The best way is to just move a neighborhood into a different cluster. MCPS has done it before. They can do it again.

The problem is that MCPS has not kept pace with increasing the capacity of the high schools. They are all over crowded and aging. ES schools were originally built for smaller enrollments but the new capacity numbers allow them to pack more kids in. They can't just change the acceptable capacity numbers in the high schools because they can't physically fit more kids in without violating safety regulations, removing courses, and other issues.

I agree that some of the boundaries are strange but if they swing an ES in one cluster to another cluster they just create a larger crowding issue at the high school level.

Anonymous wrote:If a good school is under capacity, folks would not be happy if other neighborhoods were redistricted so they could go there. This is a fact of life. These are usually in areas where real estate prices are very high because of the good schools.

I think there are a few ways that the space in these under capacity schools can be utilized.

1) Bus students from the same cluster to these schools

2) Start special programs (like mini magnets) in specialty subjects and open it for lottery (like Parkland MS) admissions. MCPS does not have to provide transportation. It eases some burden from other schools and the good schools in expensive areas gain a magnet program. Win, win, win!

1. This wouldn't relieve overcrowding in most of the ES. Most if not all of the RM cluster's ES are over-crowded, while based on the MCPS website, the Churchill cluster ESs are under-capacity. How would moving kids from one ES in RM to another ES in RM cluster help overcrowding?

2. A magnet program mostly benefits upper SES kids, and not providing transportation would put burden on lower SES families

The best way is to just move a neighborhood into a different cluster. MCPS has done it before. They can do it again.

When BFES was remodeled in 2013, why didn't MCPS look at the capacity at the neighboring school and BFES and balance the capacity? I know redistricting is not an easy thing to do, but it can be done if there is a desire to. I guess some clusters are more vocal than others?

The overcrowding in the ES's at the RM cluster while tumbleweeds blow through the ES's in the Churchill and Wootton clusters is unconscionable. Shame on you, Starr. I have friends at BFES who say half of the new, mammoth school is empty because there are so few kids.

Anonymous wrote:Personally I think looking at class size would be more interesting than looking at capacity. I wouldn't mind my child being in a portable if her class size was smaller. Is there a way to look at that? How do the class sizes at the under enrolled schools compare to the class sizes at schools over capacity?

Class size is independent of school capacity. If there is projected to be more than [some number] of students in the class, then the school gets an additional teacher for an additional class. That's true whether the school is over capacity, at capacity, or under capacity.

Anonymous wrote:If a good school is under capacity, folks would not be happy if other neighborhoods were redistricted so they could go there. This is a fact of life. These are usually in areas where real estate prices are very high because of the good schools.

I think there are a few ways that the space in these under capacity schools can be utilized.

1) Bus students from the same cluster to these schools

2) Start special programs (like mini magnets) in specialty subjects and open it for lottery (like Parkland MS) admissions. MCPS does not have to provide transportation. It eases some burden from other schools and the good schools in expensive areas gain a magnet program. Win, win, win!

Magnets without transportation are a big equity problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I see a pattern here. I haven't checked out all the ESs in the clusters, but all of the ones mentioned that are under capacity fall into the Wootton or Churchill cluster. Why would that be? Past the time to redistrict?

Monocacy ES is under capacity -- Poolesville cluster. (Of course, Weast tried to close Monocacy ES...) Damascus ES is under capacity -- Damascus cluster. Darnestown ES is under capacity - Northwest cluster.

And Gaithersburg is over capacity. So why not redistrict and send some from Gaithersburg to Darnestown ESs? Again, I don't understand how the District just doesn't redistrict already. It's so clear that there is a problem here.

Do you think that MCPS should be comprehensively redistricting ever 5 years based on where there is extra capacity in the elementary schools? If you have ever been through a redistricting, you know that redistricting involves considerably more than MCPS saying, "OK, next year you go there." And if you think MCPS already doesn't listen to parents now, just imagine how much they wouldn't be listening to parents if they started doing that.

If a good school is under capacity, folks would not be happy if other neighborhoods were redistricted so they could go there. This is a fact of life. These are usually in areas where real estate prices are very high because of the good schools.

I think there are a few ways that the space in these under capacity schools can be utilized.

1) Bus students from the same cluster to these schools

2) Start special programs (like mini magnets) in specialty subjects and open it for lottery (like Parkland MS) admissions. MCPS does not have to provide transportation. It eases some burden from other schools and the good schools in expensive areas gain a magnet program. Win, win, win!

I was just talking to another family about this the other day. I didn't realize that so many schools in the Rockville/Potomac area are undercapacity. i live in the Fallsgrove neighborhood which is zoned for Ritchie Park, but is closer in proximity to Lakewood, Fallsmead, and Stone Mill. In fact, my house is walking distance to Lakewood, but all the neighborhood kids get bussed over to RP. My guess is re-zoning won't happen due to political reasons, but for practical reasons, it would make a lot of sense.

Anonymous wrote:Three topics are for the same thing, some people want to let their kids to enjoy a nice school without paying house premium other residents are paying.

This isn't just about nice schools. It's about over crowding regardless of where it is located.

Anonymous wrote:Oakland Terrace, Flora Singer, and Weller Road are all under capacity.

There are plenty more that are not "green zone" schools, but I know you don't want to hear about them.

Flora Singer just opened taking half of Oakland Terrace's student population. Oakland Teraace was so over capacity that kindergarteners had to be housed at Sligo Middle School for a couple of years. The students at those two schools deserve a little breathing room.

People ought to be outraged that we all pay for town of Kensington kids to get bussed to North Bethesda MS and Walter Johnson HS in Besthesda when undercapcity Newport Mill MS and Einstien HS have a Kensington address!

Personally I think looking at class size would be more interesting than looking at capacity. I wouldn't mind my child being in a portable if her class size was smaller. Is there a way to look at that? How do the class sizes at the under enrolled schools compare to the class sizes at schools over capacity?

Three topics are for the same thing, some people want to let their kids to enjoy a nice school without paying house premium other residents are paying.

Anonymous wrote:Oakland Terrace, Flora Singer, and Weller Road are all under capacity.

There are plenty more that are not "green zone" schools, but I know you don't want to hear about them.

No, you're wrong. I do want to hear about them. MCPS should take a look at the under/over capacity schools regardless of where they are.

Ashburton, wyngate,and kensington parkwood are all way over capacity, and people definitely paid a premium to be in the cluster. Anyone else have a 1st grader with 27 kids in their class? If I were smarter, I would've moved to a title I elementary school neighborhood.

Oakland Terrace, Flora Singer, and Weller Road are all under capacity.

There are plenty more that are not "green zone" schools, but I know you don't want to hear about them.