Chinese American Parents Association of Montgomery County (CAPA-MC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Chinese American Parents Association of Montgomery County (CAPA-MC), representing families throughout Montgomery County, is dedicated to educational excellence, strategic long-term planning, and equitable investment in our public schools. After careful consideration, we share the same concerns as the Wootton PTSA and Magruder PTSA regarding the proposed relocation of Wootton High School to the Crown site and the conversion of its current facility into a holding school.  

Our Concerns

1. Preserving Long-Term Capacity

The Rockville–Gaithersburg corridor is one of the county’s fastest-growing areas. Removing a comprehensive high school from this growth corridor without adding durable, long-term capacity risks constraining future flexibility and placing additional pressure on surrounding schools.

2. Responsible Long-Range Planning

Boundary and facility decisions must be guided by forward-looking projections and preserve options for future growth. Infrastructure decisions that are difficult to reverse should not rely primarily on short-term utilization metrics.

3. Equity in Modernization and Investment

Communities that have waited years for modernization—particularly those with high Facility Condition Index needs—should not face further delays as a result of avoidable relocation decisions. If a facility is considered inadequate for one student population, it should not become a long-term solution for another.

4. Minimizing Community Disruption

Relocating an established high school community would create significant transportation, feeder pattern, and stability challenges across multiple clusters, without clearly resolving underlying capacity needs.

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Our Position

CAPA-MC supports:

• Timely modernization funding for both Wootton and Magruder High Schools
• A transparent and data-driven approach to boundary planning
• Opening Crown High School to serve its intended community
• Preserving long-term high school capacity in growth areas
• Ensuring equitable and sustainable capital investment decisions

We respectfully urge the Board of Education to carefully reconsider the Superintendent’s recommendation and pursue a solution that protects students, preserves capacity, and reflects sound, responsible planning for Montgomery County’s future.

Our Commitment

CAPA-MC remains committed to constructive dialogue and collaboration with families, PTAs, elected officials, and MCPS leadership to ensure that decisions prioritize students and long-term educational equity. We believe this vision requires thoughtful planning, transparent communication, and genuine partnership with the community.

We stand ready to collaborate with MCPS leadership, BOE members, and fellow advocacy organizations to ensure that future programming decisions reflect the best interests of all Montgomery County students.

For questions or media inquiries, please contact:
Chinese American Parents Association of Montgomery County (CAPA-MC)
Email: capamc@capamc.org
Website: https://www.capamc.org