Northeast Consortium → The Choice Process → Choice Process in Detail

Choice Process in Detail

  1. In Grade 8, students rank order a high school they would like to attend based on the Signature program in which they are interested.
  2. Students are guaranteed assignment to their base area high school if (1) it is the base school indicated as first choice on the Choice form or (2) indicated as a second choice and the first choice school is not available.
  3. High school capacities and projected student enrollments are used to control student assignment to prevent schools from becoming disproportionately overutilized.
  4. Demographic controls are applied to the student assignment process, as needed. Assignment decisions are guided by the principle that comparable demographics at the three high schools will provide educational benefits to all students. The demographic factors that will be considered for control include student gender and student "ever" Free and Reduced-price Meals System (FARMS) status. Periodic reviews by the superintendent will be done to assess the comparability of the demographic profiles among the three high schools.
  5. Younger siblings of students enrolled in a Consortium high school are guaranteed attendance at the same school as their older sibling if indicated as the first choice on the Choice form; and the older sibling is scheduled to continue attendance at the high school for the following school year.
  6. Siblings who enter the Choice process at the same time will be provided the option to "link" their school choices. Students who request a sibling link will be guaranteed assignment to the same high school.
  7. Students who reside outside the Northeast Consortium, but attend a Consortium middle school, may participate in high school Choice, following the same process as students residing in the Consortium. These students also are assured that they may attend a Consortium high school. However, for these students, there is no guarantee of admittance to a specific high school, because they do not reside within a base area of one of the high schools. Student Choice request forms for out-of-Consortium students are processed in the second round of the student assignment process, after students residing in the Consortium have been provided with their high school assignments.
  8. In February, students in Grades 9, 10, or 11 who wish to request a different NEC high school for the following school year may submit a Change of Choice request form. Change of Choice request forms will be available in early February at all three NEC high school counseling offices and the website, www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/nec/. The Change of Choice process considers a variety of factors when reassigning students to schools. These factors include the number of available seats, socioeconomic status, and gender. If a Change of Choice request is denied, the parent may appeal the decision in writing.
  9. Students residing in the NEC and attending a Downcounty Consortium (DCC) middle school may also apply to the Montgomery Blair High School CAP and the John F. Kennedy LTI program. NEC Grade 8 students are advised to complete an NEC Choice form in Round 1 (November), a DCC Choice form in Round 2 (February), and may consider applying to one of these programs. See program details for application deadlines.
  10. Students who reside outside the Northeast Consortium and who do not attend a Northeast Consortium middle school may apply for transfer into the Northeast Consortium through the existing student transfer process. Students admitted to the Consortium then choose a high school they wish to attend. They may be admitted to their high school of choice on a space available basis.
  11. Appeals of student high school assignment decisions are handled on two levels. The first level of appeal is administered through the Consortium office. The second level of appeal is administered through the Office of the Chief Operating Officer.

Related Information 
  •  Round 2 of the Choice process  
  •  Change of Choice (Coming soon 2/2012)
  •  Appeals  
  •  Change of school assignment (student transfers)
  •  Application-only programs for NEC students 

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