September 30, 2025: New Boundary Study Options Coming Soon
Where are we now in the boundary study process?
MCPS is preparing to release the next round of boundary study options on October 6, 2025. These new options are based on community feedback from the first round and will reflect MCPS’s commitment to the criteria in Board Policy FAA.
This fall’s release marks the next and possibly last round of community input before the Superintendent makes a formal recommendation to the Board of Education.
What factors and feedback are being considered?
MCPS has stated that the next set of options will be shaped by both Board Policy FAA criteria and the strongest themes from community input so far. Specifically:
Proximity: Prioritizing proximity of neighborhoods to schools (the #1 theme of community feedback).
Transportation: Minimizing bus ride length and maximizing safe walk zones where possible.
Split articulation: Avoiding disproportionate feeder splits that divide neighborhoods.
Stability: Minimizing disruptions for communities that recently went through boundary changes or that face multiple transitions.
Capacity: Keeping schools within 80–100% efficient facility utilization.
Fiscal responsibility: Considering costs of staffing, transportation, and facilities associated with each option.
(Source: MCPS August 2025 boundary study presentation slide)
What are the official next steps?
October 6, 2025 – MCPS releases the refined boundary options. PTA Boundary Committee will meet that day to review options.
October 7, 2025- BHES PTA meeting to explain latest options and next steps.
October–November 2025 – Final round of community engagement: surveys, in-person and virtual meetings, and public comment.
Winter 2025–26 – Superintendent reviews all data and input, then makes a formal recommendation to the Board of Education.
February/March 2026 – Board of Education holds public hearings and work sessions.
March 2026 – The Board votes on new boundaries. Once approved, MCPS sets the implementation schedule.
What will the PTA do?
The BHES PTA will:
Provide language, talking points, and advocacy channels to help families and community members give clear, effective feedback.
Host information sessions/meetings so parents can understand the options and impacts.
Share updates and resources (maps, data tables, survey links).
Coordinate with other PTAs to present a stronger, unified voice.
Encourage broad participation, ensuring families and community members are represented.
How can I as an individual support?
Complete the community feedback survey when the October 6 options are released.
Attend MCPS meetings (virtual or in-person) to learn more and ask questions.
Stay informed and share updates with friends and neighbors.
Join PTA meetings and discussions to help shape the collective voice of our community.
Every voice matters. Surveys, comments, and testimony are how MCPS and the Board measure what matters most to families.
July 24, 2025: Board of Education Meeting
PTA president Jen Villani and parent Reena Samantaray testified at the meeting to articulate the concerns of the BHES community.
June 3, 2025: BHES PTA Boundary Study Position
On June 3, over 100 members of the BHES community gathered to discuss and draft the BHES PTA's official response to the initial options. The community was encouraged to participate in the survey and spread the work in local neighborhoods about the impact these options have on our school committee.
May 27, 2025: four initial options were released with a survey soliciting community feedback:
What is a Boundary Study?
A Boundary Study is a periodic review of school boundaries–e.g., which neighborhoods and addresses attend which schools.
Which Boundary Study impacts our community?
The Woodward High School boundary study includes the Whitman cluster. Here is a video explainer from MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor:
How often does it happen?
Boundary studies happen periodically depending on available facilities and student enrollment. MCPS wants to make sure schools have appropriate enrollment and resources devoted to them.
Why is this happening?
This Boundary Study is happening because MCPS is opening a new high school–Charles W. Woodward High School, on Old Georgetown Road, with a capacity of over 2,000 students–in order to help ease over-enrollment concerns at other local high schools, notably Blair, Walter Johnson, Einstein, and Wheaton. Woodward is expected to open in 2027. See this link for more information: https://gis.mcpsmd.org/boundarystudypdfs/WoodwardHS_BoundaryStudyScope.pdf
What high schools are affected?
This Boundary Study impacts the following high schools: Whitman, Walter Johnson, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Wheaton, Blair, Kennedy, Einstein, and Northwood.
What middle schools are affected?
This Boundary Study impacts the following middle schools: Pyle, Argyle, Parkland, Sligo, Eastern, Takoma Park, Loiederman, Shannon, Tilden, Newport Mill, Silver Creek, Westland, North Bethesda, and Silver Spring International.
Are boundaries for elementary schools being redrawn?
No.
If we attend Bradley Hills now, will we continue to be in the Bradley Hills zone after this?
Yes.
What is the timeline for the Boundary Study?
September 2024—Request for Proposal was released
December 2024—Board of Education approves consultant, FLO Analytics [delayed until Dec 5 meeting]
April 2025—Informational community meetings; initial survey
May/June 2025—Community meetings; initial options survey
July/August 2025—FLO Analytics synthesizes feedback and refines options
September 2025—Community meetings; refined options survey
October/November 2025—FLO Analytics synthesizes feedback and further refines options
December 2025—Option development for Superintendent recommendation
Early 2026—Boundary study report is released
February 2026—Superintendent of schools’ recommendation on the boundary study is released
February/March 2026—Board of Education work sessions, public hearings, and action on the superintendent of schools’ recommendation on the boundary study
August 2027—reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School; implementation of new boundaries
https://gis.mcpsmd.org/boundarystudypdfs/WoodwardHS_BoundaryStudyTimeline.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/boundary-study/
What factors does MCPS consider during a Boundary Study?
The boundary study process is guided by MCPS Board of Education Policy FAA, Educational Facilities Planning, and Regulation FAA-FA, Educational Facilities Planning. Four factors will be considered when recommendations for boundary options are developed:
Diversity
Proximity
Stability
Facility utilization
Can you guarantee that Bradley Hills will continue to send students to Pyle and then Whitman?
No, we cannot guarantee anything–the Boundary Study process has to play out. However, it is worth noting that all of the Bradley Hills district is within the walking distance zone for Whitman, that Whitman has additional capacity available following the recent improvements made at the school, and that the Whitman cluster has always been correlated with Pyle.
Is there a chance that there are no changes to the Whitman/Pyle cluster after this Boundary Study?
Yes, the Whitman/Pyle cluster could remain unchanged. It depends on the results of the Boundary Study.
What is the purpose of this committee?
This committee was formed to follow the Boundary Study and keep our community apprised of how it could impact Bradley Hills families.
How can I engage with the committee?
Please send any inquiries and comments to the committee to Kara Ghassabeh (karamaureen@gmail.com).
Will the committee provide updates?
Yes - we will provide relevant updates through the Weekly Whale, and also will provide updates as needed at PTA meetings.
How can I impact the process?
The best way to impact the process is to stay informed and attend the public hearings.
Can the public participate in hearings?
Of course! We will pass along public hearing opportunities as they become available.
What can I expect from this committee?
We plan to coordinate with other PTAs within the Whitman cluster with the goal of providing fact-based, relevant feedback about our community that can be incorporated into the Boundary Study as needed.