Stone Ridge vs Visitation?

[Anonymous]

We have an 8th grader who is applying to both from a parochial school that ends in 8th. We have seen great girls choose either one and we don’t have a good sense of the differences. Our daughter is very friendly with lots of interests, athletic and a good student but not the very top academically. Would one be a better fit?

I’m hoping to not be inviting anyone to bash either school. My current impressions of both schools are very good, I’m just trying to better understand the differences so please be kind.

[Anonymous]

One of the biggest differences is the schedule. Stone Ridge uses an 8 day block schedule while Visi has an 8 period schedule with particular periods that drop each day. Your DD will get a feel for each when she shadows.

Location was a big consideration for my child. If you're in between the schools, you are lucky and this may not be an issue for your family.

Look at what interests your child in terms of extracurricular activities and be sure the kid will get to play her sport, for example.

I don't think you can go wrong with either school tho!

[Anonymous]

My daughter applied to both last year and had wonderful shadow days at both. So did three other classmates. Two ended up at Visi; two at SR.

For us, location was huge and every day I thank goodness we went with the easier commute with the extracurricular and homework obligations. Each of the girls seems to be challenged and to like where they landed. Both schools are excellent. Visi definitely seems heavier on the homework, but that could be because, as noted, SR's block schedule allows for more time during the day to study.

I also loved how they both handled the post-acceptance process. There were events before you had to commit that involved the upperclassman. You got a great sense of the community and the excitement/sisterhood that comes from being at either school.

Good luck to your girl! Tell her to try not to stress too much. Find her people ... and try not to have too long of a commute.

[Anonymous]

The block schedule was the deciding factor for us, and it’s been great for how my DD manages her time and homework load.

[Anonymous]

Seconding the difference between the block schedule rotation and more traditional every class, every day schedule. The block schedule at SR has been wonderful for our DD because it gives her a chance to figure out how to budget her time (more similar to college) and because it has the potential to lighten the amount of homework she has each night.

Also +1 on the commute as a major factor. Kids come from pretty far to attend SR, but that would not have worked for our family.

There is a different "feel" at each school, but my DD came away with a pretty strong sense of which was right for her after a shadow day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an 8th grader who is applying to both from a parochial school that ends in 8th. We have seen great girls choose either one and we don’t have a good sense of the differences. Our daughter is very friendly with lots of interests, athletic and a good student but not the very top academically. Would one be a better fit?

I’m hoping to not be inviting anyone to bash either school. My current impressions of both schools are very good, I’m just trying to better understand the differences so please be kind.

I have to think your parochial school sends more girls to one or the other. Talk to as many parents from your school of current Visi or SR students as possible.

They are both excellent schools. Our DD went to Visi (only choice commute wise). She made lifelong friends there and lifted herself academically to meet the challenging academic environment.

[Anonymous]

It’s a location/ commute decision 100%

[Anonymous]

DD at Stone Ridge and the block schedule is huge. A very large number of girls do sports after school so being able to get some homework done during school is huge.

We find SR very joyful. I would look at the various social media sites.

[Anonymous]

I will echo what everyone else has said about commute, block schedule, and being able to have meaningful participation in extracurriculars of interest. One other difference is attending a K-12 schools vs a 9-12. At a K-12 it’s more than just the high school for much of the school communication, with events, when volunteering etc. There are also relationships, both kids and families, at a K-12 that goes back to when the kids were in elementary school. But I’ve also seen in public schools high schools where families become friends from when the kids were in preschool together and also the close knit Catholic community where kids go to a 9-12 high school but went to the same parish school as several classmates or know of each other. For both schools you should be asking the question how so they integrate kids and their family into the school community if they were to come in knowing no one.

These are both great options. Also, when my family was going thru the process and my daughter had been accepted, I reached out to parents I knew from the parish school with kids at that high school. They were very generous with their time in answering questions and giving me any inside scoop/advice.

[Anonymous]

DD shadowed at both schools and loved them. She is leaning towards Visi but wants to apply to both schools. We were told by a friends’s mom that applying to both schools would lessen her choice of getting into either school as they are too similar and both schools may see this as lack of commitment. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD shadowed at both schools and loved them. She is leaning towards Visi but wants to apply to both schools. We were told by a friends’s mom that applying to both schools would lessen her choice of getting into either school as they are too similar and both schools may see this as lack of commitment. Thoughts?

That's silly. Many girls apply to both schools - in fact, it's the norm.

[Anonymous]

Many, many families apply to both. While it’s smart to play the odds, it does make things tough for the schools because they need to look at the applicant and try to figure out if they are the first choice or back up.

[Anonymous]

My daughter applied to both plus two other schools and got into all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter applied to both plus two other schools and got into all of them.

So?

[Anonymous]

The homework load is definitely heavier at Visitation - plus more quizzes and tests so keep that in mind when you are deciding where to apply and if admitted, whether to attend.