Today, the Montgomery County Sentinel featured my concerns about the decision to end Wootton High School’s permanent operations on Wootton Parkway and the implications for school capacity and investment in Rockville and Gaithersburg. The November 6 article by Tien Nguyen examines the school’s deteriorating facilities, the community’s efforts to preserve its neighborhood high school, and the consequences of relocating students.

As I told the Sentinel:

Students and teachers deserve safe, modern buildings with reliable heating, cooling, and plumbing. The facility problems described in the article reinforce why our community has advocated for rebuilding Wootton for years. Addressing those problems should include a funded plan for a permanent, modernized high school on Wootton Parkway that serves our community for generations to come.

The article also highlights my concerns about overcrowding at Churchill and the limited room for future growth that could remain at Crown after the planned relocation. Opening a new school represents a major public investment, and we should evaluate its success by how well it meets the region’s educational needs over time. Decisions about existing campuses must account for future enrollment, planned housing, and the capacity our communities will need as they grow.

Geographic equity belongs at the center of that discussion. Families in Rockville and Gaithersburg deserve a transparent explanation of how school construction and renovation priorities are established, how documented building deficiencies translate into funding decisions, and how MCPS will preserve sufficient classroom space in the communities that need it. Years of deferred investment should lead to a clear commitment to address those needs.

The Sentinel’s reporting also captures the importance of Wootton’s school community, including the sense of belonging that families describe. As both a Rockville councilmember and a Wootton parent, I understand how deeply a neighborhood school connects students, educators, and families. Those relationships deserve meaningful consideration in decisions about the school’s future.

I will continue advocating for a permanent comprehensive high school on Wootton Parkway, a funded pathway to rebuild or thoroughly modernize the campus, and school planning that addresses the long-term needs of Rockville, Gaithersburg, and our broader region. I appreciate the Sentinel’s continued attention to the families and communities affected by these decisions.

Read the full article: “Thomas S. Wootton High School closure, equity, infrastructure concerns,” by Tien Nguyen, Montgomery County Sentinel, November 6, 2026.