While Wootton folks have been making a lot of noise about the Crown part of the Crown Damascus boundary study, the Damascus part is equally concerning.
The irregularities began in March 2024 when the Board of Education adopted a boundary study resolution combining the boundary studies for Crown High School and the Damascus expansion based upon the Damascus expansion having a completion date of August 2027.
This was irregular because the Board knew MCPS had recommended a month before that the County Council withdraw construction funding for the Damascus expansion project.
The boundary study kicked off in December 2024 with Superintendent Taylor posting a YouTube video proclaiming “We are expanding Damascus High School.” The problem was Damascus high school was not being expanded. This project was defunded by the County Council in May 2024. Regardless MCPS continued with the boundary study for the expansion of Damascus High School until October 2025.
In October 2025 , Superintendent Taylor asked the Board to authorize a revised boundary study resolution for a new $300 million high school in Damascus with an anticipated completion date of 2031. This was irregular because no such capital project had been approved by the BoE, the County Council, or the State. Despite this, the Board approved this revised resolution.
In February 2025, Superintendent Taylor released his boundary recommendations which included Clarksburg and Damascus high schools to address the not approved $300 million Damascus high school capital project.
The superintendent’s recommendation will leave Clarksburg 150 students over capacity and make Damascus 120 students over capacity in fall 2028. Damascus is currently 100 students under capacity. This was irregular because under the Superintendent’s own recommendation, there are 1,200 empty seats in six other high schools within the Crown-Damascus boundary study.
Also irregular is the fact that Superintendent Taylor appears to be using the intentional overcrowding of Clarksburg and Damascus high schools to justify the new $300 million Damascus High School. A February 2026 County Council staff report states: “MCPS’ priority of the Damascus HS project reflects the need for capacity at Damascus resulting from the implementation of new boundaries for numerous high schools to relieve overcrowding.”
The superintendent’s recommendations for Clarksburg and Damascus are irregular for the following reasons:
1) Boundary recommendations have been made for a capital project ( Damascus High School) which has not been approved by the County Council or the State.
2) Boundary recommendations have been made for a capital project that might open in five years. MCPS has no way to accurately predict enrollments for a school five years down the road.
3) There is no guarantee the new school will open in five years. The County Executive has only recommended $284 for the new Damascus High School. MCPS has stated this would delay completion of the project , if it is approved.
4) It appears the Superintendent has intentionally overcrowded Clarksburg and Damascus high schools to justify spending $300 million for a new Damascus High School. Damascus is in poor condition and should not be made unnecessarily overcrowded for 5–8 years.
5) In the history of high school boundary studies there has never been a boundary study for a capital project which has not yet been approved and that will not open for 5–8 years.
6) Boundary studies are not normally undertaken until construction has begun, because projects are sometimes delayed or canceled. For example, in May 2024 construction funding for capital projects at Magruder, Wootton and Damascus high schools was canceled.
7) The Board spent $160 million on Seneca Valley High School to relieve overcrowding at Clarkbsurg High school but left Clarkbsurg overcrowded. The Board then spent $220 million on Crown High School and again left Clarksburg overcrowded. Now Superintendent Taylor wants another $300 million to reduce overcrowding at Clarksburg High School.
