Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:47     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:PP - this is not to say these are great facilities. Most WM cluster schools are dumps. But they're dumps with shoddy 1990s additions/renovations, not dumps because they haven't been touched since the 1960s-80s.


I’m the prior poster who shared all of those high school and middle schools I believe if a school says it hasn’t been modernized that could include schools that had an addition done at some point, but I believe if the entire school hasn’t been renovated or rebuilt, it will show with no modernization having been done. For example, I believe even Wootton high school had a small edition done in the late 90s, but the rest of the school was left intact and therefore it does not show any renovation date
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:42     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:H is a great option. Wootton get's a brand new school and the Crown community still gets their high school except now it's called Wootton. Also, there is no need to get on 270 to get to Crown but even if they do get on 270, it's going the opposite direction of traffic both too and from the school. I also agree this is a great way to get some diversity into Wootton.


I don't know if you've ever driven by Wootton during bell times.

But for my commute I pass by a different high school on a two lane road (one lane for each way and similar to Wootton Parkway) and traffic is a gridlock during bell times where it takes about twenty minutes for a one mile stretch to get by the school. I've tried leaving earlier but traffic already starts up to half an hour to forty minutes earlier. And I've determined the best solution is just to leave later, so I'll be going by the school after the bell time, which cuts down my commute time and only makes it a ten minute difference on when I get to work. But that's not an option for students who need to get to school on time. So it didn't surprise me when there was that post not too long ago complaining about the traffic on Wotton Parkway which I can't find it anymore. If the current Wootton will be a holding school, Wootton Parkway will likely still have the school traffic that Cold Spring families would have to try to get through if not taking i270 to get to the Crown school site.

Also looking at the Option H effects table for QO and Churchill, there doesn't seem to be much changes for their capacity numbers for 2031-2032. Churchill would still be overcapacity at 102 percent compared to 104 percent. Quince Orchard does go from 115 percent to 96 percent. But this is likely from sending the area for Fields Road ES, which likely accounts for a good portion of the current FARMS percentage for QO, to Gaithersburg HS.

So while option H seems to be a good option in saving construction costs, it doesn't really have the new school help with over capacity issues with the existing schools. So it seems like MCPS built the school first with no plan. For example they could have made sure to build it to be large enough for the current option H AND also take the Fields Road ES area, which is practically walking distance to Crown High School. There is the concern of having to cross Sam Eig Highway. As well as making sure it's large enough to account for any growth if needed. I know that enrollment has been on a decline but it's easier to have seats available vs being overcapacity.

Not to mention that if the current Wootton building will be the holding school, it will make the Damascus High students have to commute a bit further down, if going by i270 would be exit 6 or 8 instead of 9. Although they could still take 9 too. But would be a bit longer and they would be potentially stuck in the Wootton Parkway traffic too.


I don’t believe Damascus would use a holding school in that scenario. It’d be done while on site.

As far as Cold Spring, they are the furthest from Crown and I think they’d be the most upset about the change from a distance perspective. We’re in Stone Mill and it’s about equal to the two schools. I’m surprised Cold Spring was added for replacement, all of our cluster’s elementary schools have a ton of capacity as does most of Churchill’s.

One possible solution if this option is chosen is to either relocate the CES from Cold Spring to another Wootton or Churchill elementary school then move the local Cold Spring students to a different elementary school. If a Wootton school it would not solve the distance issue to Crown but could allow for an elementary school to be closed vs rebuilt and reallocate those funds for the many other needs within the county. An alternative to that could be that the local Cold Spring students are moved to attending a Churchill elementary school like Beverly Farms or Wayside, both of which also have extra capacity. In that scenario, Churchill would be come over crowded, but this could be alleviated by a small 200 seat addition at Churchill or by shifting some kids from say Seven Locks ES to Carderock/Whitman or some kids from Potomac ES to Travilah/Wootton(Crown).

Also of note is that I believe crown is only being built for 2200 students now, but is going to be built in a way that could accommodate a 500 seat addition in the future. I could be mistaken, but I thought I remember seeing somewhere that there’s going to be an extra floor built that will be unfinished and just shell space for future expansion.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:34     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
PP - this is not to say these are great facilities. Most WM cluster schools are dumps. But they're dumps with shoddy 1990s additions/renovations, not dumps because they haven't been touched since the 1960s-80s.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:32     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:I hadn't realized how old the buildings in the Watkins Mill cluster were. Wow.

