Maryland to See New $180M High School

Montgomery County Public Schools recently approved design plans for a new, $180-million high school in Gaithersburg, Md. Local news reports that Crown High School will stand five stories and have the capacity for about 2,200 students. The design also leaves room for potential expansion to house up to 2,700 students.

The school will include a gymnasium open to the public, dining space, an indoor amphitheater, and space for special education programs. It will also feature a child development program, an administrative sing, a performing arts wing, a media center, and classrooms and lab space. The campus will feature multiple courtyards, and open space accounts for about 65% of the layout, according to Bethesda Magazine. It will also take advantage of sustainability initiatives like solar panels and geothermal energy.

The main purpose of the school’s construction is to ease overcrowding at five other district high schools. The land on which the school will be built is owned by the city of Gaithersburg. The plot has been designated as a future school site since 2006 on the condition that construction had to begin within 20 years, according to an arrangement with the mayor and the City Council.

Construction is scheduled for completion in 2026, although it may stretch into 2027. The district is partnering with general contractor Keller Construction Management and architecture firm Stantec Architecture.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • William Penn Charter School

    Richard A. Balderston OPC’69 Lower School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Richard A. Balderston OPC’69 Lower School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.