Start with the questions that change the plan

To apply, a student must be a Montgomery County resident and be in Grade 8. MCPS's IB page says students must complete one year of world language study in middle school, or demonstrate equivalent proficiency, in a language offered through IB programs, and that home language use can show equivalent proficiency. MCPS's sample sequence says students should have taken a World Language level 1 course by the end of Grade 8. Other MCPS pages describe the language rule differently, so check your student's High School Possibility report. Grade 8 students may only apply to Center programs in their region. Your region comes from your home address, and the High School Possibility report in ParentVUE lists the options. If the report is not what you expected, MCPS asks families to contact its Department of Consortia and Application Program Services.

For criteria-based programs like IB, MCPS uses a Reading or Math percentile from MAP or the PSAT together with Grade 7 and Grade 8 grades in English, Social Studies, Math and Science. The two essays are also part of the application. MCPS gives the PSAT to Grade 8 students on October 14, 2026. For 2026-27 the criteria-based process uses the higher of a student's MAP or PSAT percentile, and MAP growth may be considered from Grades 5 to 8.

MCPS automatically reviews every Grade 8 student in the region for IB, with no application needed. The central review benchmark is the 95th percentile or higher on Reading or Math and a 3.75 GPA or higher in Grade 7 and 8 English, Social Studies, Math and Science grades. This review is separate from admission, so a student who wants IB should still rank it and apply.

Applicants to criteria-based programs, which includes IB, complete two brief response essays of up to 300 words each. MCPS says the responses must be the work of the student alone, with no artificial intelligence use. Students who apply only to interest-based programs skip the essays.

Round 1 results arrive by email and in ParentVUE in January 2027. MCPS pages differ on the week: one says the last week of January and another says mid January. If you have no results by January 30, 2027, email DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org or call 240-740-7800. There are two rounds. Round 1 is in the fall and Round 2 is in the winter. A student without a Round 1 placement can resubmit the same request in Round 2, and a student with a placement can ask for a higher-ranked program, with no changes to Round 1 rankings. After Round 2, students without a placement go on a numbered waitlist.

MCPS lists these core IB experiences: earning the IB Diploma, annual interdisciplinary projects, presenting a research essay, earning college credit, the Seal of Biliteracy state recognition, competitions, extracurricular student organizations and field trips. In addition to MCPS graduation requirements, all students must complete the IB Diploma Programme requirements to earn the IB Diploma.

MCPS says central stop transportation will be available for Center programs. Families get to the central stop themselves, and route details come in summer 2027. Activity bus information is expected in spring 2027.

No. RMIBPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Richard Montgomery High School. Check every requirement and date on the school's own website before you apply.

The admissions facts on this site were last checked against the school's published pages on November 5, 2026. Schools can change requirements and dates at any time.