School — Year Built — Year Renovated (or none) — Years Since Last Work
(Years since last = 2026 minus effective year)

Watkins Mill HS — 1989 — none — 37
Montgomery Village MS — 1968 — 2003 — 23
Neelsville MS — 1981 — none — 45
Cpt. James E Daly ES — 1989 — none — 37
South Lake ES — 1972 — 2023 — 3
Stedwick ES — 1974 — none — 52
Watkins Mill ES — 1970 — none — 56
Whetstone ES — 1968 — none — 38


This info is not quite right.

Watkins Mill HS had two additions in the 90s: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/facilities/construction/watkinsmillhs_sf_031616.pdf.
Neelsville MS was completely rebuilt and reopened last year: https://neelsville-middle-school-construction-progress.constantcontactsites.com/progress.
South Lake was completely rebuilt and opened the year before last: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/facilities/construction/project/fact-sheets/south_lake_es.pdf
Stedwick ES was renovated at some point to change it from open classroom like Cold Spring to a more traditional setup: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/facilities/construction/stedwickes_sf_031907.pdf
Watkins Mill ES had a refresh at some point in the 2000s: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/facilities/construction/watkinsmilles_sf_022806.pdf
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:14     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:I hadn't realized how old the buildings in the Watkins Mill cluster were. Wow.

School — Year Built — Year Renovated (or none) — Years Since Last Work
(Years since last = 2026 minus effective year)

Watkins Mill HS — 1989 — none — 37
Montgomery Village MS — 1968 — 2003 — 23
Neelsville MS — 1981 — none — 45
Cpt. James E Daly ES — 1989 — none — 37
South Lake ES — 1972 — 2023 — 3
Stedwick ES — 1974 — none — 52
Watkins Mill ES — 1970 — none — 56
Whetstone ES — 1968 — none — 38


Yeap, previous poster already posted the older high schools and middle schools. Here are the elementary schools that haven't were buit/last renovated before 1980 (taken from the 2027-2032 CIP Plan):

Whetstone ES Facility Opened: 1968
Greenwood ES Facility Opened: 1970
Strathmore ES Facility Opened: 1970
Watkins Mill ES Facility Opened: 1970
Summit Hall ES Facility Opened: 1971
Cold Spring ES Facility Opened: 1972 ***On CIP for August 2031 Replacement
Fields Road ES Facility Opened: 1973
Piney Branch ES Facility Opened: 1973 ***On CIP for August 2031 Replacement
Belmont ES Facility Opened: 1974
Fallsmead ES Facility Opened: 1974
Fox Chapel ES Facility Opened: 1974
JoAnn Leleck ES at Broad Acres ES Revitalized/Modernized: 1974 ***On CIP for August 2026 Replacement
Stedwick ES Facility Opened: 1974
Diamond ES Facility Opened: 1975
DuFief ES Facility Opened: 1975
East Silver Spring ES Revitalized/Modernized: 1975
Sherwood ES Facility Opened: 1977
Germantown ES Revitalized/Modernized: 1978
Poolesville ES Revitalized/Modernized: 1978
Takoma Park ES Facility Opened: 1979
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:08     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:H is a great option. Wootton get's a brand new school and the Crown community still gets their high school except now it's called Wootton. Also, there is no need to get on 270 to get to Crown but even if they do get on 270, it's going the opposite direction of traffic both too and from the school. I also agree this is a great way to get some diversity into Wootton.


I don't know if you've ever driven by Wootton during bell times.

But for my commute I pass by a different high school on a two lane road (one lane for each way and similar to Wootton Parkway) and traffic is a gridlock during bell times where it takes about twenty minutes for a one mile stretch to get by the school. I've tried leaving earlier but traffic already starts up to half an hour to forty minutes earlier. And I've determined the best solution is just to leave later, so I'll be going by the school after the bell time, which cuts down my commute time and only makes it a ten minute difference on when I get to work. But that's not an option for students who need to get to school on time. So it didn't surprise me when there was that post not too long ago complaining about the traffic on Wotton Parkway which I can't find it anymore. If the current Wootton will be a holding school, Wootton Parkway will likely still have the school traffic that Cold Spring families would have to try to get through if not taking i270 to get to the Crown school site.

