Switching to Catholic school- tips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,
I just read through this thread. It’s filled with a ton of misinformation.
1. Catholic schools teach Science. Catholics are not Creationists. Your child will learn evolution.
2. Catholic school teachers may be paid less, but they are often state certified and many are former public school teachers who got sick of their districts. (I should know. I was a former public school teacher and I now teach in a Catholic school. I got sick of admin / mismanagement, so I left and took my own kids to Catholic schools.)
3. Catholic schools are very on top of student safety. I attend more trainings and am held to higher standards regarding what I can/cannot do around children. This is most definitely a reaction to the Catholic priest scandals.

There’s more I caught, but I hope you get the point. Expect a lot of family involvement, which I consider a good thing. Expect more rigid rules, which I also consider a good thing. It will be a transition, but probably not as hard as you may be imagining.

OP here, thanks for this. i knew when i posted this there would be some of the usual Catholic bashing, so i am ignoring those posters. I appreciate your input and the tips i have gotten.

Just don’t be LGBTQ or a single parent and you’ll be okay.

We have LGBTQ and single parents at our school. All are supported. It is a good community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to a Catholic school in the Arlington diocese. We are in Fairfax county. I was raised Catholic but no longer attend mass.

The good:

a very caring environment. The teachers really care and are dedicated. They showed up Aug 2020 without complaint.

High behavior expectations

Caring parent group

Uniforms are awesome

Teachers have more leeway in teaching

Standardized testing scores improved over the pandemic

They teach spelling and arithmetic and cursive

The not so great:

I think the religious part can be a little intense

I think the specials can be a bit weak

Not a lot of differentiation until middle school


We have been very happy at our school and I think it is one of the better parenting decisions I have made.

I'm a practicing Catholic at an Arlington K-8 and this is SPOT ON

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Many, many Catholic schools still require skirts for girls.

Our K-8 does not allow middle school girls to wear pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who is raised Catholic and who's entire family went to Catholic school, please do not.
Church should not be in education in any way. Most days we spent more time learning about scripture than about reading, writing, and math.

15 years of Catholic school: the word "scripture" is just not used among most Catholics in every day talk. That is a conservative Christian thing. It's actually a running joke that most Catholics, other than the super conservatives, don't even own a Bible let alone "study scripture." And the vast, vast, vast, majority of parochial schools, "religion" is one class period of the day. Yes, the community is all about religion and it can be used as to help teach other skills, like research, reading, and writing, etc. But instead of reading, writing and math? You are not being truthful.

Where did you go to school?

So much this... I went to Catholic school for 10 years and I have to tell people all the time that I grew up Catholic, we didn't do Bible study or anything like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Many, many Catholic schools still require skirts for girls.

Our K-8 does not allow middle school girls to wear pants.

Gross.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to Catholic School! Our family made the switch from public to Catholic Schools a few years ago (COVID was the final straw for us with public) and we couldn't be happier.

At that young age, kids are resilient and will quickly make new friends. Just be supportive as you would during any change and keep a positive attitude. By the end of September they will barely remember what it was like at their "old school" ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
PP can begin the suggested research with the very strict policies and protocols and resources available here: https://adw.org/about-us/resources/child-protection/

Or, for those in Virginia, https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/office-of-child-protection-and-victim-assistance/

Note: Independent Catholic schools may have some different policies than diocesan ones, although in Virginia (at least) ALL private schools are legally required to do background checks of all employees, and individuals who have been convicted of a barrier crime (as listed in the state code) are not eligible to be employed there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just my honest opinion here. I had a horrible experience in Catholic school. Be prepared for potential brainwashing and bigotry. That's the main reason my parents pulled me out of Catholic school after 5th grade and sent me to public school. Additionally, one of my teachers wouldn't let me talk about evolution, so if your kids like science tell them not to talk about that.

Evolution is simply a theory that has never been proven.

[Anonymous]

Spent 12 years in Catholic school and my DC have been in Catholic school until this year. It’s not worth the $. Teachers aren’t certified, discipline is non-existent, leadership refuses to communicate with families. It’s public school with uniforms and a lighter wallet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spent 12 years in Catholic school and my DC have been in Catholic school until this year. It’s not worth the $. Teachers aren’t certified, discipline is non-existent, leadership refuses to communicate with families. It’s public school with uniforms and a lighter wallet.

Cost per student at Catholic parochial schools are significantly lower than public school because they are much more efficient with spending. If you are a monopoly like the public school system, there is no reason to be the best and no incentive to spend efficiently.

Teachers in Catholic schools run the gamut. One thing that is consistent is that they are all dedicated to their vocation...unlike public school teachers who are there for the $$, benefits, and union support. Catholic schools put students first. Public schools put administration and union first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent 12 years in Catholic school and my DC have been in Catholic school until this year. It’s not worth the $. Teachers aren’t certified, discipline is non-existent, leadership refuses to communicate with families. It’s public school with uniforms and a lighter wallet.

Cost per student at Catholic parochial schools are significantly lower than public school because they are much more efficient with spending. If you are a monopoly like the public school system, there is no reason to be the best and no incentive to spend efficiently.

Teachers in Catholic schools run the gamut. One thing that is consistent is that they are all dedicated to their vocation...unlike public school teachers who are there for the $$, benefits, and union support. Catholic schools put students first. Public schools put administration and union first.

Because they can pick & choose their students. They can kick out whichever kids they please. They don’t have to educate the kids who are the most expensive to—ESOL, special needs and low-income.

[Anonymous]

Lol that posters really care about uniforms and whether girls can’t wear pants. There are bigger things to worry about out there, folks.

[Anonymous]

Any comments on Blessed Sacrament in Washington DC K-8?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol that posters really care about uniforms and whether girls can’t wear pants. There are bigger things to worry about out there, folks.

It’s one of many reasons why we don’t send our kids to Catholic school. Just let the girls wear pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any comments on Blessed Sacrament in Washington DC K-8?

Kavanaugh’s kids went there