Around 1:30 in the afternoon of August 3rd, Mr. Davis locked his classroom, rolled out a cart of folders, and took off to enjoy the rest of his summer. Having taught math courses in MCPS Summer Schools for years, Mr. Davis has delightful memories about the program.
“It gives some students a chance to make-up for work they didn’t do or performed poorly on, allowing them to graduate on time. In the meantime, the summer school program also encourages kids who want to get ahead to pursue their goals. I’ve had rising sophomores taking pre-calculus so to be able to register for more advanced courses as upperclassmen.”
Summer School is part of the Extended Hours Program offered by MCPS to accommodate students who could not complete required or desired courses within the school year. Courses open to enrollment spread across diverse subjects, from 9th grade English to Health Education. Two Summer School sessions are held each year, one from late June to mid-July and the other from mid-July to early August. High school students can choose, based on location proximity, from four campuses–Rockville, Springbrook, Kennedy, and Seneca Valley–where they want to be enrolled. All students currently attending a MCPS school must meet with their counselors and acquire a signed recommendation before registering.
Registration for Session I of Summer School generally begins in early April and ends in late May. A tuition fee of $300 (residential) or $340 (non-residential) is charged per course. Students who qualify for the Free-and-Reduced-Meal Plan, or demonstrate extenuating financial circumstances may apply for fee waivers. Financial aids are still applicable during the late registration period, which takes place one week before classes start.
At the conclusion of the second summer school session, seniors who have fulfilled all requirements for a Maryland high school diploma are invited to attend a graduation ceremony at Richard Montgomery High School. There, they will receive their certificate along the applause of their families. All summer school students will receive a report card upon completion of course.
More information about MCPS Summer School Programs can be found here: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/