Programs Analysis and Regions Models — Why This Work Matters — and Why It Can’t Wait

MCPS is committed to ensuring that every student in every community has access to high-quality academic programs that match their interests and ambitions, without barriers of distance or opportunity.

Today, access to programs such as STEM, world languages, visual and performing arts, and leadership varies greatly depending on where a student lives. This means some students spend hours on buses to reach programs, while others are turned away or put on waitlists because of space limitations. Delaying this work would perpetuate those inequities.

The ongoing Secondary Programs Analysis and proposed Regions Models are important steps toward a more equitable system — one that aligns our schools, programs and resources so students can pursue high-rigor pathways closer to home.

Across the district, families, staff and community members are coming together in engagement sessions to learn, ask tough questions and share their ideas directly with MCPS leaders. These conversations are shaping how the plan takes form, influencing how regional models, academic pathways and transitions will be phased in. It’s an honest and collaborative process, and the feedback we’re hearing is helping strengthen the plan in real time.

This is not a rushed process. It’s a collaborative effort built with the input of students, staff and families through open conversations and community sessions. Together, we are shaping how these regional models will take shape and how transitions will be phased in to ensure a smooth, thoughtful rollout.

Every conversation we have now moves us closer to a future where no student is left waiting or turned away from opportunities to reach their full potential.