What is going on at PVI?

[Anonymous]

Students and parents held a walkout and are looking for changes with the new head of school. Any insights?

[Anonymous]

I think she's wonderful. The school is stuck in a time warp. There are a bunch of parents from the old fairfax school who complain all the time and 'things have changed'. The school will be better once their kids graduate and move on.

[Anonymous]

There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

What specific aspect of the culture are you having concerns with? My child, a current student, is former lcps and loves the school and culture.

[Anonymous]

I have no concerns. Just answering the OPs question. The people complaining are the older families, who seem excessively distraught that the school is changing. They say vague things like - we are losing our identity. I think they have a group called Save Fairfax. They are very divisive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

I’m not at PVI but am at a catholic k-8 and it’s interesting bc lifers like me are asking the same question at our school. The influx of non catholic kids during covid changed things, and not for the better. I hadn’t considered that was “unaccepting”, but I guess you’re right. At the same time, these kids and families are just so different. We chose catholic school to join a community of the faithful and because our family is grounded in some values we felt were emphasized at the school (and the haters can stop- I know that’s not for everyone and that’s fine!). So when these families balk at discipline and dress codes and time in prayer, it causes conflict.

[Anonymous]

I have no dog in this race, but I will say that I know many families at PVI and I hear frequently that the school culture is one of arrogance, wealth and athlete worship.


Maybe the catholic families would prefer to worship God as opposed to the recruited athletes? I dunno, just a guess.

[Anonymous]

Well I don't think that is the change people seem to be talking about. The old admin was certainly arrogant. I don't see the wealth at all. I think those families head toward the DC privates. But the new admin is very accepting and kind.

[Anonymous]

I have DC at two Catholic HSs (neither is PVI). Somehow one is able to be inclusive, but still maintain what I look for, as a Catholic, at and Catholic school. The other, not so much. I have always been of the mind that all should be welcomed to these schools, but they should still be able to maintain their Catholic identity (the schools, not each and every student). That is not being stuck in a time warp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

I’m not at PVI but am at a catholic k-8 and it’s interesting bc lifers like me are asking the same question at our school. The influx of non catholic kids during covid changed things, and not for the better. I hadn’t considered that was “unaccepting”, but I guess you’re right. At the same time, these kids and families are just so different. We chose catholic school to join a community of the faithful and because our family is grounded in some values we felt were emphasized at the school (and the haters can stop- I know that’s not for everyone and that’s fine!). So when these families balk at discipline and dress codes and time in prayer, it causes conflict.

I’m wish our k-8 had some discipline. The lifers are the ones with the worst manners and so poorly behaved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no dog in this race, but I will say that I know many families at PVI and I hear frequently that the school culture is one of arrogance, wealth and athlete worship.


Maybe the catholic families would prefer to worship God as opposed to the recruited athletes? I dunno, just a guess.

PVI does not have more or less focus on athletics than Gonzaga or Saint John’s. What does this mean? Should they not be proud of what students accomplish in athletics?

[Anonymous]

Top nationally ranked basketball team getting too much attention I see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I don't think that is the change people seem to be talking about. The old admin was certainly arrogant. I don't see the wealth at all. I think those families head toward the DC privates. But the new admin is very accepting and kind.

My daughter shadowed there last year and said the seniors she met were consistently very friendly, asked her questions about herself and wished her good luck. Meanwhile she felt like she was being judged by the freshmen and sophomore girls, among other things for where else she was applying and the fact she wasn’t into sports.

The DC private schools are a long commute from South Riding and we saw lots of very nice, very new cars in the student parking lot when we toured. There are definitely more displays of wealth there than at the other diocesan high schools. Even my daughter, who was only there for a day and had no idea that there wouldn’t be a consistent culture across the school, sensed the difference between the old and new communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I don't think that is the change people seem to be talking about. The old admin was certainly arrogant. I don't see the wealth at all. I think those families head toward the DC privates. But the new admin is very accepting and kind.

My daughter shadowed there last year and said the seniors she met were consistently very friendly, asked her questions about herself and wished her good luck. Meanwhile she felt like she was being judged by the freshmen and sophomore girls, among other things for where else she was applying and the fact she wasn’t into sports.

The DC private schools are a long commute from South Riding and we saw lots of very nice, very new cars in the student parking lot when we toured. There are definitely more displays of wealth there than at the other diocesan high schools. Even my daughter, who was only there for a day and had no idea that there wouldn’t be a consistent culture across the school, sensed the difference between the old and new communities.

PVI location and surrounding area are mostly $1m+ homes. Definitely not a low cost area. Apparently people have money.

[Anonymous]

My daughter shadowed there last year and said the seniors she met were consistently very friendly, asked her questions about herself and wished her good luck. Meanwhile she felt like she was being judged by the freshmen and sophomore girls, among other things for where else she was applying and the fact she wasn’t into sports.

And so your daughter picked up on typical psych-social development In adolescents girls.