The Montgomery County FY21 Annual School Test results are in and two high school clusters and four individual schools are in moratoria for new residential development.

What the moratorium means?

The Montgomery County Planning Department has reviewed the Capital Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) adopted by the County Council and has completed  the annual school test for the upcoming fiscal year.

On June 25th the Planning Board certified the FY21 Annual School Test and those results become effective today, July 1, 2020, and remain in effect until next year’s test.  In simplified form, a cluster or school is placed into moratorium for new residential development when it reaches 120% of its capacity, although other factors apply.

For FY21 the annual school test has determined that two high school clusters will remain in moratorium- Richard Montgomery and Quince Orchard HS. Three high school clusters that were in moratorium will now be conditionally open: Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, and Walter Johnson HS.

In addition to the high school cluster areas in moratorium, there are four individual schools that are in moratorium as well. Those schools include Highland View ES, Mill Creek Towne ES, Judith A. Resnick ES, and Argyle MS.

There are also several individual school service areas that are close to the moratorium staging ceiling cap. VIKA can help you to understand if these areas could impact your project.

What alternatives can we help you with?

VIKA can help property owners understand what the moratorium means to your project or property, including checking timing of entitlement approvals, reviewing alternative development plans, and thinking long term by focusing on feasibility and survey needs.