Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is reviewing elementary and middle schools for potential closures as enrollment drops for the first time in more than 40 years.

The district graduated nearly 13,000 seniors in June, while its incoming kindergarten class had roughly 9,000 students, MCPS acting Chief Operating Officer Andrea Swiatocha said, as reported by Wootton's Common Sense student newspaper. That enrollment gap is already showing up in buildings. About three out of every 10 elementary and middle schools are below 80% of capacity, 7News reported. Another 15% are above 100%.

For Potomac families, the closest chance to weigh in comes Tuesday, Dec. 1, when Herbert Hoover Middle School hosts a feedback session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Two phases, two years

MCPS has split the review into two phases, according to the district's website. Phase 1, during the current school year, focuses on closures and consolidations. Phase 2, in the 2027–2028 school year, will be a countywide boundary study for elementary schools and boundary adjustments for affected middle schools. No boundary study is happening during Phase 1, according to the district.

The district said no decisions have been made and no list of schools has been predetermined. An independent consultant will help MCPS build a decision-making framework that weighs enrollment, building conditions, educational programs, transportation, demographics and operating costs.

The superintendent is scheduled to recommend which schools to close or consolidate on Feb. 4, 2027. The Board of Education is set to vote April 15, 2027. Any approved changes would take effect in the 2029–2030 school year.

Why enrollment is falling

District-wide enrollment dropped from 165,267 students in 2019 to 156,050 in 2025, a decrease of 9,217 students, according to Common Sense. The district also reported a decline of roughly 2,000 to 3,000 international students over the previous couple of years. Swiatocha said immigration enforcement contributed to that decline but was not the only cause. Families have also moved out of the county or returned to their home countries, the district said.

MCPS said enrollment fell by more than 4,000 students this year alone, 7News reported.

Costs are climbing

The district anticipates needing about $5.1 billion for renovations and repairs over the next six years, averaging $850 million a year, according to 7News. That is more than double the $315 million spent annually over the past decade. District leaders said closures could help reduce those costs.

Buildings with fewer students still require maintenance, utilities and staff, Common Sense reported. But closing a school could also force students to travel farther or adjust to a different school community.

How to weigh in

MCPS is holding two rounds of community feedback sessions. Round 1 runs through Nov. 2. Round 2 runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 10. Virtual sessions are scheduled throughout both rounds.

County resident Julia O'Brien told NBC4 Washington that the public needs access to the information behind potential closures, as reported by Common Sense. The district's fall engagement sessions are meant to help shape the criteria used for decisions before the superintendent makes a recommendation, according to MCPS.

The Herbert Hoover session on Tuesday, Dec. 1, is the only scheduled in-person meeting at a school serving the Potomac area.