Parents Can Dive Into School Boundaries Using Online Tool

ROCKVILLE, MD — Consultants with WXY Studio, the firm hired to do a districtwide boundary analysis for Montgomery County Public Schools, have unveiled an interactive tool that lets parents see the demographics, location, and enrollment of each school.

The online database debuted at an MCPS webinar on Tuesday, and is part of phase two of WXY's countywide school boundaries analysis.

The study, which was authorized by the Montgomery County Board of Education in January 2019, has been a source of contention for many residents. School officials and WXY consultants say the purpose of this study isn't to redraw boundaries, but to examine their impact on school capacity, student demographics, and travel patterns. Yet, the prospect of redistricting schools has led to protests and shouting matches at past informational meetings.

"There are tons and tons of decisions that need to be made before even thinking about boundary changes. And the tool is not intended for that purpose," said WXY consultant Kushan Dave. "The intention here is to make sure that (we can provide) the depth and breadth of information that somebody needs to know about a school system before (making) a decision to change a boundary or not."

MCPS says WXY's final report is expected to be released to the public in January or February of 2021. The report will not include recommendations on boundary changes.

"This is a great data tool to understand what our county looks like ... where there's high utilization and racial dissimilarity, and/or the proximity to school," MCPS spokesman Derek Turner said. "It's really just a way for our community, and our (school) board, and our staff to better understand — in a visual data way — how our county looks."

MCPS and WXY will be holding more informational meetings this month. The public can RSVP to them here.