Why is SJC the "It" school this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As we await decisions today or tomorrow, a quick question. I understand that parish elementary schools play a big role in deciding which of their students is
admitted to each of the Catholic high schools. Is this always true with respect to SJC? Does SJC rely completely on the preferences of the elementary school
Principals in making its admissions decisions?

Do you mean middle school? Elementary school has no weight.

the Parish schools are K-8, so middle schools included. I don't know the answer to the PP's question though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As we await decisions today or tomorrow, a quick question. I understand that parish elementary schools play a big role in deciding which of their students is
admitted to each of the Catholic high schools. Is this always true with respect to SJC? Does SJC rely completely on the preferences of the elementary school
Principals in making its admissions decisions?

Yes. Essentially each HS takes a certain amount of kids from each parish school give or take a few.

So if your school usually sends 5 or 10 or whatever the # is see if you kid is in the top 5 or 10 and thosdcc CD are your chances.

Athletes and legacies first.

Also not the guy/gal who was the best on your CYO soccer team, they need to be much better than that to be an Athlete.

This is true for SJC,GZ,Prep,GC.etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SJC provides a grounded, diverse learning experience and produces titans of business and industry.

Gonzaga provides a homogenous, privileged learning experience and produces Car Wash Coffee, undoubtedly the end result of a cocaine fever dream.

Where did that come from? This is a thread about SJC, no? But if you like, we can look at the comparisons.

I know we don't like to use Niche here on DCUM, but out of curiosity I looked at national and DC area rankings for both GZ and SJC (because sample size in DC is so small).

National Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #124 GZ #45
Private HS: SJC #715 GZ #417
College Prep HS: SJC #805 #437

DC Metro Area Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #8 GZ #5
Private HS: SJC #30 GZ #19
Private Prep HS: SJC #32 GZ#21

Pretty consistent numbers here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC provides a grounded, diverse learning experience and produces titans of business and industry.

Gonzaga provides a homogenous, privileged learning experience and produces Car Wash Coffee, undoubtedly the end result of a cocaine fever dream.

Where did that come from? This is a thread about SJC, no? But if you like, we can look at the comparisons.

I know we don't like to use Niche here on DCUM, but out of curiosity I looked at national and DC area rankings for both GZ and SJC (because sample size in DC is so small).

National Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #124 GZ #45
Private HS: SJC #715 GZ #417
College Prep HS: SJC #805 GZ #437

DC Metro Area Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #8 GZ #5
Private HS: SJC #30 GZ #19
Private Prep HS: SJC #32 GZ#21

Pretty consistent numbers here.

Corrected typo (leaving GZ out) above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC provides a grounded, diverse learning experience and produces titans of business and industry.

Gonzaga provides a homogenous, privileged learning experience and produces Car Wash Coffee, undoubtedly the end result of a cocaine fever dream.

Where did that come from? This is a thread about SJC, no? But if you like, we can look at the comparisons.

I know we don't like to use Niche here on DCUM, but out of curiosity I looked at national and DC area rankings for both GZ and SJC (because sample size in DC is so small).

National Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #124 GZ #45
Private HS: SJC #715 GZ #417
College Prep HS: SJC #805 GZ #437

DC Metro Area Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #8 GZ #5
Private HS: SJC #30 GZ #19
Private Prep HS: SJC #32 GZ#21

Pretty consistent numbers here.

Corrected typo (leaving GZ out) above.

That is consistent on being predominately white and predominately rich not being good at providing an education.

Every statistician in the world knows these ranking basically show what school is white and rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC provides a grounded, diverse learning experience and produces titans of business and industry.

Gonzaga provides a homogenous, privileged learning experience and produces Car Wash Coffee, undoubtedly the end result of a cocaine fever dream.

Where did that come from? This is a thread about SJC, no? But if you like, we can look at the comparisons.

I know we don't like to use Niche here on DCUM, but out of curiosity I looked at national and DC area rankings for both GZ and SJC (because sample size in DC is so small).

National Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #124 GZ #45
Private HS: SJC #715 GZ #417
College Prep HS: SJC #805 GZ #437

DC Metro Area Rankings:
Catholic HS: SJC #8 GZ #5
Private HS: SJC #30 GZ #19
Private Prep HS: SJC #32 GZ#21

Pretty consistent numbers here.

Corrected typo (leaving GZ out) above.

That is consistent on being predominately white and predominately rich not being good at providing an education.

Every statistician in the world knows these ranking basically show what school is white and rich.

What's wrong with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a child at SJC, but I have friends whose children attend. I can definitely see the appeal for many students and families. It is in a great location, Chevy Chase DC, close to many parts of DC and Maryland. It's coed and there are not a ton of private coed options in our area. Good athletics and arts programs. Is appropriate for a wide range of students from their Scholars program for their top students to their Benilde program for students with learning differences. Most high school like an all-American high school - a spot for everyone. Its lower tuition is more affordable for all families than the top independents that are about to cross the $50K per year mark (crazy). It has a popular brand name alumni donor, Kevin Plank, who along with several other big alumni donors are contributing millions of dollars to the betterment of the school. The school has definitely jumped up in popularity and many kids want to attend, as seen by their 3,000 person open house (2017 and 2018) and 1,500 applications received last year. It's great to have lots of options for high school in our area, so I say good for them.

Thank you for this post. My DS went to SJC and had a wonderful experience. It boggles my mind when supposed adults come on to trash schools like this. I really just don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re: Outcomes

How is SJC’s median ACT and SAT vis a vis big 3 and very top area publics?

Well below. Far below.

If you take the top 75 students and compare them to the top 75 at a Big 3... the same.

But SJC has a program for kids with learning disabilities so the median would be meaningless.

Also why test prep for SAT if you are already committed to a college and accepted. Most athletes that the SAT once, send it to a coach... he says looks good, not test prep.

I would love to see the test scores of Big 3 students without any test prep. The world will never know.

You have a source on that top 75 claim? What is that statement based on? Why not isolate the top 75 at the top publics, too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the outcome the schools the students are accepted to and given scholarship/merit aid? There are plenty of kids with high test scores getting denied at top universities.

I mistakenly thought all the scholarships they tout were merit awards. Not quite. It’s a great place for a student-athlete, though Stone Ridge and Georgetown Prep are in a different league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re: Outcomes

How is SJC’s median ACT and SAT vis a vis big 3 and very top area publics?

Well below. Far below.

If you take the top 75 students and compare them to the top 75 at a Big 3... the same.

But SJC has a program for kids with learning disabilities so the median would be meaningless.

Also why test prep for SAT if you are already committed to a college and accepted. Most athletes that the SAT once, send it to a coach... he says looks good, not test prep.

I would love to see the test scores of Big 3 students without any test prep. The world will never know.

Doubtful. My kid is a senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cheaper and co-ed, and a less restrictive environment than many other schools. I hear it described by the kids as "a public school with uniforms." My DD came from a straight-laced K-8 and was taken aback by the unruliness on her shadow day. I thought it was a fluke so we sent her back again (DH is an alum and hoped she'd go too) but it only made things worse and she declined a nice scholarship. Second DD visited last year but didn't apply. Son may go eventually.

It’s funny how your DD can make that assessment when she has/ will never attend a public school. My DD has attended a public school in MCPS K-8 and was pleasantly surprised at the focus and drive of the kids, especially in honors classes.

[Anonymous]

Don’t understand how how it can be the “it” school when it hardly accepted anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t understand how how it can be the “it” school when it hardly accepted anyone.

I think that’s kind of the point. When something is “it” everybody wants to be a part of it but not all can. Likely, why their applications were through the roof. Yet, the class size remains the same. Just overhearing kids saying SJC has the “hype.”

[Anonymous]

Last year Gonzaga said it received over 700 applicants. Not sure how many they received this year. That said, St. John’s said it received over 1,200 this year.

[Anonymous]

For parents with kids in the De La Salle Scholars program, are you/they happy? DD didn't have a great shadow day, but was accepted into the Scholars program and is considering the school. Do all kids in the Scholars program receive either the Presidential or Principal merit scholarships? Any feedback from parents with direct experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.