Consultant for School Consolidation and Closures Study for Elementary and...

Location:	Maryland
Posted:	May 8, 2026
Due:	Jun 1, 2026
Agency:	Montgomery County Public Schools
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D Y - Construction of Structures and Facilities
Solicitation No:	4604.1
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Division of Financial Management

Montgomery County Public Schools

Division of Procurement

45 West Gude Drive, Suite 3100

Rockville, MD 20850

Request for Proposals

Proposal No. 4604.1

Consultant for School Consolidation and Closures Study for Elementary and Middle Schools and

Countywide Elementary and Middle School Boundary Study

1.0 INTENT

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit

submittals from qualified, professional independent consultants to facilitate a data analysis to assist

in the identification of schools for potential consolidations and closures review that will inform a

countywide boundary study process at the elementary and middle school level.

During the past several years, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has experienced

sustained countywide shifts in enrollment patterns, leading to an overall decline. Official Pre-K–

12 enrollment has declined from 165,267 in 2019 to 156,050 in 2025; a decrease of 9,217 students,

or 5.6%. Official Kindergarten–Grade 5 enrollment has declined from 72,085 students in 2019, to

65,627 students in 2025; a decline of 6,458 students, or 8.9%. These trends reflect broader

demographic changes, including reduced birth rates, economic factors, and changes in housing

turnover patterns.

As enrollment has declined, utilization across elementary schools increasingly has become

imbalanced. While certain areas of Montgomery County are experiencing localized growth, nearby

schools often have significant available capacity. In addition, several elementary schools have

“island assignments,” or noncontiguous attendance boundaries, which contribute to longer student

transportation, more frequent split articulations, and operational inefficiencies. Collectively,

declining enrollment, island assignments, and uneven utilization create challenges in staffing

allocations, resource allocation, student transportation services, and effective and efficient facility

utilization.

Consistent with the Board’s strategic goals and Board of Education Policy FAA, Educational

Facilities Planning, these conditions necessitate a comprehensive review of all currently operating

elementary and middle schools, former school facilities, and future school sites to determine the

appropriate long-term facility footprint. Because facility decisions and boundary decisions

intrinsically are linked, any future adjustments must be grounded in a thorough understanding of

building conditions, capacity, and the geographic needs of our student population, alongside

potential alternative uses for underutilized sites to maximize the value of the district’s physical

assets.

In response, on March 26, 2026, the Board of Education approved a two-phase process: (Phase 1)

a study to evaluate potential school consolidations and closures, followed by (Phase 2) a

countywide boundary study to review and adjust elementary school attendance areas and middle

school boundaries that are affected by consolidations and closures. This adopted resolution can be

found here: Board Docs

This work will include a comprehensive assessment of the MCPS facility portfolio to ensure that

school capacity, utilization, and long-term facility use are aligned with current and projected

enrollment trends. Recommendations will consider multiple factors, including facility condition,

capacity and site constraints, potential for expansion, student proximity and walkability,

community input from a wide range of stakeholders, and alignment with Board of Education policy

and applicable regulations.

Phase 1 of this effort consists of developing data-driven analysis and recommendations regarding

potential school consolidations and closures. MCPS will conduct a portfolio review and

recommendations regarding potential school consolidations, closures, or changes to existing

program delivery models, such as paired schools. These recommendations will be brought to the

Board of Education for appropriate review and decision processes.

Phase 2 consists of conducting a countywide elementary school boundary study, inclusive of any

impacted middle schools, informed by the outcomes of Phase 1 and in accordance with the

requirements outlined in this RFP. Any elementary school approved by the Board of Education for

consolidation and closure will not be included in the subsequent boundary study process. If the

Board of Education approves the consolidation and closure of a middle school, new boundaries

will need to be drawn for the surrounding schools to account for the consolidation(s) and

closure(s).

2.0 INTRODUCTION

This process is guided by Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), MCPS Policy FAA,

Educational Facilities Planning and MCPS Policy ABA, Community Engagement. COMAR

13A.02.09 governs procedures for public school closings in Maryland, requiring local boards to

consider student enrollment trends, building conditions, transportation, racial composition, and

community impact. It mandates public hearings and proper notice to parents/guardians before a

school closure. Policy ABA affirms the Board’s commitment to the development and promotion

of inclusive, culturally responsive, and antiracist engagement guidelines, structures, and practices

to be implemented to engage the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) community in

Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) decisions that impact children.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is the 14th largest school system in the United States,

and the largest in the state of Maryland. During the 2025-2026 school year, MCPS serves more

than 156,541 students from 157 countries speaking 162 languages. With a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

Operating Budget of approximately $3.16 billion, MCPS employs more than 24,900 employees.

Among the 211 schools that MCPS operates, 42 are National Blue-Ribbon schools.

The student demographics of MCPS in 2025-2026 school year are as follows:

Hispanic/Latino: 35.2%

White: 23.3%

Black or African American: 21.9%

Asian: 13.8%

Two or more races: ≤ 5.5%

American Indian or Alaskan Native: ≤0.2%

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: ≤0.1%

In alignment with the mission of our district’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, all students will receive

a solid academic foundation, grounded in strong critical thinking skills, with opportunities to

enhance and enrich their learning. All students will develop resilience, be adaptable, and have a

lifelong passion for learning. All students will become effective communicators and collaborators

predicated on meaningful relationships. All students will make a positive impact in their

community and be ready for success in their personal and professional life.

