Author: htcawebmaster

MCPS Boundary Study Update

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Dear neighbors:

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is preparing to release a new set of options for the Woodward boundary study, which has implications for our neighborhood’s middle and high school assignments. MCPS will release the options on Monday, October 6, and discuss them during a series of public information meetings next week. Please see the meeting schedule and access information below and consider participating.

On behalf of the Huntington Terrace Citizen’s Association (HTCA), I will follow up next week with more information about the next round of proposed options and opportunities for our community to weigh in. We are hopeful that these new options reflect our strong preference for keeping the Bradley Hills Elementary School community together in the Whitman cluster, as expressed to MCPS and the Board of Education through extensive advocacy over the summer. 

More to come soon.

– Marissa, HTCA Board  

MCPS BOUNDARY STUDY OPTIONS MEETINGS

MCPS announced upcoming public information meetings regarding the Woodward boundary study.  In these sessions, the next round of proposed boundary options for the 2027-2028 school year will be presented, including accompanying maps, articulation patterns, data tables and an interactive map tool. We encourage you to attend one of the meetings.

See the MCPS Boundary Study webpage for more information.

Virtual Sessions for the Woodward Study

In-Person Sessions for the Woodward Study*

  • Tuesday, Oct. 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School 
  • Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School 
  • Wednesday, Oct. 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Montgomery Blair High School 
  • Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Montgomery Blair High School 

*Note that boundary study maps and additional resources will be available for the in-person sessions.

Keeping BHES in the Whitman Cluster

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Dear HTCA Neighbors:

As the Montgomery County Board of Education considers proposed boundary changes for high school clusters throughout the county, it’s critical that our community speaks with a united voice.

Of four proposals put forward in May, the Bradley Hills Elementary School PTA supports two options – Option 1 and Option 4 – as both prioritize our students’ stability and safety by keeping Bradley Hills Elementary School in its current Whitman cluster. The other two options put forward would split the BHES community in half, or force our kids to navigate major roadways to get to new middle and high schools while nearly doubling their commuting time.

The Board of Education is currently taking community feedback on all four proposed options before offering new changes in the fall. We need your help to ensure the Board of Education hears from as many BHES families as possible.

Here’s how to get involved:

  • Fill out the Board of Education Survey on the Proposed Options: Complete the BOE survey before July 15th to make sure the Board knows how we feel here in the community – utilize the BHES PTA Talking Points and cite Bradley Hills ES specifically in your answers!
  • Attend a BOE Virtual Hours Meeting: Join an MCPS virtual meeting and make sure the county knows to keep Bradley Hills Together!
  • Send an Email or Letter to the Board: Help make sure every member of the Board knows we are united by sending an email or letter to them supporting keeping Bradley Hills together!
  • Get the Word Out: Share all this information with friends and neighbors, or even better, sign up to hand flyers out on your street one neighbor at a time! (We’ll even get you copies of flyers to hand out if you need them!).

Are you better with a hard copy? Let the HTCA Board know and we’ll bring you paper copies to make sure your voice is added to the community!

Sincerely,

Marissa Morabito Reilly (HTCA Board)

MCPS Boundary Study and Potential Impact on Our Neighborhood

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Dear Neighbors,

As you may know, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is conducting a boundary study, prompted by the planned opening of Crown High School in Gaithersburg, the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School on Old Georgetown Road in Rockville, and the expansion of Damascus High School. The goal is to reassign student populations to reduce overcrowding and better utilize school facilities.

This study potentially impacts the following high schools: Whitman, Walter Johnson, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Wheaton, Blair, Kennedy, Einstein, and Northwood. The study will also potentially impact 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. Currently, Huntington Terrace is zoned for Whitman High School and Pyle Middle School.

MCPS is circulating this feedback survey and, for your convenience, please note Bradley Hills Elementary School PTA talking points attached as a helpful guide when completing the survey. Of the initial options presented below, the BHES PTA supports Option 1, ensuring stability for students and our community. The survey is due at the end of June. It’s important that MCPS hears from as many neighbors and community members as possible.

Last month, MCPS consultants proposed four potential boundary options, each emphasizing a different priority: stability, utilization, diversity, and geography. Although each option emphasizes only one priority (rather than balancing them all) and none are final, the options should be treated as final for the purpose of providing feedback. To learn more about the Boundary Study click here. Final recommendations are expected in early 2026, with changes taking effect in the 2027–2028 school year.

Option 1: Stability

·        What happens to the Huntington Terrace Neighborhood: No change in articulation. Huntington Terrace students continue to attend Pyle and Whitman.

·        If you are in favor of this option, it’s worth emphasizing community cohesion, minimizing disruption, continuity, and proximity as important to you.

·        If you are against this option, it’s worth emphasizing the other factors.

·        As noted above, the Bradley Hills PTA and community supports this option.

Option 2: Facility Utilization

·        What happens to the Huntington Terrace Neighborhood: Huntington Terrace goes to North Bethesda MS and Walter Johnson. This option has a lot of split articulation county-wide and Bradley Hills is no exception. Bradmoor and Hillmead will go to WJ, while Bradley Hills students south of Bradley Blvd and east of Huntington Pkwy remain at Whitman.

·        This is the only option that brings facility utilization (students vs capacity) under 100% country wide at current student populations.

·        If you’re in favor of this option, it’s worth emphasizing balancing school enrollment and capacity.

·        If you are against this option, it’s worth emphasizing community cohesion, minimizing disruption, continuity, and proximity, as important to you.

Option 3: Diversity

·        What happens to the Huntington Terrace Neighborhood: All of Bradley Hills goes to Westland MS and BCC. In this option Chevy Chase goes to Blair and neighborhoods in Silver Spring go to Whitman and Blair.

·        This option would result in many students county-wide being bused all over, adding extensive travel time and cost for many schools. To learn more about this option, read this article: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/05/28/mcpss-insane-boundary-maps/.

o   Although Huntington Terrace is not impacted by the busing, a revised version of this option could change that.

·        This option aims to address disparities in race and economic status at different schools.

·        If you’re in favor of this option, it’s worth emphasizing diversity as being important to you.

·        If you’re against this option, it’s worth emphasizing community cohesion, minimizing disruption, continuity, and proximity, as important to you.

Option 4: Geography

·        What happens to the Huntington Terrace Neighborhood: No change in articulation. Huntington Terrace still goes to Pyle and Whitman. 

·        There are some other changes to the Whitman district like Wood Acres going to Westland. 

·        This option has a lot of split articulation county wide, but not for Huntington Terrace specifically.

·        If you are in favor of this option, it’s worth emphasizing community cohesion, minimizing disruption, continuity, and proximity as important to you.

·        If you are against this option, it’s worth emphasizing the other factors.

Thank you for consideration of this ongoing study – ensuring our voices are heard will help build our community with minimal disruption for our students.

Cordially, 

Your HTCA Board