MCPS suggests postponing Crown High School opening for use as holding school

Story in Bethesda Today, reporter Ashlyn Campbell. Full story here.

Declining enrollment cited as reason; boundary study change would be required

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is considering a plan to use the upcoming Crown High School in Gaithersburg, which is currently under construction, as a holding school rather than opening it in 2027 as scheduled, the district told the county school board Thursday. 

“We would like to explore the idea of potentially making Crown a holding school for a few years while we continue to assess our enrollment projections,” Taylor said, noting that the district’s enrollment is declining. “[To] make sure that we are fully utilizing our buildings to their highest and best value, this makes a lot of sense. That being said, it can make a lot of sense and still be a terrible idea.”

If the district moves ahead with the plan, the change would impact the district’s ongoing boundary study that is expected to determine which students would attend the new high school.