MCPS also believes that we must engage every student, every day; learning is achieved by

cultivating curiosity and encouraging determination, focus, and hard work; and adult learning and

engagement are key to student learning. Therefore, MCPS encourages and supports critical

thinking, problem solving, active questioning, and risk taking to continuously improve; stimulate

discovery by engaging students in relevant and rigorous academic, social, and emotional learning

experiences; and challenge ourselves to analyze and reflect upon evidence to improve our

practices.

Prior to initiating a systemwide elementary school boundary study, it is essential to conduct a

comprehensive review of all currently operated elementary and middle schools, as well as former

school facilities, to determine the appropriate long-term facility footprint. MCPS has numerous

closed schools and future school sites in its portfolio and there may be sites that MCPS has no long

term use for that should be recommended for surplus to help “right size” the portfolio to the school

system needs. There shall be a review of these properties within the regional model context and

recommendations made about future use that align with the soon-to-be approved FY 2027 Capital

Budget and FY 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program.

Facility decisions and boundary decisions are interdependent; a clear understanding of building

condition, capacity, geographic distribution, and potential alternative uses must inform any future

boundary adjustments.

This review process will provide the opportunity to:

● Align school capacity with current and projected enrollment trends

● Promote fiscal responsibility by minimizing operational inefficiencies

● Balance enrollment across elementary schools to optimize the use of existing facilities

● Serve students, especially those receiving special education services, as close to home as

possible

● Address non-contiguous boundaries and island assignments

● Align feeder patterns to support continuity and stability for students and families

● Evaluate existing program delivery models, including paired schools

● Inform future capital improvement planning and long-term investment priorities

The Board of Education recently adopted boundary resolutions associated with the reopening of

Charles W. Woodward High School and the expansion of Northwood High School, as well as the

relocation of Thomas S. Wootton High School to the Crown Farm site and the expansion of

Damascus High School.

The selected consultant shall account for students affected by these prior decisions, including

changes to school assignments and feeder patterns, and consider these impacts when developing

recommendations.

MCPS currently has feeder patterns called clusters and has two special areas that are called

consortia. Beginning in August 2027 for the school year 2027-2028, the school system is

implementing a Regional Program Model with six program regions. The boundaries determined

in this study should align with the Regional Program Model so that students articulate within the

same region and schools are not split across regions.

Valid enrollment projections exist for current elementary, middle, and high school attendance

zones for each corresponding grade levels, i.e. elementary schools are projected for grades pk-5,

middle schools for grades 6-8, and high schools for grades 9-12. Review is for understanding the

magnitude of potential changes that need to occur so that schools that are crowded have relief by

the new attendance zones, and schools with space are utilized more fully.

Projections will need to be developed for geography being reassigned in options at the grade levels

potentially being affected. For example, if the geography of an elementary school attendance area

is being reassigned in an option at the middle school level then grade 6-8 projections will need to

be developed for that geography. The same is true for any geography smaller than an existing

attendance zone at any level. There is no need to redo grade level projections that already exist.

3.0 SCOPE OF SERVICES

The selected consultant shall provide comprehensive professional services to support MCPS in

conducting:

A School Consolidation and Closure Analysis within the context of a comprehensive portfolio

analysis (Phase 1); and a Countywide Elementary School Boundary Study, including impacted

middle schools (Phase 2).

The consultant shall be responsible for delivering data-driven analysis, actionable

recommendations, structured community engagement, and implementation-ready outputs in

coordination with MCPS staff.

All work shall align with Board of Education Policy FAA, applicable regulations, and MCPS

strategic priorities.

Task 1.0 Project Orientation and Data Collection

● Review and understand criteria used as planning factors for student reassignments per

Board of Education (Board) Policy FAA—Educational Facilities Planning (e.g.,

utilization, geography, stability of school assignment, demographics);

● Review and understand Board of Education (Board) Policy ABA, Community

Engagement;

● Review and understand the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.02.09.01,

Adoption of Procedures to Govern School Closings;

● Discuss details of project tasks and scope of Phase 1 and 2;

● Communicate with MCPS leadership regarding goals and priorities for the process

● Discuss roles, functions, and responsibilities for MCPS and consultant staff

● Prepare for compliance with MCPS Data Privacy and data suppression requirements.

● Identify needed data from MCPS including but not limited to polygon boundaries (planning

zones), school service areas, school locations, feeder patterns, capacities, enrollment

projections and demographic data;

● Obtain required data from MCPS;

● Establish secure data transfer and ongoing data security protocols;

● Identify roles of consultant and MCPS staff related to data collection, maintenance, and

management;

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid/RFP Number: 4604.1
Solicitation Title	Consultant for School Consolidation and Closures Study for Elementary and Middle Schools and Countywide Elementary and Middle School Boundary Study
Due Date & Time	06/01/2026 02:00 PM
Contract Type	RFP
Buyer E-mail	Angela_S_Mcintosh-davis@mcpsmd.org
Description	Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit submittals from qualified, professional independent consultants to facilitate a data analysis to assist in the identification of schools for potential consolidations and closures review that will inform a countywide boundary study process at the elementary and middle school level. RFP 4604.1 Consolidations and Boundaries FINAL.pdf 05/08/2026 COST PROPOSAL Appendix B.pdf 05/08/2026
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