Since the early 1970’s there has been a continuing exodus of white students from Montgomery County Public Schools. According to supplement A in the most recent CIP, MCPS had a white student population of 113,000 in 1973 and as of September 30, 2023 the white student population is 38,400, a decline of 74,000 students.
Over the past 20 years there has been about a 40% decline in MCPS’ white student population. In the 2003 /2004 school year, the white student population was 62,100. As of September 30. 2023, the white student population is 38,400, a decline of about 24,000 students. Since the pandemic (2019) the white student population has declined 6,000 student or nearly 15%.
Percent White Students |
||
| High school | 2003 | 2023 |
| Blake | 45% | 11% |
| Gaithersburg | 39% | 9% |
| Magruder | 50% | 20% |
| Seneca Valley | 43% | 12% |
| Paint Branch | 31% | 3% |
Is this a general shift in MoCo demographics? Have white families, who in MoCo have traditionally been more affluent, left the school system for private schools or home schools?
The Board of Education has lamented the lack of racial diversity in some schools and often focused its programs, outreach, and incentives to groups that have been typically represented the minority of the student body. Today, in many schools there is a new minority — white children.
