Neelsville Middle School

Neelsville Middle School is a middle school located in Germantown, Maryland. The building the school uses was previously the Martin Luther King Junior Junior High School; when a new building was constructed and opened in 1996, Martin Luther King became a middle school (eliminating the seemingly-redundant "Junior Junior High" phrase), moved to that building, and the school was renamed Neelsville Middle School. Its name originates from a community that previously lived in that area. Across the street from the school is the Neelsville Presbyterian Church, which is still active.

The first classes of students came from three surrounding elementary schools to become part of the Watkins Mill High School Cluster: Captain James E. Daly, South Lake, and Stedwick Elementary Schools. Both then-5th and 6th grade students were moved to the school to create the 6th and 7th grades, eliminating the 6th grade at those elementary schools. Fox Chapel Elementary was later added to the cluster. With the opening of Clarksburg High School in 2006, Neelsville is now a feeder for both high schools.

It's concept, "School of the Universe," knight mascot, and school colors of blue and gray were chosen by the 6th and 7th grade classes in 1996 by popular vote.

One difference that sets Neelsville apart from most other middle schools is its use of block scheduling for classes. Instead of having the same set of classes every day, students have longer class times and attend only some of their seven classes. Originally when the school opened, students had 4 blocks of classes; currently, students attend 5 of their 7 classes.

External links

* [http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/neelsvillems/ Neelsville Middle School website]
* [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/36515 Neelsville Middle School data] at publicschoolreview.com