Montgomery County’s plan to convert three high schools with predominantly poor, minority populations into magnet schools was rejected by the federal government.

Without the $3.3 million that schools officials requested, the district can’t cover the cost of the overhaul, said Marshall Spatz, director of management, budget and planning for Montgomery County Public Schools. “Our budget was cut $98 million this year, so there’s certainly not extra money lying around,” Spatz said.