Things to Know

MCPS opened its doors on Aug. 25 to more than 150,000 students, welcoming them to the 2026-2027 school year. A day before, the district held its second annual Transition Day (see photos and video in English | Spanish). 

Check out photos and video from the first day in English | Spanish, and read more about MCPS’ commitment and focus for this year. And, take a moment to celebrate the return to school with students, staff and Superintendent Taylor in this back-to-school welcome message.

Forecasts are calling for very hot weather next week, which will put extra strain on HVAC systems across MCPS. With forecast temperatures in the 90s, our MCPS buildings teams are preparing to respond, but with hundreds of buildings and many older systems, we appreciate your patience when problems occur. Help us be ready:

• Hydrate: Drink lots of water.
• Dress for the heat: Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing.
• Stay alert: Seek help if you feel overheated or unwell.
• Stay informed: We’ll communicate about any heat or HVAC challenges.
• Athletics: MCPS will follow heat-safety guidelines for outdoor practices and events.

It’s going to be hot. We’re preparing, and we ask everyone to be ready, too.

Looking for your student’s bus route? It’s right on your school’s homepage. Morning and afternoon bus routes are automatically posted in the “School Information” box on every school website. Routes are available as PDFs, so you can:

• Download it and keep it on your phone.
• Print it and put it on the refrigerator.
• Save it so it’s easy to check throughout the school year.

You can also find all MCPS bus routes on the Division of Transportation Services website, including systemwide centralized routes serving magnet, immersion and other special programs. Transportation questions? Contact your transportation manager with your student ID, route number and school.

Safety Starts Before Students Board the Bus

Getting students to and from school safely is a shared responsibility. MCPS operates more than 1,200 bus routes serving more than 100,000 students each day, and a few simple steps can help keep everyone safe.

• Know your route. Families should review their student’s bus route, stop and schedule before heading out each morning. 
• Be safe at the stop and on the bus. Students should stay clear of the roadway, follow the driver’s directions, remain seated and avoid distractions while riding.
• Drivers: Stop for the bus. Slow down around school buses and stops, and always obey flashing red lights and stop arms as required by Maryland law.
• Early in the year, buses may run late because of traffic, congestion or student needs. Safety comes first.

• Be at your stop on time and wait safely away from the road.
• Wait for the bus to stop and the driver to signal before approaching or crossing.
• Board safely—no pushing, shoving or horseplay.
• Listen to the bus operator and follow directions just as you would from a teacher or school administrator.
• Stay seated, keep the aisle clear and keep hands, feet and belongings inside the bus.
• Be respectful of others—no bullying, harassment, fighting, inappropriate language or disruptive behavior.
• Respect neighborhoods and property around bus stops and help keep buses clean.
• Ride your assigned bus unless you have permission to do otherwise.
• Speak up about unsafe behavior and tell the bus operator or a trusted adult if there is a problem.
• Remember: Your choices matter. Safe, responsible behavior helps everyone get to and from school safely.

Ride by the Rules: Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.

It is easier than ever to see your school’s breakfast and lunch menus, along with nutritional details, by visiting the MealViewer webpage.

Families can also learn how to add money to a child’s account through MySchoolBucks. This optional online service is for parents/guardians to make prepayments with a credit or debit card to a student's cafeteria account for breakfast, lunch and à-la-carte items. Learn more.

Have you submitted your Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application yet? Apply today! A new FARMS application must be completed every school year, even if your children qualified the previous year. Access is based on household income, and it is easy to apply. Submit the online FARMS application through MySchoolApps (translations are available). Only one application is needed per household. More information.

Now You Know Videos: English | español | 中文 | français | Português | 한국어 | tiếng Việt | አማርኛ

A few important reminders for families as the school year begins:

• Refrigerator Curriculum: MCPS will continue to share the written curriculum, a simple, one-page look at what students will learn each marking period, including major topics, themes and texts.
• No Cell, Bell to Bell: MCPS is implementing a new cellphone regulation that will help students stay focused and connected in the classroom. All personal mobile devices will be expected to be put away for all grade levels during the academic day, from the first bell through dismissal. This is expected to result in fewer disruptions, help students stay engaged in learning and keep students safer. Learn more: English | español | 中文 | français | Português | 한국어 | tiếng Việt | አማርኛ
• Student Code of Conduct: This document helps create schools that are welcoming, respectful, orderly and safe.
• Practice Safe Firearm Storage: Have firearms? Unload them, lock them up and store the ammunition separately. 
• Immunizations: Check the list of requirements to make sure your student’s immunizations are up to date. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is holding immunization clinics in August and September.
• Check out the MCPS shop: As the seasons change, so will the products in the online store, so check back regularly. Help pay down meal debt (and to show off your MCPS pride!), with your MCPS-branded merchandise.
• Back-to-School Nights: Soon, schools will be sharing information about Back-to-School Night, if they haven’t already. It’s a great opportunity to meet your student’s teacher, hear about classroom learning, expectations and goals for the year, and ask questions. We hope to see you there!
• Stay Connected: Learn about official MCPS apps and how to access them. We encourage you to download ParentSquare, the district’s mass communication and direct messaging platform for staff, parents, and high school students. Learn more. 
• Calendar Subscriptions: Stay in the know all school year long! Subscribe to the MCPS calendar to keep important dates—holidays, breaks, professional days and more—right at your fingertips. Visit the calendar page to subscribe and learn more.

