Wheaton, MD (August 19, 2024) – Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will celebrate the start of the new school year with its annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, August 24, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Westfield Wheaton mall. This free event will feature family-friendly activities, entertainment, information and resources from the school system and from county programs and services. 

Dozens of MCPS offices and departments, along with government agencies and community partners will provide information and resources to families. 

This is the fifth year in which the fair has been held at Westfield Wheaton mall thanks to our partnership with Westfield bringing these valuable resources and information to the community. 

Key highlights of the 2024 fair Include: 

• School system staff answering questions about programs.
• Interactive activities for children and families from KID Museum.
• Live entertainment, including a DJ, Zumba dance performance and more.
• AskMCPS! table staffed with school system community navigators and representatives.
• Free Kaiser Mobile health screenings.
• Montgomery County Recreation Department. 
• Representatives from local theater companies 
• Free immunizations for children 5 years old and up. 
• First responder mobile units.
• Health and wellness resources, including many focused on mental health.

The fair will largely take place in the mall’s North parking lot. 

MCPS will offer free, round-trip shuttle buses between the fair and the following MCPS high schools:

• Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Blvd., Gaithersburg
• John F. Kennedy High School, 1901 Randolph Road, Silver Spring
• Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring
• Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville
• Wheaton High School, 12401 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring

The first shuttle will depart from high schools at 9 a.m. and the last shuttle will leave Westfield Wheaton at 2 p.m.Westfield Wheaton is located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton.

**  Members of the media are asked to contact Liliana Lopez,  Liliana_L_Lopez@mcpsmd.org  240-753-8492 to RSVP for the event or to do a pre/post story on this effort. **