Clarksburg Deserves Stability: A Community Response to Yet Another School Boundary Study

Another boundary study is underway for Montgomery County Public Schools. This one is designed to address the opening of Crown High School and the expansion of Damascus High School, both planned for the 2027–2028 school year. While boundary studies are a necessary part of managing growth, for those of us in Clarksburg, they’ve become something more—a source of persistent disruption to our students, families, and community.

Since moving to Clarksburg in 2018, I have hoped to help build the kind of strong, connected school community that drew us here. As a parent, a former PTSA president, and now as Treasurer of the Clarksburg Neighbors Alliance, I’ve seen firsthand how important schools are to the fabric of a community. They are where friendships form, where families meet and connect, and where we build shared experiences. Schools serve as a significant foundational building block for our children (and their families), especially during their formative years.

Clarksburg schools, though, have felt more like shifting sands instead of a stable foundation.

A History of Constant Change

Since 2006, Clarksburg families have experienced eight separate boundary studies connected to school openings—Clarksburg HS (2006), Rocky Hill MS (2009), Little Bennett ES (2010), Wilson Wims ES (2012), Hallie Wells MS (2014), Snowden Farm ES (2018), Seneca Valley HS (2019), and Cabin Branch ES (2021). Now, in 2025, we face our ninth boundary study.

Every single family in Clarksburg with children in MCPS has experienced at least one school reassignment—many more than once. While boundary adjustments are inevitable in a growing area, the sheer number of changes in our community has caused real harm. They have continuously disrupted friendships, broken apart peer groups, and weakened community ties before they had a chance to take root. When we think we have stabilized, the sands shift again and dismantle the foundations we have laid down.

Split Articulation: Breaking Community Connections

Clarksburg is also one of the few places in Montgomery County where students articulate to multiple high schools—Clarksburg, Damascus, Seneca Valley, and even Poolesville. This split articulation means students who start elementary school together often find themselves split apart by middle or high school. Friendships, support networks, and family connections are fractured every few years.

nstead of fostering a unified community, these constant changes make it harder for students and families to feel a sense of belonging. As I said in my recent testimony to the Board of Education

“One of my favorite quotes is by director Mira Nair: ‘It is because my roots are so strong that I can fly.’ Our students haven’t had that opportunity. With every boundary shift, it becomes harder to grow those roots — and build a true sense of belonging.”

Transportation Barriers and Equity Concerns

On top of the community connection challenges, Clarksburg faces significant transportation gaps. We lack direct access to public transit. Our roads—especially Route 355—are congested and overburdened

Boundary decisions that send students farther away from home only deepens the community divide. For many families, participating in school activities, after-school events, or even PTA meetings becomes impossible if the school is miles away and unreachable during peak traffic. Over time, our schools have seen a decline in family engagement and an increase in apathy for school spirit.

These aren’t just logistical issues—they are equity issues. A strong community school should be accessible, familiar, and central to the families it serves.

What We’re Asking For

The Clarksburg Neighbors Alliance is not endorsing a specific boundary map. Instead, we are calling on MCPS to prioritize:

• Stability for families and students

• Keeping communities together by reducing split articulation

• Respecting geography when making boundary decisions

• Considering transportation access as a key part of equity

Let this boundary study be different. Let’s stop the cycle of disruption and give Clarksburg students the chance to put down roots in their schools and their community.

How You Can Get Involved

Your voice matters—and MCPS needs to hear it. Here’s how you can engage:

1. Educate Yourself on the MCPS Boundary Study Options — MCPS has a dedicated website to information about the Boundary Study. Watch the videos, read, and ask questions. Additionally, here were the initial new proposed boundary options.

2. Take the MCPS Boundary Study Survey in the Fall — Share your perspective and experiences. Every comment counts. You will be able to access it here.

3. Submit Written Testimony — Like I did, you can speak directly to the Board of Education by submitting your testimony online.

4. Connect with Clarksburg Neighbors Alliance — Join our newsletter for updates, action steps, and opportunities to advocate for our community together.

Together, we can make sure that this boundary study doesn’t just redraw lines on a map—but actually strengthens the community we have worked so hard to build.