What the New PSAT 8/9 Policy Means for MCPS Families
All MCPS eighth graders will take the PSAT 8/9 this fall, and the higher score from that test or the MAP assessment may be considered in admissions to new regional criteria-based programs.
A new role for the PSAT 8/9
Montgomery County Public Schools will register every eighth grader to take the PSAT 8/9 on Oct. 14. The roughly two-hour, 15-minute test will be given during the school day at no cost to students, and families will not need to complete registration.
The assessment includes reading and writing and math sections, with most questions in a multiple-choice format. MCPS says the test can help students and schools understand academic progress, including areas of strength and skills that may need more development.
This year, however, the test will also have a role in high school admissions. Its results will be considered as one factor for criteria-based programs in MCPS’s new regional programming model. Arts programs are excluded from this change.
The higher score will be used
At a school board meeting, MCPS Chief Academic Officer Niki Porter said the district will use the higher score from the PSAT 8/9 and the Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP, assessment.
That detail matters. Students will not be evaluated solely on the new PSAT 8/9 result. MCPS has also emphasized that the assessment is one of several admissions factors and is not intended to be a make-or-break test.
For families, the practical message is to take the test seriously without treating one morning as a final judgment about a student’s potential. A student’s stronger performance on the MAP assessment may be the score that is considered instead.
How the regional model changes the landscape
The regional programming model divides MCPS high schools into six regions, with four or five high schools in each region. Each high school is expected to offer one or two programs connected to five program themes.
The first admissions process for these regional programs is scheduled to begin during the 2026-2027 school year. Students already in high school, along with the 2025-2026 cohort, will remain part of a legacy cohort and may continue in their current programs through graduation.
That makes this policy especially relevant to current eighth graders and their families. The PSAT 8/9 is no longer only a progress indicator for this group; it may become part of the application picture for certain high school programs.
Communication will matter
The Montgomery County Association of PTAs has raised concerns about inconsistent communication and continuing uncertainty about how scores will be used. That concern is understandable. When a district introduces a new admissions model, families need clear information about timelines, criteria, score use, and the programs available in their region.
Students and parents should watch for additional guidance from MCPS and their schools. In the meantime, preparation should focus on familiarizing students with the reading, writing, and math format and identifying areas where support could help—not on turning the test into a high-stakes event.
The most helpful approach is balanced: make sure students are prepared, remind them that the higher of two assessment scores will be considered, and keep the PSAT 8/9 in perspective. For teachers and tutors, the results may also provide useful information about skills to reinforce as students transition into high school.