Dear John Hanson Montessori Community:
With the approval of the Superintendent, we are excited to share that, beginning in the 2026 - 2027 school year, John Hanson Montessori School will permanently move to the former Potomac Landing School, located at 12500 Fort Washington Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744. This move is a win for our district, as the new school site allows the district to address the facility conditions of an older school building like John Hanson and save the district financially while enhancing one of our three Montessori programs' academic programs. There are no facility concerns associated with Potomac Landing Elementary School. Its closure was due to consolidation based on enrollment. The former students of Potomac Landing Elementary School now attend Colin Powell Academy.
The John Hanson Montessori School Program will maintain its current programming dedicated to helping children learn in an enriching environment that encourages individual growth through methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. JHMS has eight primary classes (grades PK3 - K), six lower elementary (grades 1-3), four upper elementary (grades 4-5), and eight content classroom teachers for the Middle School (grades 6-8). We do not anticipate a programmatic impact because of this transition.
The former Potomac Landing Elementary School's overall site supports the learning and environmental opportunities aligned to the Montessori philosophy. The building will undergo minor modifications and be painted to rebrand it as John Hanson Montessori before the scheduled move-in date. A 10-classroom modular building will be added to the site to provide the needed classroom spaces. It is important to note that the school entry lottery process guidelines will remain the same. Transportation will still be provided to the Potomac Landing facility for all eligible John Hanson Montessori students.
The decision to close any school is not made lightly and includes a thoughtful analysis of enrollment, boundaries, and the impact the closure will have on students and families. PGCPS is committed to providing safe and supportive environments for all students and will continue to work towards that objective. Over the next two years, we will begin planning more scheduled community meetings and finalizing all plans to transition the school community for the grand opening in the fall of 2026. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership with this process.
Sincerely,
Courtney M. King, Principal
