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What the MCPS school study means for immersion families

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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is reviewing every elementary and middle school for possible closure or consolidation. The rules for those decisions are being set now.

Where things stand on : Nothing has been decided, and MCPS hasn't said what happens to immersion. Families need that answer before a recommendation comes out in February.

Next step: Round 2 sessions, Nov 30 – Dec 10. How to take part

What's happening

Enrollment in MCPS is falling for the first time in more than 40 years, and many buildings have more seats than students. The district is studying whether to close or consolidate schools, then redraw elementary boundaries. As part of that study, MCPS says it will also evaluate how programs are delivered at elementary and middle schools, and immersion is one of those programs.

  • Every school and programAll elementary schools, middle schools and programs are in the review.
  • April 2027The Board of Education plans to make final closure decisions, after a recommendation in early February.
  • 2029–30The first school year any changes would take effect.

Why immersion families should get involved now

Programs are part of the review

MCPS says the study will evaluate existing program delivery models. Maryland rules also require the district to weigh educational programs at the closing school and the receiving school.

The district is moving toward regional access

In March 2026 the Board approved a regional model for high school programs. MCPS cited distance from host sites as one reason. Immersion runs at a small number of schools, so the same reasoning could reach it.

Immersion schools have been on the table before

In December 2025 the Board suspended a proposal to close Silver Spring International Middle School and relocate Sligo Creek Elementary. Both host French immersion, and both questions are expected to come back through this process.

Budgets are tight

The 2026–27 MCPS budget came in $36 million below what the school board asked for and affects 415 positions, and the district has about $3 billion in deferred building repairs (WJLA). Under that pressure, every program has to justify its cost. MCPS's own evaluation put immersion's program-specific costs at $60,500 for 2024–25.

What you can do now

What we're asking MCPS to do

  1. Keep immersion pathways where they are

    Each program should stay at its school, with its path into its designated middle school intact.

  2. Guarantee that enrolled students can finish

    Every student who starts immersion should be able to finish through grade 8 in the same model, with their class. MCPS should put that commitment in writing.

  3. Protect the full immersion model

    Keep the instruction time in the target language and the qualified, fluent teachers that make immersion work. Anything less isn't actually immersion.

  4. Count immersion in the decision criteria

    MCPS is now setting the criteria it will use to decide which schools close, merge or change. One of them should be whether each immersion program, and its path from kindergarten through grade 8, stays intact.

  5. Answer families in writing

    Before hearings begin, publish what each option means for seats, the instructional model, the middle school path, teachers and transportation.

  6. Follow through on MCPS's own plan

    In December 2025 MCPS agreed to six improvements to immersion, due between 2027 and 2030. Fund them, and let the programs reach the milestones MCPS set for itself.

Coming up

Community events for immersion families. For MCPS's own dates, see the study calendar.

  • Community meeting with Save Our Silver Spring SchoolsWith Dr. Ariel Bierbaum. Sligo Creek Elementary, 500 Schuyler Road, Silver Spring.
  • March in the Thanksgiving ParadeDowntown Silver Spring. Meet at the parking garage at Ellsworth and Veterans.
  • – MCPS Round 2 sessionsSee the session list

Learn more