Also looking at the Option H effects table for QO and Churchill, there doesn't seem to be much changes for their capacity numbers for 2031-2032. Churchill would still be overcapacity at 102 percent compared to 104 percent. Quince Orchard does go from 115 percent to 96 percent. But this is likely from sending the area for Fields Road ES, which likely accounts for a good portion of the current FARMS percentage for QO, to Gaithersburg HS.

So while option H seems to be a good option in saving construction costs, it doesn't really have the new school help with over capacity issues with the existing schools. So it seems like MCPS built the school first with no plan. For example they could have made sure to build it to be large enough for the current option H AND also take the Fields Road ES area, which is practically walking distance to Crown High School. There is the concern of having to cross Sam Eig Highway. As well as making sure it's large enough to account for any growth if needed. I know that enrollment has been on a decline but it's easier to have seats available vs being overcapacity.

Not to mention that if the current Wootton building will be the holding school, it will make the Damascus High students have to commute a bit further down, if going by i270 would be exit 6 or 8 instead of 9. Although they could still take 9 too. But would be a bit longer and they would be potentially stuck in the Wootton Parkway traffic too.



Crown HS area would be exit 8 or exit 9. Wootton HS would be exit 8, exit 6, or exit 5.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:04     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
I hadn't realized how old the buildings in the Watkins Mill cluster were. Wow.

School — Year Built — Year Renovated (or none) — Years Since Last Work
(Years since last = 2026 minus effective year)

Watkins Mill HS — 1989 — none — 37
Montgomery Village MS — 1968 — 2003 — 23
Neelsville MS — 1981 — none — 45
Cpt. James E Daly ES — 1989 — none — 37
South Lake ES — 1972 — 2023 — 3
Stedwick ES — 1974 — none — 52
Watkins Mill ES — 1970 — none — 56
Whetstone ES — 1968 — none — 38
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 09:19     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:H is a great option. Wootton get's a brand new school and the Crown community still gets their high school except now it's called Wootton. Also, there is no need to get on 270 to get to Crown but even if they do get on 270, it's going the opposite direction of traffic both too and from the school. I also agree this is a great way to get some diversity into Wootton.


I don't know if you've ever driven by Wootton during bell times.

But for my commute I pass by a different high school on a two lane road (one lane for each way and similar to Wootton Parkway) and traffic is a gridlock during bell times where it takes about twenty minutes for a one mile stretch to get by the school. I've tried leaving earlier but traffic already starts up to half an hour to forty minutes earlier. And I've determined the best solution is just to leave later, so I'll be going by the school after the bell time, which cuts down my commute time and only makes it a ten minute difference on when I get to work. But that's not an option for students who need to get to school on time. So it didn't surprise me when there was that post not too long ago complaining about the traffic on Wotton Parkway which I can't find it anymore. If the current Wootton will be a holding school, Wootton Parkway will likely still have the school traffic that Cold Spring families would have to try to get through if not taking i270 to get to the Crown school site.

Also looking at the Option H effects table for QO and Churchill, there doesn't seem to be much changes for their capacity numbers for 2031-2032. Churchill would still be overcapacity at 102 percent compared to 104 percent. Quince Orchard does go from 115 percent to 96 percent. But this is likely from sending the area for Fields Road ES, which likely accounts for a good portion of the current FARMS percentage for QO, to Gaithersburg HS.

So while option H seems to be a good option in saving construction costs, it doesn't really have the new school help with over capacity issues with the existing schools. So it seems like MCPS built the school first with no plan. For example they could have made sure to build it to be large enough for the current option H AND also take the Fields Road ES area, which is practically walking distance to Crown High School. There is the concern of having to cross Sam Eig Highway. As well as making sure it's large enough to account for any growth if needed. I know that enrollment has been on a decline but it's easier to have seats available vs being overcapacity.

Not to mention that if the current Wootton building will be the holding school, it will make the Damascus High students have to commute a bit further down, if going by i270 would be exit 6 or 8 instead of 9. Although they could still take 9 too. But would be a bit longer and they would be potentially stuck in the Wootton Parkway traffic too.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 21:06     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:I think that’s Crown building becoming Wootton (plus Rosemont), Crown will never exist. Guessing it would stay 4, but who knows.


