Howard County family considering a few Baltimore privates

[Anonymous]

We're on the border of Howard/Montgomery, so we are looking into some D.C. area schools as well (Our Lady of Good Counsel). Our son attended a Catholic elementary, but when we moved, he wanted to attend a public middle school due to a larger peer group. For high school, we are considering Loyola Blakefield, Calvert Hall, and McDonogh. Those are quite a distance, but are they worth it? He plays a sport, so he will be after school often and is interested in the sports broadcasting club at Loyola. The lack of diversity is a negative, but McDonogh is sufficient in that arena. Howard County doesn't really have many options, and we definitely don't want to do public for high school.

[Anonymous]

Why live in Howard County if you aren't going to use public schools.

[Anonymous]

We originally moved for the schools, but life had other plans. Our local high school doesn't really fit what DS wants.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking at private/Catholic school, all 3 are worth looking at. They will all have kids from Howard County. I would argue that Calvert Hall is the most diverse of the 3. Is a coed school important to you? Is Catholic school? What sport?

[Anonymous]

Calvert Hall is most down-to-earth and traditional school of these. Boys get in trouble for not coming to class with books or pencil, for looking at phone in the building etc. very refreshing in many ways. Also nice to have so much economic diversity.
Some of the teachers are very good. The McMullen program is terrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're on the border of Howard/Montgomery, so we are looking into some D.C. area schools as well (Our Lady of Good Counsel). Our son attended a Catholic elementary, but when we moved, he wanted to attend a public middle school due to a larger peer group. For high school, we are considering Loyola Blakefield, Calvert Hall, and McDonogh. Those are quite a distance, but are they worth it? He plays a sport, so he will be after school often and is interested in the sports broadcasting club at Loyola. The lack of diversity is a negative, but McDonogh is sufficient in that arena. Howard County doesn't really have many options, and we definitely don't want to do public for high school.

The only school worth considering in this bunch is McDonough, it's a lot closer to your and college matriculation is much better. I wouldn't travel an hour for either Loyola or Calvert Hall, Gilman is the only Baltimore school that is going to deliver an education worthy of the commute.

[Anonymous]

Op, look at college matriculation. McD had a bit of an off year but is still by far the strongest of the schools you named. Gilman has kids going to every Ivy-- and multiple to Stanford, Columbia and Cornell, as well Notre Dame, Northwestern, etc. . .

All of the independent and catholic schools are pretty diverse -- both economically and racially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calvert Hall is most down-to-earth and traditional school of these. Boys get in trouble for not coming to class with books or pencil, for looking at phone in the building etc. very refreshing in many ways. Also nice to have so much economic diversity.
Some of the teachers are very good. The McMullen program is terrific.

My DS went to Calvert Hall and I agree. It’s the most racially and economically diverse of the schools the OP mentioned. Just consider the drive. Driving from Towson to back to Howard County after a full day of school and work doesn’t sound like something I would want to do.

[Anonymous]

Calvert Hall and Loyola are good if you want a catholic school or if your alternative is a performing Baltimore public. Neither is going to offer a better education than a Howard county public. The class sizes aren’t going to be smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calvert Hall and Loyola are good if you want a catholic school or if your alternative is a performing Baltimore public. Neither is going to offer a better education than a Howard county public. The class sizes aren’t going to be smaller.

Low performing Baltimore public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calvert Hall and Loyola are good if you want a catholic school or if your alternative is a performing Baltimore public. Neither is going to offer a better education than a Howard county public. The class sizes aren’t going to be smaller.

I disagree. My neighbors lived in Howard County before moving to Baltimore County. Her kids were unprepared for college in the following ways- no idea how to take notes, were allowed retakes in HS whereas they couldn’t do that in college, no idea that deadlines weren’t flexible, couldn’t write. She spent a lot of money on writing tutors for both because they basically had to start from the beginning. One nearly failed out because he wasn’t used to handing in work by a deadline. He was on academic probation. The other one needed a tutor in note taking since she was always provided notes by the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calvert Hall and Loyola are good if you want a catholic school or if your alternative is a performing Baltimore public. Neither is going to offer a better education than a Howard county public. The class sizes aren’t going to be smaller.[/quote}

I disagree. My neighbors lived in Howard County before moving to Baltimore County. Her kids were unprepared for college in the following ways- no idea how to take notes, were allowed retakes in HS whereas they couldn’t do that in college, no idea that deadlines weren’t flexible, couldn’t write. She spent a lot of money on writing tutors for both because they basically had to start from the beginning. One nearly failed out because he wasn’t used to handing in work by a deadline. He was on academic probation. The other one needed a tutor in note taking since she was always provided notes by the teachers.

Most Howard County high schools have better college matriculation than Calvert Hall, which is not known for its academic rigor. Unless op is avoiding an underperforming school, there is literally no reason to drive an hour each way to CH. If she must go to a private, I'd recommend McDonough and Glenleg, which are half the distance.

[Anonymous]

Our DC is attending MS of one of the three (LB, CH and McD) originally mentioned. There are others to consider as well to find the right fit. Boys' Latin of Baltimore and St. Paul's Schools (Brooklandville). You mentioned OLGC which has the IB Diploma program - St. Paul's apparently is unfortunately phasing it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calvert Hall and Loyola are good if you want a catholic school or if your alternative is a performing Baltimore public. Neither is going to offer a better education than a Howard county public. The class sizes aren’t going to be smaller.

Low performing Baltimore public

It may be better for OP's kid - which is the question. What are the class sizes in a howard county public? 30 students in each class? All of these will be smaller than that if that is important to OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calvert Hall and Loyola are good if you want a catholic school or if your alternative is a performing Baltimore public. Neither is going to offer a better education than a Howard county public. The class sizes aren’t going to be smaller.

Low performing Baltimore public

It may be better for OP's kid - which is the question. What are the class sizes in a howard county public? 30 students in each class? All of these will be smaller than that if that is important to OP.

Calvert Hall has 1250 kids in just high school. Loyola's high school is half the size. Every other Baltimore private is about a quarter of the size.