High School Programs

High School options include interest-based and criteria-based programs. There are programs for students entering high school as well as for those already in high school. Applications for any of these programs must be submitted in the fall of the current grade level for the following school year. Programs that begin in Grade 9 are full time programs. Programs beginning in grades 10-12 are part-time programs; students take core courses at the local high school, and the program courses offsite.

Grade 8

2025-2026 Resources: Grade 8 High School Regional and Countywide Programs

High School Programs At A Glance for Grade 8. Includes Eligibility and Open House Dates. Programas de la escuela secundaria. Incluye elegibilidad y fechas de reuniones.
High School Preview Presentation recording.
Grabación de la presentación de los programas que se ofrece en las esquelas secundarias.
High School Application Programs Eligibility listed by High School Cluster
Frequently Asked Questions - Preguntas frecuentes
Current Grade 8 High School Application Essays - A resource for parents, students and schools -Vista previa de los ensayos en la aplicación: recurso para padres, estudiantes y escuelas.
Directions for private and home schooled students.
Video on how to access the application. Vídeo sobre cómo acceder a la aplicación.
ParentVUE Support Guide / Guía de Ayuda para Usar ParentVUE
Instructions on how to change the language in ParentVUE. ¿Cómo cambio el idioma en ParentVUE?

Updated 8/12/2025

Grade 8 High School Regional and Countywide Programs Timeline 2025- 2026

September 15, 2025
High School Preview Presentation - Broadcasted on the MCPS website
English Presentation 7 p.m. (recording)
Presentación en español 8 p.m. (grabación)

Early October, 2025
Eligibility Reports available in ParentVUE: Documents

October 6, 2025
Application opens (on or about October 6) on ParentVUE : Online Registration

November 7, 2025
Application deadline

Last Week of January 2026
Notification of results

February 13, 2026
Deadline to Accept a Program Invitation

February 13, 2026
Deadline to appeal results (Level I, criteria-based programs only)

Grades 9 - 11

2025-2026 Resources: Grade 9-11 High School Regional and Countywide Programs

Grade 9-11 Programs At A Glance, Eligibility and Open House Dates Programas para estudiantes en los grados 9-11. Incluye elegibilidad y fechas de reuniones.
Frequently Asked Questions
High-Demand Career Readiness Programs Available to Rising Grade 10th, 11th and 12th Grade Students in 2025-2026
Grade 9-11 Application -The First Round Interest Form for Upper Grade Programs will open in October 2025.

Updated 8/12/25

Grade 9-11 Part-Time High School Regional and Countywide Programs 2025-2026 Timeline

October 6, 2025
Round 1 Application opens

November 7, 2025
Round 1 Application deadline

December 5, 2025
Round 2 Application opens (expected)

First Week of February 2026
Round 1 Notification of results

February 13, 2026
Deadline to Accept Round 1 Invitation

Mid- March 2026
Round 2 Notification of results

March 27, 2026
Round 3 Application opens (expected)

Criteria Based Programs	Schools with this program
Application Programs - Countywide
Global Ecology House	Poolesville HS
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme	Richard Montgomery HS (Countywide)
Visual Art Center	Albert Einstein HS

Application Programs - Regional
Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science Magnet	Montgomery Blair HS Poolesville HS
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme	John F. Kennedy HS Springbrook HS Watkins Mill HS
Humanities House	Poolesville HS
Application Programs - Consortia
Biomedical Program	Wheaton HS
Communication Arts Program (CAP)	Montgomery Blair HS
Engineering Program	Wheaton HS
Leadership Training Institute (LTI)	John F. Kennedy

Program	Schools with this program
Downcounty Consortium (DCC)	Montgomery Blair Albert Einstein John F. Kennedy Northwood Wheaton
Northeast Consortium (NEC)	James Hubert Blake High School Paint Branch High School Springbrook High School

Program	Schools with this program
Signature programs	James Hubert Blake Winston Churchill Clarksburg Damascus Gaithersburg Walter Johnson Magruder Northwest Paint Branch Quince Orchard Rockville Seneca Valley Sherwood Springbrook Wootton
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Note: The IB programme at Richard Montgomery HS is a countywide, criteria- based (magnet) program. The IB programmes at Kennedy, Springbrook and Watkins Mill are regional, criteria-based (magnet) programs.	Bethesda-Chevy Chase Albert Einstein John F. Kennedy Richard Montgomery Rockville Seneca Valley Springbrook Watkins Mill
Middle Years Programme	Bethesda Chevy Chase Richard Montgomery John F. Kennedy (IB Candidate School) Springbrook Watkins Mill Seneca Valley (IB Candidate School)

Interest Based Programs

Thomas Edison High School of Technology

Career Programs:

Arts, Humanities, Media, & Communication
Biosciences, Health Sciences, & Medicine
Human & Consumer Services, Hospitality & Tourism
Information Technologies
Construction & Development
Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics

High School Programs

Grade 8

2025-2026 Resources: Grade 8 High School Regional and Countywide Programs

Grades 9 - 11

2025-2026 Resources: Grade 9-11 High School Regional and Countywide Programs

Criteria Based Programs

Schools with this program

Application Programs - Countywide

Application Programs - Regional

Application Programs - Consortia

Program

Schools with this program

Program

Schools with this program

Interest Based Programs

Montgomery County Public Schools

Employee & Retiree Service Center