Frequently Asked Questions
School Hours | High School Choice | Graduation | Staff Contacts | Supplies
School Hours
What are the regular school hours?
The regular school day runs from 7:25 AM - 2:10 PM.
When are students dismissed on an early release day?
Students are dismissed at 11:40 AM.
What is the schedule of early release days for the school year?
View the school year calendar here.
High School Choice
What is high school choice?
High school choice is the process used by Montgomery County Public Schools to assign grade 8 students who reside in the attendance areas for the Northeast Consortium and the Downcounty Consortium to a high school. Kennedy is part of the Downcounty Consortium. Read more about the school assignment process here.
What is the Downcounty Consortium (DCC)?
The Downcounty Consortium is an area that consists of five high schools - Blair, Einstein, Kennedy, Northwood, and Wheaton - and their feeder elementary and middle schools.
When does the choice process occur?
The choice process begins as early as September with high school options fairs and open houses. The dates of these events vary by school. Students receive choice forms by mail in October. The choice process consists of two rounds. The first round is open to grade 8 students who live in the DCC area. The second round is open to students who did not receive their first choice in Round 1, new students to the DCC, and students who transfer into a DCC middle school.
Graduation
When does graduation occur?
June 11, 2012 at 2:30 PM at DAR Constitution Hall.
What are the requirements for graduation?
View the MCPS graduation requirements here.
What are Student Service Learning (SSL) hours?
The Maryland State Department of Education requires students to complete 75 hours of approved service in order to receive a diploma. Read more about SSL here.
Staff Contacts
Who is my child's counselor?
Counselors are assigned by grade level and last name. View counseling assignments here.
Who is my child's administrator?
View administrative assignments here.
What do I do if my child is absent from school?
Review attendance policies here.
How do I contact my child's teacher?
You can contact your child's teacher by telephone (please leave a return number, your name, the name of your child, and a brief explanation for your call) or by email. View the staff directory for telephone and email information.
Supplies
What does my child need for school in terms of supplies?
School supplies may vary depending on the class, but all students need paper, pencils, pens (black or blue) and a three-ring binder for storing assignments.
MCPS distributes school supplies to students in need during its annual Back-to-School Fair.