MCPS staff outline regional high‑school model, say first cohort will be current 7th‑graders

Montgomery County Public Schools staff on Tuesday explained a new regional high‑school model that divides the county into six geographically drawn regions and gives students the option to apply to specialized four‑year pathways within their region.

"Our regional programs are the county being divided up into 6 regions," said Ebony Lankford Brown, Director of Academic Programs, who described the change as a way to increase seats and reduce travel burdens compared with the county's older magnet program structure. She said the first cohort under the regional model will be the class of 2031 — current seventh‑grade students who will enter ninth grade in 2027–28 — while students in eighth grade and above will remain in the existing magnet or specialty programs.

Staff said the previous magnet model produced roughly 3,000 applications for about 300 available seats annually; moving to regional programs, hosted across more schools, should raise capacity and reduce wait lists. Lankford Brown told families the regional model is optional — students remain assigned to their home high school unless they apply and are offered placement at a regional program in their region.

Officials said the application season will open in October on a centralized High School Common application and that students will be notified of placements in January. Lankford Brown said final details about eligibility criteria will be posted in August and that central office will provide supporting materials and open houses in September and October.

The presentation closed with staff urging families to discuss interests with middle‑school counselors and to use the MCPS website and an upcoming feedback survey to prepare for the application cycle.