Don’t Sit This Out - Complete 2nd Boundary Study Survey by January 9th
Elaine Liao Avin
Don’t Sit This Out - Complete The Second Woodward Boundary Study Survey by January 9th
As the process evolves and additional options are introduced, it’s important that we continue to voice our support for keeping the majority of KP together and articulating to our current schools. While we would like to see some changes, we don’t want our voices lost to louder voices who are addressing other issues raised in this study. Silence could be mistaken for apathy leaving room for outcomes that don’t reflect our priorities.
Please take the survey! Even if you already submitted one, submit again as there are additional options to evaluate.
See below for updated guidance on how to complete the survey. The survey closes January 9th!
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Question: Which factor(s) do you consider the most important for boundary reassignments?
Suggested response: We recommend at least selecting ‘Stability of School Assignments Over Time,’ but you may select as many as you see fit.
Question: Which option(s) do you prefer?
Suggested response: Select Options A,C,E,G - Select these options and then add in your additional feedback to also include KP Tuckerman to NB and WJ.
Background/Rationale: All options put KP (minus KP students living in the Tuckerman neighborhood) articulating to North Bethesda and Walter Johnson, and KP students living in the Tuckerman neighborhood articulating to Tilden and Woodward. MCPS also updated projected facility utilization numbers on 10/29/2025 resulting in North Bethesda at 91% post boundary changes, a decrease from 104% in the prior estimate.
As of 12/1/2025, there are 3 additional options added resulting in a total of 7 options (Options A - G). The last 3 options (Options E - G) were created in response to the potential closure of the Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS). As of 12/12/2025, the Board of Education decided to defer the decision on closure; however, it is still important to comment on all options on the table. The options presented segment the schools in the Woodward Boundary study into two Programming Regions (Region 1 and Region 3). We are in Region 3, SSIMS is in Region 1. This means that even with SSIMS not closing in the near future, there are some slight variations in Options E-G for Region 3, and specifically in our WJ cluster, that we may find desirable and could be implemented without a domino effect to Region 1.
From a KP standpoint, Options A - G are not different; HOWEVER, these options split Garrett Park in different and subtle ways (see map summary) and it does have some variations as to whether WJ will have new schools articulating in (see options summary). The desire of MCPS to eliminate “islands” in school assignments and the proximity of KP Tuckerman to Woodward appear to be the main reasons that KP Tuckerman has been split off from KP in every option. The recommended options along with the ask to keep KP Tuckerman with the rest of KP provides a "contiguous" boundary outcome based on MCPS' interpretation of "islands".
Additional Feedback (please use or augment to reflect your personal feedback):
We appreciate the effort it takes to conduct a boundary study of this scale, and we want to thank MCPS and the BOE for listening to our community’s feedback and continuing to keep the majority of Kensington Parkwood (KP) students articulating together to North Bethesda Middle School and Walter Johnson High School, alongside our North Bethesda Middle School Community neighbors at Ashburton and Wyngate Elementary Schools.
We ask MCPS to adjust options to reflect keeping the KP Tuckerman community articulated with the rest of Kensington Parkwood ES to North Bethesda MS and Walter Johnson HS. Tuckerman is not an “island,” but an integral part of the Kensington Parkwood community. With only ~90–100 elementary students, 50–60 middle school students, and ~70 high school students, the area is too small to justify split articulation and would benefit most from stability and continuity with its long-standing cohort. Additionally, Tuckerman Lane presents significant pedestrian safety challenges due to its width, traffic speed, and access points, and is not considered a safe walking corridor for adolescents; as a result, bus transportation is required regardless of school assignment, making proximity a secondary consideration. Since reassignment provides no capacity benefit, safety and stability should guide this boundary decision. Notably, 94% of Kensington Parkwood Elementary families and 90% of North Bethesda Middle School families from the KP Tuckerman community support maintaining the current articulation.
Resources:
Elaine Liao Avin
(resending to remove yellow highlights that made some parts illegible)