By Luke Thomas

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has recently advanced a proposal to restructure middle and high school programs into a new regional model, an initiative officials claim will promote “equity” and broaden access. In theory, this sounds admirable. In practice, it is deeply flawed.

MCPS argues that the current alignment gives some students more opportunities than others depending on where they live. Their solution is to dismantle long-standing, successful programs in favor of a decentralized “regional” system. While the goal of equal access is worthwhile, MCPS is prioritizing social engineering over academic excellence. Students will pay the price.

A Dismantling of Proven Programs

Under the new plan, all high schools would be divided into six regions, each containing four or five schools. Each school would host one or two themed programs—such as medical sciences, STEM, or International Baccalaureate (IB). The existing consortia and highly competitive countywide programs, including the renowned IB Program at Richard Montgomery, would be dissolved and folded into this regional model.

This is not progress. It is the dismantling of some of Montgomery County’s most rigorous academic offerings in the name of uniformity.

Burdening Students and Parents

MCPS expects families to accept significant inconvenience and disruption. Students will be forced to travel, often long distances, to participate in regional programs. For example, a Damascus High School student wishing to pursue STEM would need to be transported nearly 20 miles to Poolesville High School, a 34-minute commute each way.

This is not equitable nor is it reasonable. It uproots students from their communities and burdens parents with logistical headaches.

A Financial Boondoggle

The transportation costs alone are staggering. MCPS estimates the need for 96 new bus routes, costing:

• $100,000 per traditional bus
• $130,000 per special education bus

Total projected cost for regional program transportation in the 2027–2028 school year: $9.6 million, before counting existing transportation needs or the additional infrastructure required to make these programs functional.

This is reckless spending. MCPS controls half of the county’s entire budget, yet chooses to pour millions into buses rather than improving classroom instruction, facilities, or teacher support.

Widespread Concerns, Growing Opposition

We are far from alone in our concerns. Major stakeholders share our skepticism:

• Montgomery County Education Association (teachers union) is urging MCPS to halt the plan and give communities a real voice.
• Montgomery County Council of PTAs is calling on MCPS to slow implementation.
• Parents and local officials across the county have raised red flags about transparency, logistics, and academic outcomes.

When teachers, parents, and elected leaders all say “slow down,” MCPS should listen.

A Better Path Forward

Rather than uprooting students and erasing programs that work, MCPS should focus on strengthening under-resourced schools. Children in lower-income communities, many of them Black and Brown students, have long lacked the advantages offered at schools like Whitman High School. If MCPS truly wants equity, it should invest in these schools with:

• Highly qualified teachers
• Modernized facilities
• Advanced coursework
• Strong enrichment programs

Families shouldn’t have to send their children across the county to receive a high-quality education. And parents who invested in specific neighborhoods for their schools should not have the rules suddenly rewritten.

Conclusion

The proposed regional model is not thoughtfully designed, financially sustainable, or educationally sound. Bussing students across the county in the name of “equity” and “diversity” is a misguided experiment that jeopardizes proven programs, wastes tax dollars, and disrupts communities.

MCPS should abandon this flawed plan and refocus on what truly matters—investing directly in the schools and students who need support the most.

____________

Luke Thomas is a Montgomery County-based journalist who writes primarily about conservative issues.