These days, there's a word that comes up at least once a day in parent group chats: Woodward and Crown.

However, if you listen closely to the conversations, many people seem confused. Some believe that two new high schools are opening together in 2027.

To get straight to the point, part of that is correct, and part is not. So today, I will summarize only the confirmed information.

First, the date. The Montgomery County Board of Education passed two boundary adjustment proposals on March 26, 2026.

The vote was 7 to 1, with one dissenting vote from Commissioner Julie Yang. The changes will take effect starting in the 2027-28 school year.

The first focus is the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School. The address is 11211 Old Georgetown Road, near North Bethesda.

This building has been used as a temporary school, or holding school, during the construction of Northwood High School. The completion goal stated in the county budget documents is August 2027.

The reason for reopening is simple: Walter Johnson and Downcounty Consortium schools are filled to capacity.

The new school district is centered around North Bethesda and Rockville. As a result, the boundaries for Walter Johnson, B-CC, Whitman, Blair, Kennedy, Northwood, Wheaton, and Einstein have all shifted.

The Board of Education documents also indicate that Wheaton Woods Elementary School will be assigned to Woodward. The scope is broader than expected.

The second focus is Crown, where the most misunderstandings occur. The original plan was to open a completely new high school on the Gaithersburg Crown site.

However, the final plan was different. Wootton High School will move, along with its students and staff, to the new Crown building.

The distance between the two schools is about 3 miles. The existing Wootton building, which opened in 1971, is severely outdated and will become a holding school for future school construction.

This also includes an expansion of Damascus High School. The plan aims to address overcrowding in the northern region all at once.

The third point, which is surprisingly less known, is the regional program model. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, the county will be divided into six regions to offer specialized programs like IB within those regions.

So, will our kids have to change schools immediately? This is what everyone is most curious about.

According to the superintendent's recommendations, changes will not happen all at once. Eighth graders in middle school will remain at their current schools, and full implementation will occur in the 2028-29 school year.

For high school, upperclassmen will graduate from their original schools, and changes will be phased in over two years, concluding in the 2029-30 school year. Since the application varies by grade, be sure to consider your child's grade level.

There is one more variable. The group CEPA, which opposes the Wootton relocation, filed an objection with the state Board of Education on April 27.

Although it's called a relocation, it's essentially a closure, and the main argument is that they avoided the closure procedures required by state regulations. Some parents have even hired law firms.

The request for an emergency stay was denied, and the case has been transferred to the state administrative court in July. Reports indicate that a hearing schedule for evidence was set for early September.

Therefore, at this point, there is no basis to say that the plans have completely changed. However, it is also too early to conclude that a decision has been made.

Honestly, if I may share my thoughts, there were many disappointing aspects of the decision-making process. It's hard for residents to accept that relocating a decades-old school can be summarized with just the word "relocation."

I'm also concerned about the regional program model. While expanding accessibility is good, we need to see if programs that attracted talented students will not be diluted.

So what should we do? If I were a parent, here's how I would proceed.

First, I would open the final map on the boundary study page of the MCPS website and check which school my home address is assigned to. The map is more accurate than rumors.

Next, I would calculate my child's grade based on the 2027-28 school year to see if they are subject to phased implementation. Then, I would email the school counselor to ask again.

If you are planning to move or buy a house, it's safer to wait for the administrative court's decision. I recommend avoiding contracts based solely on what the realtor says.

Finally, remember that a follow-up boundary study for all elementary schools in the county has also been approved. The story in our neighborhood is not over yet.