By Christina O’Dea & Dillon Dahan – The Legendary Homes Team at TTR Sotheby’s, Your “Live at Crown” Real Estate Experts.
A Pivotal Moment for Education in Gaithersburg
For years, residents of Downtown Crown have watched the construction of the brand-new, $180 million Crown High School with immense anticipation. Slated to open its doors in August 2027, the five-story, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly facility was originally designed to relieve severe overcrowding at neighboring high schools like Quince Orchard, Gaithersburg, Northwest, and Richard Montgomery.
However, as the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) boundary study comes to a close, a highly debated new proposal has emerged—one that has sparked passionate responses from both Rockville and Gaithersburg communities. With the Board of Education’s final vote scheduled for March 26th, here is everything you need to know about the proposed redistricting and how it impacts those who live at Crown.
Understanding “Modified Option H” and the Wootton Proposal
On February 5th, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor officially presented his boundary recommendations to the Board of Education. To the surprise of many, the recommendation centered around a “Modified Option H.”
What does this mean?
Instead of drawing new, localized boundary lines to pull students from surrounding overcrowded schools, the superintendent recommended permanently relocating the entirety of the Thomas S. Wootton High School student body from Rockville into the new Crown High School facility starting in the 2027–2028 school year.
- The Rationale: The current Wootton High School building is aging rapidly and requires an estimated $300 million in renovations. By moving Wootton students into the new Crown facility, MCPS can repurpose the old Wootton building as a temporary “holding school.” This allows the county to rotate other school populations through the holding facility while their permanent schools undergo major capital renovations, saving the county significant time and money.
What This Means for Crown Residents
This proposal has ignited a massive community response. Wootton families have held rallies to “Save Wootton,” fighting to keep their long-standing neighborhood school intact and demanding renovations instead of relocation.
On the flip side, residents of Crown and the City of Gaithersburg have voiced their own serious concerns.
- The Neighborhood Expectation: When you live at Crown, walkability is the ultimate amenity. Many families purchased homes here with the expectation that their children would be able to walk down the street to the new high school.
- The Boundary Uncertainty: Under some iterations of Option H, families living right here in the Crown footprint could potentially be zoned out of the new facility and sent to Gaithersburg High School instead.
- Community Investment: Crown families and developers paid substantial local impact taxes to help fund this specific school to address mid-county overcrowding. Residents are now actively advocating for the Board of Education to honor that initial vision and ensure Crown High School serves the immediate Gaithersburg community.
The Real Estate Perspective
As the real estate team that has sold more homes in Crown than any other agents, we are closely monitoring how this affects our local market.
The good news: No matter the outcome of the March 26th vote, having a $180 million, state-of-the-art educational facility essentially on the edge of the neighborhood is a massive net positive for Crown’s overarching property values. New infrastructure of this magnitude always acts as a stabilizing force for real estate.
However, localized boundary assignments are critical. A school assignment that allows Crown residents to walk their children to a brand-new facility will drive the highest possible buyer demand and resale value. We are keeping a close pulse on the data and will continue to advise our buyers and sellers based on the Board’s final ruling.
The March 26th Vote: Make Your Voice Heard
The decision is not yet final. The Montgomery County Board of Education is currently holding a series of work sessions and public hearings throughout February and March.
The final vote to determine the fate of Crown High School and the Wootton relocation will take place on Thursday, March 26th. If you live at Crown and want to ensure your voice is heard regarding your child’s future school assignment, we highly encourage you to participate in the upcoming BOE public hearings or submit written testimony through the official MCPS website.