I think you are correct. Taylor hates problematic older schools, such as Wootton and SSIMS.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 21:06     Subject: Re:Crown boundary study Option H
Also to add to that comment, it could also be like Woodward which was a holding school for Tilden and I believe before that other schools for years and then rebuilt for a new school. Should capacity ever expand I’d imagine it’d be better to find another site and add a new school or do additions at smaller high schools
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 21:04     Subject: Re:Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:Has MCPS said what is happening to Wootton HS building? Does it become a holding school forever? Do current Wootton students move to Crown HS permanently?

And anything about timeline? If Fall 2027, does that mean current underclassmen change buildings to Crown HS for upperclassmen years?


I’d have to imagine it becomes a permanent holding school for high school and middle school projects county wide. Maybe not MS in east county (if the SSIMS plan comes to fruition) but certainly high schools county wide.

Below are schools that will have been 25 years since last renovate or since built (in 2026). This means given we’d likely be doing one high school/two middle schools every 2-3 years by the time the first batch are done the newer schools will easily be near 50 years old. Honestly this may not even be enough given the substantial needs. Certainly some schools would need to be built on site while students attend.

High Schools Last Renovated or Built Before 2002
School — Year Built — Year Renovated (or none) — Years Since Last Work
(Years since last = 2026 minus effective year)

Col. Zadok Magruder — 1970 — none — 56
Thomas S. Wootton — 1970 — none — 56
Damascus — 1950 — 1978 — 48
Quince Orchard — 1988 — none — 38
Watkins Mill — 1989 — none — 37
Sherwood — 1950 — 1991 — 35
Walt Whitman — 1962 — 1992 — 34
Springbrook — 1960 — 1994 — 32
Albert Einstein — 1962 — 1997 — 29
John F. Kennedy — 1964 — 1999 — 27
Bethesda-Chevy Chase — 1934 — 2001 — 25
Winston Churchill — 1964 — 2001 — 25

Middle Schools Last Renovated or Built Before 2002
School — Year Built — Year Renovated (or none) — Years Since Last Work
(effective year before 2002, sorted oldest → newest)

Robert Frost — 1971 — none — 55
Redland — 1971 — none — 55
Ridgeview — 1975 — none — 51
Eastern — 1951 — 1978 — 48
Briggs Chaney — 1991 — none — 35
Sligo — 1959 — 1991 — 35
John Poole — 1992 — none — 34
White Oak — 1962 — 1993 — 33
Julius West — 1961 — 1995 — 31
Westland — 1951 — 1997 — 29
Kingsview — 1997 — none — 29
Silver Spring International — 1934 — 1999 — 27
Takoma Park — 1939 — 1999 — 27
North Bethesda — 1955 — 1999 — 27
Forest Oak — 1999 — none — 27
Shady Grove — 1999 — 1999 — 27
Earle B. Wood — 1965 — 2001 — 25
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 18:37     Subject: Re:Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:Has MCPS said what is happening to Wootton HS building? Does it become a holding school forever? Do current Wootton students move to Crown HS permanently?

And anything about timeline? If Fall 2027, does that mean current underclassmen change buildings to Crown HS for upperclassmen years?


There is lack of information
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 18:28     Subject: Re:Crown boundary study Option H
Has MCPS said what is happening to Wootton HS building? Does it become a holding school forever? Do current Wootton students move to Crown HS permanently?

And anything about timeline? If Fall 2027, does that mean current underclassmen change buildings to Crown HS for upperclassmen years?
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 17:55     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wonder what the Wootton community reaction will be to this option. On one hand, this gets them a new safe school where otherwise they are waiting at least ten years. On the other hand, yes, a big change and some busing involved. Really not very far busing though so not sure it's that big of a deal. Pulling in some Crown feeders too, so maybe that helps a bit with the Crown community complaints they wouldn't get to utilize the school. Seems to make more sense than the hybrid option G.



Because of the close distance between Wootton and Crown, there are several current Wootton elementary schools that are closer to Crown than Woottton including Dufief, Travilah, Stone Mill. Lakewood is about a mile further from
Crown than Wootton, Fallsmead is about 3 miles further from Crown than Wootton. Cold Spring would have the largest increase in distance to the high school and even that is only 3.5 miles further to Crown than Wootton.


Stonemill is not closer to Crown.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 17:51     Subject: Crown boundary study Option H
Anonymous wrote:Where are the links for all boundary options in a graphic map ?


https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/crowndamascus-boundary-options/home