Montgomery County Public Schools has begun the boundary study, considering four options for redistricting. The changes arise due to the opening of two high schools: Crown High School in Gaithersburg — the expansion of Damascus High School — and the reopening of Charles Woodard High School. MCPS’ boundary study aims to investigate how its boundaries will adapt to these changes, accommodate, and ultimately shift if deemed necessary.
The county also cites overcrowding as a key reason to begin the redistricting process. The Boundary Study Section of the MCPS website states, “[Redistricting] will help to alleviate some of these challenges.”
One significant argument that arises is the potential end of the Downcounty Consortium (DCC), a program that allows students living in parts of Silver Spring, Kensington, Rockville, and Takoma Park to choose the high school that they want to attend. Students choose from Blair, Einstein, Kennedy, Northwood, and Wheaton High School. Many parents have expressed concerns that certain programs, such as IB programs offered through the DCC, are not available at the same level of rigor in certain areas in the county.
The redistricting process does not come as a surprise; it has been progressing since last year. Multiple in-person and Zoom meetings, in English and Spanish, have been held to take community feedback into account.
The redistricting will be conducted primarily by the large firm FLO Analytics, which has redistricted several large school districts across the U.S..
Junior Brady Sansone, who lives on one of the boundary lines of BCC High School, said, “I don’t want to go to Albert Einstein High School..It’s only a good school for art.” He concluded on another note, stating, “If I have to go [to a different school], I’ll go.”
