Breaking: 40% of MCPS schools could have problematic heating systems.
Here's the list of the 87 MCPS schools that have VRF heating systems.
by Janis Zink Sartucci
On March 4, 2026, The Baltimore Banner broke the story that Montgomery County had installed potentially problematic heating systems in schools. The Banner reported that upwards of 100 schools in Maryland had installed VRF heating systems. But, MCPS did not supply the list of MCPS schools using this system to The Banner.
We have obtained the list of MCPS schools using the VRF heating system. The list shows 87 MCPS schools have installed this potentially problematic, proprietary heating system. Proprietary means that school system staff can’t work on these systems.
Is your school on the list? Has your school experienced any of the problems detailed in The Baltimore Banner article?
…Arlington is one of 22 Baltimore City public schools renovated with a proprietary heating and air conditioning system that’s proven temperamental and expensive to fix. School system staff can’t work on the specialized systems, which were chosen for their energy efficiency, leading to repair costs of at least $2 million a year…
…When construction began, VRF systems were new, and “people were excited about them as energy efficient,” said Alison Perkins-Cohen, chief of staff for city schools. But the city began having issues with the systems soon after, as did other schools around the state. As many as 100 Maryland schools use VRF for heating and cooling…
…City schools officials “reached out to some of our counterparts in other parts of the state who may be using VRF systems,” Washington said. “Many of them are saying they don’t work well in schools.”..
…School system personnel cannot work on the proprietary VRF systems,..
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Montgomery County Public Schools
VRF Heating Systems
Ashburton ES
John T. Baker MS
Bannokburn ES
Lucy V. Barnsley ES
Bayard Rustin ES
Bel Pre ES
Bethesda Chevy Chase HS
Bradley Hills ES
Brown Station ES
Burning Tree ES
Burnt Millls ES
Burtonsville ES
Cabin Branch ES
Candlewood ES
Cedar Grove ES
S. Christa McAuliffe ES
Clearspring ES
Damascus ES
Diamond ES
DuFief ES
Emory Grove Center
Fallsmead ES
William H. Farquhar MS
Fox Chapel ES
Gaithersburg MS
Garrett Park ES
Germantown ES
Glenallen ES
Greencastle ES
Hallie Wells MS
Highland ES
Highland View ES
Herbert Hoover MS
Julius West MS
Laytonsville ES
A. Mario Loiderman MS
Luxmanor ES
Maryvale ES
Dr. Ronald E. McNair ES
Meadow Hall ES
Monocacy ES
Neelsville MS
North Bethesda MS
Northwood HS
Oakland Terrace ES
Odessa Shannon MS
Olney ES
William Tyler Page ES
Parkland MS
Pine Crest ES
Piney Branch ES
Poolesville HS
Potomac ES
Thomas W. Pyle MS
Quince Orchard HS
Rock Creek Forest ES
Rosemary Hills ES
Seneca Valley HS
Sequoyah ES
Shady Grove MS
Sherwood ES
Silver Creek MS
Sligo MS
South Lake ES
Stephen Knolls
Stonegate ES
Takoma Park ES
Takoma Park MS
Tilden MS/ Rock Terrace School
Harriet R. Tubman ES
Twinbrook ES
Viers Mill ES
Watkins Mill ES
Watkins Mill HS
Wayside ES
Weller Road ES
Wheaton Woods ES
Whetstone ES
White Oak MS
Walt Whitman HS
Wilson Wims ES
Wood Acres ES
Woodlin ES
Charles W. Woodward HS
Snowden Farm ES
Carl Sandburg Learning Center
English Manor Center