MoCo Residents Turn Out For 'Save Wootton' Rally

ROCKVILLE, MD — Hundreds of concerned residents made their voices heard late Monday, opposing an initiative to relocate the Thomas S. Wootton High School to Gaithersburg.

The rally was held as the Montgomery County Board of Education hosted a virtual hearing on the relocation efforts.

"We want them to see the strength of our community on camera and across from our school," reads an announcement by rally organizers. "This is our chance to make a visual statement that cannot be ignored."

Plans proposed by Thomas Taylor, the superintendent for Montgomery County Public Schools, would relocate the high school from its current location in Rockville to Crown High School in Gaithersburg.

The distance between the two locations is about 4 miles, and the relocation would take effect for the 2027-2028 school year.

Taylor's plan would convert the Wootton structure into a holding facility for other schools that are undergoing renovations.

Despite the weekend snowstorm's impact on the region, the rally was held without issue.

"Our school building needs construction but we don't need to disrupt our school," a resident who attended the rally told Fox 5.

Another chimed in saying that "if we're going to promote growth in Montgomery County, we need both Wootton and Crown to be open."

The relocation plan has been a concern in the community for months, with the Wootton Parent Teacher Student Association recently calling for the Board of Education to reject Taylor's proposal and "develop a plan that actually serves students."

A final decision by the board is expected by March 26.