Publications

Regional Magnet Programs in MCPS: Proposed Changes and Community Response

Montgomery County Public Schools is considering making a dramatic shift in how students gain access to magnet and specialty programs. For years, countywide programs such as the one offered in Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science at Montgomery Blair High School and the International Baccalaureate program at Richard Montgomery High School have attracted candidates throughout the county. Now, MCPS is moving toward approval of its new regional programming model, which will

MCPS Transportation: How Transportation Challenges Affect Students Daily

Over the last few years, MCPS has faced many transportation challenges. Students are boarding overcrowded buses, unexpected route cancellations occur, and there is a lack of transparency and communication regarding bus arrivals and delays. Although MCPS once established an electric bus program as a national model, the district has since ended its contract with Highland Electric Fleets due to mechanical failures and reports of financial waste. MCPS superintendent Thomas Taylor

Op-Ed: Beyond Budget Battles—Keeping Sustainability a Priority in MCPS

Individuals and communities across the world increasingly feel climate change’s devastating effects. If we do not take immediate action to address pressing environmental issues, we risk causing irreversible damage, not only to the environment but to the future of society as a whole. Recent climate reports continue to confirm these warnings, highlighting the urgency for local action. ____________________________________________________________________________ Montgomery County

MCPS's New Grading Policy

This 2025-2026 school year, a new grading policy was enforced in Montgomery County Public Schools. Many students have been informed of this “Return to Rigor” plan, and many express different opinions and feelings towards it; concern has been the most prominent. However, there has been a shift in academic behavior and mindset as a result of this new grading policy. ___________________________________________________ Previously, semester grades were based on a grade calculatio