Superintendent Releases MCPS Boundary Recommendations and Model for Regional Secondary Programs

February 5, 2026

Rockville, Md. -- Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor presented a visionary set of programmatic and boundary recommendations to the Montgomery County Board of Education on Feb. 5, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to provide every student with world-class learning environments and learning experiences. By recommending a modified version of Option B for the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School and a modified version of Option H for the relocation of Thomas S. Wootton High School to Crown Farm, the district is taking a proactive step toward managing growth and community needs.

Boundary adjustments represent more than just lines on a map; they represent a transition for families and a shift in the daily lives of our students. While we understand that change can be challenging in the short term, these recommendations are designed with a long-term mindset.

“We understand that transitions of this scale require patience, transparency and partnership,” said Superintendent Taylor. “We have done our due diligence to ensure these recommendations are not just a fix for today, but a foundation for tomorrow.”

For both boundary studies, the decision-making process was rooted in Board policy which establishes four essential pillars that ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive. The Superintendent’s recommendations are a significant step toward these goals:

Address outdated school assignment patterns;
Make good use of our facility assets;
Achieve infrastructure improvements more quickly and efficiently;
Conserve constrained fiscal resources and taxpayer funds; and
Give as many students as possible in our school system access to excellent learning environments and opportunities.

Woodward/Northwood Recommendation (modified Option B)
The recommendation focuses on creating a sustainable balance across the region. Under modified Option B, students from Farmland, Luxmanor, Viers Mill and Wheaton Woods elementary schools will form the foundation of the new Woodward High School community.

To maintain regional balance, Garrett Park and Kensington-Parkwood elementary schools will feature split articulation between Woodward and Walter Johnson high schools. Additionally, Kemp Mill Elementary School students will be reassigned to John F. Kennedy High School and Flora Singer Elementary School students will move to Northwood High School.

By making these shifts today, the district is reducing overcrowding and ensuring that paired schools maintain stable, straight articulation for students.

Wootton at Crown Farm Recommendation (modified Option H)
The recommendation to relocate Thomas S. Wootton High School to the Crown Farm site is a strategic move that addresses both immediate safety and infrastructure concerns, and long-term fiscal health. By choosing to relocate rather than open a 27th high school, we are responding to updated enrollment data showing needs can be met more efficiently with the current number of schools. This is not a closure of Thomas S. Wootton High School—this is a move of the school to a new building. With this relocation, Wootton families will transition to a state-of-the-art facility designed for 21st-century learning. Beyond a newer facility, this relocation will increase the number of students who walk to school in the cluster.

The move also will contribute to systemwide revitalization. The current Wootton building will transition into a much-needed holding school, allowing MCPS to accelerate complete school renovations and other major projects, such as HVAC upgrades at other schools across the district, without disrupting student learning.

By navigating these adjustments now, we are securing a stable future for our students, ensuring that the schools they attend today are equipped to handle the community’s needs for decades to come.

Secondary Regional Programming

Establishing geographic groupings of high school clusters will provide more direct instructional and operational support while expanding equitable access to programs countywide.

The recommendation is designed to:
- Correct long-standing inequities in access to academic and specialty programs
- Expand program offerings to better match student interests, needs, and abilities
- Shift from a scarcity model to an abundance of options, placing high-quality programs closer to where students live
- Improve transportation efficiency by aligning programs and services regionally
Under the proposed model, students would have increased access to a broad range of regional program pathways, including:
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Leadership and Public Service
- Medical Science and Health
- Visual and Performing Arts, Design, and Communication
- International Baccalaureate, Humanities, and World Languages

Next steps: In February and March, MCPS will begin educator-led program pathway development, conduct family interest surveys, host elementary and middle school information nights, and in April, launch early outreach to support informed student choice as the regional program approach moves forward.