Thoughts on Xavier HS
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Anonymous
| Starting the high school application process with my 8th grader and he's interested in Xavier and some other other downtown privates like Friends, GCS and maybe Packer. Might also look uptown at TT schools like Collegiate and Dalton as he has great grades and ISEE scores but we are primarily focused downtown. Anyone have any experience with Xavier or insight into pros/cons of Xavier vs a place like Friends or GCS? Xavier is much larger but also much, much less expensive and we would not be getting financial aid at the more expensive privates. From what I've seen school spirit seems to be better at Xavier but I don't know about academics. The kids we know from Xavier have all gone to top colleges but in general their college placement does not seem to be as good as a place like FS. |
Anonymous
| Xavier's matriculation won't be as good as FS for a few reasons - 1. SES status of families (lower at Xavier generally than FS) and 2. Focus on Catholic colleges and universities at Xavier which is not as present at nondenominational schools. |
Anonymous
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Xavier is a very different culture than the others (we did not look at Xavier but looked extremely closely at two of the others and a bit at the third). Xavier is all boys, Catholic and more than twice the size of the others (which you already know). Xavier has APs and I don't think the others do (which has plusses and minuses). So it would have a very different feel.
I think the other schools are as academic as you want them to be. Top kids can do very well and they send their fair share to Ivy+. But they have their share of kids not gunning for Harvard, more so than TT and other schools. Which we generally found to be a really good thing but it might make their exmissions not look as good. They all have plenty of kids with lots of money but you don't notice it as much, particularly at the HS level. Sports offerings and difficulty of making teams is different at different schools. If that is relevant to you, look into it carefully. And each school is different for different sports (which could also change year to year). I would visit them all - it really makes a difference. Also closely look at the curriculum and how it fits your child - I always laughed at the parents who obsessed over this stuff but one might fit your child better. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately it’s hard to get in to see many of these schools before submitting an application. There also doesn’t seem to be very much info on the websites. I’ve searched the FS website up and down and am still not sure what sort of extracurriculars they have for high schoolers. We were able to go to an open house event at GCS in the spring and I liked it but not sure it’s worth 70k. We’ve been to several events at Xavier and my son really likes it and I liked it too but worry about the size and that it might be too strict. |
Anonymous
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All of the schools have open houses in the fall before applications are due. Friends is October 29. Packer is October 18. GCS doesn't seem to have posted it yet but I recall them having one.
FS web site has lots of info about sports, performing arts, etc. on the web site - look under student life? Applications aren't due until after these dates (at least the full application). Interviews start in early October but you can try to schedule it after the open house. I think we did some interviews before and some after. Trying to be helpful here but you really have to be very organized and on top of things to manage this process with testing, open houses, interviews, essays, recs, etc. It is good practice for college. No one is going to hold your hand and your kid has to really want to do this. We did the private and public process (both SHSAT and Gen Ed) all at the same time. It was all-consuming and exhausting but rewarding in the end. |
Anonymous
| If you don't mind sharing, where did your kid end up and why did you choose your current school over the others? Thankfully we have a great high school guidance counselor at our k-8 that is helping with the process but agree it's overwhelming and we're just at the beginning. |
Anonymous
| What about regis |
Anonymous
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Sorry - don't want to be cryptic but would rather not say. We had a few good options including ones from the privates you mentioned and it was a very tough choice.
Ultimately we went based on the feel of the school (from tour, interview, open house, people we met, etc), which curriculum was better for our child, comfort with leadership (not that we were uncomfortable with any of the leadership), etc. We had acquaintances at different schools but once accepted we reached out to our network to find as many people as we could. Revisits were also very helpful. |
Anonymous
| Our Brooklyn neighborhood is very Catholic and people rave about Xavier. I have never heard anything bad about it. I've also commuted with Xavier boys and they seem happy and well adjusted. Seems like a very solid option and one I would consider for my kids in the future. |
Anonymous
We’re not catholic. Wish it was a possibility for us as it’s such a great school. Even if it were an option the commute to the UES might be tough for my kid. |
Anonymous
| How comfortable is Xavier if you are not Catholic? |
Anonymous
We’re fine with the Catholic aspect. They admit kids from all faiths. We actually know a Jewish family with a son there. My son is interested in religion so I think he would enjoy the religion classes. I like the social justice emphasis even if I’m not completely onboard with all the doctrine. |
Anonymous
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I have a kid at Regis and we looked at Xavier. We have the money, but I was never going to spend 60k+ a year for k-12 so didn't really look at other privates, but obviously know a ton of families there.
1 Turns out, I'm a fan of the all boy thing. They know what they're doing - and I assume Xavier is similar. For example, we get very little communication and the boys are forced to up their executive function game if they dont want to miss a spring break service trip or election. And they do .. some more slowly the others. 2. I like the jesuit thing. I like the idea of service and the "whole person" idea. 3. I dont like the bro thing, and Xavier is probably worse than Regis on this. But it's all a world better than it was in the 90s. If kids are gay, nobody cares. But it can be a little crass in general. 4. They boys schools walk the kids through social stuff. They organize dances with sister schools. They really encourage casual dances and then date dances. For my kid, it was good. 5. Socially, I think they're a little "slower" than $$$ private schools, which I like. 6. not so much a rich and poor divide, although dont be fooled - there are millionaires everywhere. 7. Can't speak to the academics, but I'm sure they're solid. And there is a pathway to schools like BC etc. Xavier used to have an open house before apps went in. I'd attend. GL! |
Anonymous
very helpful - thanks! |
Anonymous
| Great sports programs, strict, service is encouraged. Kids are smart and well adjusted. Not woke |