Help your child build confidence and academic success with Saturday School (George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy). Programs run on Saturday mornings for students in grades K–12, focusing on reading, math, test prep and STEM enrichment, such as coding and robotics.

The opening ceremony is on Sept. 19 for families to register and learn about the program. The first tutoring session is Sept. 26 from 8:30-11 a.m.

• Cost: $85/year ($40 for FARMS recipients) by Sept. 1. Note: Fees increase to $100 / $50 FARMS after Sept. 1.
• Transportation: Free MCPS bus routes available to center sites.
• Details & Registration: saturdayschool.org

MCPS is seeking your input as it works to develop the 2027-2028 AND 2028-2029 school calendar. Please complete this survey by Sept. 20 to share your input. 

Your feedback is critical to the process. MCPS will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, and assessment schedules aligned to MCPS Board Policy IDA, School Year Calendar.

Take the survey.

MCPS is committed to promoting a safe and welcoming environment for student-athletes, coaches, spectators and our communities. MCPS Athletics is kicking off the school year with Spirited Sportsmanship and Spectator Safety Week from Sept. 4–11. Parents and spectators play an important role by modeling good sportsmanship and supporting student-athletes, coaches, officials and opposing teams.

As the district kicks off the fall season, the Fall Athletics Safety Plan includes clear expectations for respectful fan behavior, designated seating and student sections, increased staff presence, crowd-control procedures and timely end-of-game processes. Incidents involving hate, discrimination, bias or inappropriate behavior will be addressed in accordance with MCPS protocols.

On Aug. 21, MCPS celebrated the completion of construction projects with official ribbon cuttings at Burtonsville Elementary School, JoAnn Leleck Elementary School and Poolesville High School. Montgomery County Board of Education President Grace Rivera-Oven and Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor were joined by school leaders, elected officials and community members to commemorate the events. See the photos and watch the video in English | Spanish.

MCPS held its second annual Transition Day on Aug. 24, an all-day, non-instructional school experience where students got a head start on navigating their new schools before the official first day, as staff helped them adjust to new environments, routines and expectations. They met principals and teachers, toured buildings, practiced routines and connected with classmates. See photos and watch the video: English | Spanish

All MCPS students need 75 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours to graduate. MCPS has updated its SSL forms, with critical new deadlines and revised links.

Key Form Changes

• MCPS Form 560-51 (SSL Activity Verification Form) 
  • In the updated form, organizations must provide academic preparation and service action details.
  • Additional space is available for more thoughtful student reflection.
• MCPS Form 560-50 (Individual SSL Request)
  • Required for students to complete service with any community organization that is not listed as an MCPS SSL organization on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website (tinyurl.com/SSLOrganizations). 
  • Organizations must provide academic preparation and service action details.

SSL Coordinators will accept the old SSL forms until Friday, Sept. 25. Any service completed after Friday, Sept. 25, should be documented using the new forms.

MCPS Outdoor Environmental Education Programs is hosting an open house for middle school families from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Lathrop E. Smith Center. Staff will share an overview of the Smith Center’s programming, provide tours of the campus, and share information and experiences about the sixth grade Outdoor Education program. The Smith Center is located at 5110 Meadowside Lane in Rockville. Learn more and register to attend.

Join us for a family-friendly event focused on maintaining strong mental health, preventing substance use and ensuring access to care when needed. A one-mile Color Run, Walk & Roll for Recovery will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 throughout downtown Rockville. The event will also include a memorial ceremony and resource fair, where attendees will be able to connect with educators, community resources and treatment providers. Students can earn Service Learning hours for participating. Learn more and register to attend.

• Monday, Sept. 7 – Labor Day; all schools and offices closed
• Facility Advisory Committee: MCPS is seeking community members to serve on this committee for the 2026-2027 school year. Committee members will share their knowledge, experience and perspectives to help inform long-term planning for MCPS school facilities. If you're interested, complete the application by Friday, Sept. 4.

• Back-to-School Fairs: Thousands of MCPS students, parents and community members joined school system staff and community partners on Saturday, Aug. 22, to kick off the 2026-2027 school year at its six Back-to-School Fairs. Check out the photos and watch the video in English | Spanish.
• MCPS High Schools Lead Maryland in U.S. News Rankings: Five schools have been recognized as some of the top public high schools in Maryland, according to the latest rankings released by U.S. News & World Report, with Poolesville High School earning second place in the state. Read more.
• MCPS Welcomes New Principals: We asked the district’s 26 new principals (newly hired or new to their school) to share a fun or interesting fact with their school communities. Read what they had to say.

• VISIT the MCPS homepage.

• CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845).

• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.

• FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages:
  x.com/mcps / facebook.com/mcpsmd / instagram.com/mcps_md
  facebook.com/mcpsespanol / x.com/MCPSEspanol / instagram.com/mcpsenespanol

• SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.

• WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

Open Registrations

• Prekindergarten and Head Start Registration Open for Income-Eligible Families

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