School adequacy is determined annually for each school level (elementary, middle, high) by cluster area. It is based on comparing projected school capacity from existing and planned schools with projected enrollment over the next 5 years based on factors like births, aging population, housing, and migration. If projected enrollment exceeds 120% of capacity, a moratorium is placed on new development. If it exceeds 105% but is less than 120%, a school facility payment is required from new developments. The methodology uses student address data and parcel information to estimate student generation rates from different housing types.
School adequacy is determined annually for each school level (elementary, middle, high) by cluster area. It is based on comparing projected school capacity from existing and planned schools with projected enrollment over the next 5 years based on factors like births, aging population, housing, and migration. If projected enrollment exceeds 120% of capacity, a moratorium is placed on new development. If it exceeds 105% but is less than 120%, a school facility payment is required from new developments. The methodology uses student address data and parcel information to estimate student generation rates from different housing types.
School adequacy is measured for each school level by high
school cluster.
School facility adequacy is based on projected school capacity
compared to projected enrollment.
Projected capacity measures existing and planned school capacity.
Existing school capacity is defined as MCPS program capacity. Planned school capacity is the capacity funded in the 6-year CIP.
Projected enrollment is based on several factors:
Births in the County. Aging of the school-age population. Migration of residents into and out of the County. Housing (new housing and the resale of existing homes). Forecast 5 years into the future.
When projected enrollment exceeds projected capacity (termed
utilization level), either a payment is required for development to proceed or a moratorium is imposed.
If projected enrollment 5 years in the future exceeds 120 % of
projected capacity (existing and planned), a moratorium is placed on the approval of new residential development. Senior or age-restricted housing, and development of no more than 3 residential units are exempt from a moratorium. If projected enrollment 5 years in the future exceeds 105 % of projected capacity but does not exceed 120%, a School Facility Payment is required for each school level over 105 %. The payment rates vary by school level based on construction costs and by dwelling unit type.
Test for adequacy is conducted annually at all three school levels
(elementary, middle and high) for each school cluster area
Student Generation Rates are an estimate of the number of students
generated by different housing types. New methodology developed in cooperation between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery County Planning. Two major inputs:
Student addresses with grade-level information attached
(confidential information removed). Parcel File with residential structure information.
What can be changed in the 2016 Subdivision Staging Policy ?