the staff would have to be so much smaller. Otherwise, I really like that plan.
I doubt they would go for it (actually, I’m sure they wouldn’t) but could RM theoretically absorb all 3 (cold spring, fallsmead, Lakewood)?
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:09
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Of course not. That would make too much sense. They had Dufief out of Wootton by itself in A-D and Dufief understandably threw a fit. If MCPS had included Stone Mill and Travillah with Dufief (and left Churchill alone) I bet this would be over by now.
I really agree with this. I’m just curious what happens to Fallsmead, Cold Spring and Lakewood. Do they continue to use the Wootton building? Just them?
I think they can either be redistricted to a closer school or I had mentioned in a comment above that if it was only them for a period of time they could essentially close off parts of Wootton one by one to do repairs to those areas without moving the kids out. With a much smaller population they could definitely do that temporarily. Then when the repairs are done they can redraw some boundaries to ease overcrowding at other nearby schools.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:05
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Of course not. That would make too much sense. They had Dufief out of Wootton by itself in A-D and Dufief understandably threw a fit. If MCPS had included Stone Mill and Travillah with Dufief (and left Churchill alone) I bet this would be over by now.
I really agree with this. I’m just curious what happens to Fallsmead, Cold Spring and Lakewood. Do they continue to use the Wootton building? Just them?
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:04
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
Where would everyone else have gone?
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Of course not. That would make too much sense. They had Dufief out of Wootton by itself in A-D and Dufief understandably threw a fit. If MCPS had included Stone Mill and Travillah with Dufief (and left Churchill alone) I bet this would be over by now.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:04
Subject: Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
When people are referring to Lakelands-are they talking about the community near kentlands? Thats what I assumed but i’m not sure why they aren’t siding with Dufief/stone mill etc…with being for H-isn’t it much closer to them?
Or maybe i’m confused and it’s a totally different place?
Or maybe i’m confused and it’s a totally different place?
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:00
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Of course not. That would make too much sense. They had Dufief out of Wootton by itself in A-D and Dufief understandably threw a fit. If MCPS had included Stone Mill and Travillah with Dufief (and left Churchill alone) I bet this would be over by now.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 14:00
Subject: Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Where does Frost Middle School factor into all this discussion about MCPS being unable to even remediate Wootton? Frost needs similar remediation. Where is the new school for them if MCPS can’t afford to remediate their building?
This is the reason that either crown or Wootton needs to become a holding facility. Because you are correct, in addition to the high schools, we have several middle schools that need renovations and nowhere to send the students. So essentially, we have a Fallsmead/Lakewood vs Gaithersburg battle over whose school will become the holdout by facility.
So MCPS spent $400M building a now under enrolled school that could have been used to fix a bunch of schools on a rotating basis over the next several years?
10/10 agree with this—how MCPS didn’t run a new set of numbers before putting a shovel in the ground is BEYOND EXPLAINABLE. Had they realized it at the time, they would have forfeited the land and been out many millions on plans, contracts (?) but undoubtedly nowhere near as many millions as building the darn school is taking up. Unfortunately, this is where we are and so we have to make our next moves from this place.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:56
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Is this one of the proposed options?
Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:54
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
I think this plan could actually work. It would leave room for more restricting to crown in the future too.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:53
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.
This is probably the key for all schools--in both of the MCPS regions--having one ES go alone seems scary and disruptive. But if >2 go together, then you have part of your community along with you, so much less radical change.
Related to this, my #1 criteria for advocating for one model or another is to avoid/get rid of split articulation problems. The Options A-D were terrible on that count. And in this second round of options, all of the oxygen has been taken up by Option H. I'd vote for any option that have no/very low split of MSs to different high schools. (I'm less concerned about splitting ESs to different MSs and if that does end up happening, then I'd imagine they will clean it up with a new ES boundary study soon enough.)
Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:43
Subject: Re:Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:HALF THE CLUSTER is closer to Crown than the current Wootton building. This isn’t an issue of one feeder school being closer. It is literally 3/6 current feeders.
I’m from one of the currently farther schools (Travilah, Stone Mill, Dufeif) and I support option H. I know it seems like it is because of distance, but it is actually for fiscal reasons. This seems like a good way to save some money AND get our kids into a safer space.
Also, I am increasingly upset that when half the cluster is closer to the proposed new location, we are being held back because of Fallsmead (which will forever have to disprove their nickname of “Falls-me” to the remainder of the cluster) and Lakewood. I do understand Cold Spring because truly, they ARE far from the Crown location but Lakewood and Falls-me need to get over it.
Just like half have your reasons for being for it, You need to be understanding of half the cluster that is against it. I don’t see why you think one side’s opinion is more important than the other here? Would you be fine getting sent to Crown without the rest of Wootton? If so then you should suggest that to the board.
I actually really get that. What I don’t get is the other half acting like our half doesn’t exist and pretending that “no one” in the Wootton cluster wants H, when in fact, many, many do.
You didn’t answer the second part of the question.
Alone? No. I don’t think it’s good for kids to get split off from their entire friend group. But I would absolutely be open to Stone Mill, Travilah, and Dufeuf going to crown with Crown/Gaithersburg kids. The issue is where would Cold Spring, Fallsmead and Lakewood go? We really don’t need 2 schools at this point.
PP here-I meant with the other 3 feeders that are for H. I think those 3 (and I am in one would be happier getting redistricted to a closer school
to us rather than go to Crown if fixing Wootton is truly not an option.
I'm in one of those schools too and I would be happy going to Crown IF ALL THREE (Dufief, Stone Mill and Travillah) went.