Montgomery County deliberates regional program model and boundary study as parents, students press for access and clarity

Montgomery County Public Schools officials presented a working plan on Aug. 21 to redraw secondary school boundaries and shift many countywide magnets into a six‑region model intended to expand program access, while parents, students and advocacy groups urged the board to slow the rollout, clarify transportation and staffing costs, and preserve existing programs.

The presentation, led by Chief Operations Officer Adnan Mamoun and Chief Academic Officer Nikki Porter, laid out a phased timeline that would begin implementation in the 2027–28 school year as two new high schools open (Crown and Woodward), with full transition through the 2029–30 school year. Superintendent Thomas Taylor framed the plan as an equity effort: “Strong existing programs are not being eliminated. Our plan is to preserve and expand on those successes,” he said.

The staff proposal calls for six geographic regions, each hosting a set of regional program themes (five themes and 15 program strands in total) so students can access rigorous programs closer to home. Staff said the county currently has roughly 3,000 grade‑8 applicants for programs but only about 1,438 seats across full‑time programs. Officials told the board they hope the regional model will reduce travel burdens and widen access for students who now cannot attend programs because of distance or limited seats.

Why it matters: advocates and staff both described competing priorities — expanding…