St. Jerome Institute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

What Catholic school was this? As someone who attended Catholic schools through HS in this area, I find this atrocious. I mean we learned some crazy stuff like the fact that Catholics are closer to God and all other religions are behind Catholics, but not once did we touch on anything remotely related to demonic possession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left the school, it was an awful experience for our family. Other students leave quietly because families who leave are aggressively 'iced' out and quickly forgotten. No one follows up on why someone left. Don't be fooled by their waitlist, they simply don't have the faculty nor footprint to facilitate a larger student body. Most kids are struggling to do math/reading/writing that they will need for college entrance exams. Students are awarded based on school spirit or trying hard instead of actual results. Most of the students there will aspire to go to a school where liberal arts and the faith are central. Please look for and request their matriculation data and their average exam scores. Their SAT equivalents are national average and at D.C. SATs (1090) and at Maryland SATs (1008). Ask yourself if you want to pay 15k+ for 'friends' or 'religious formation' or 'safe environment'. The friends there are only friends if you 100% support their school and it is very difficult on you to disagree. The religious formation there is questionable because the push political agendas especially during the Humanities Seminar. The safe environment is still D.C., there are lock downs ocassionally in the school due to nearby shootings.

My kids attended different Catholic high schools, but I just read a flyer for SJI that claimed their 2023-2024 SAT average score is 1215. That would put it in the same range as other Catholic schools considered academically competitive.

I know multiple families who do/did have children at SJI, and while not everyone has been happy with the school, some really love it. I suppose that's true of most schools. SJI undoubtedly will appeal most to families who are looking for a so-called "Classical," or liberal-arts based education. From what I've gathered, it is a more rigorously Catholic Classical curriculum and culture than even other schools considered in that vein, such as St. Anselm's, Brookewood or The Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We left the school, it was an awful experience for our family. Other students leave quietly because families who leave are aggressively 'iced' out and quickly forgotten. No one follows up on why someone left. Don't be fooled by their waitlist, they simply don't have the faculty nor footprint to facilitate a larger student body. Most kids are struggling to do math/reading/writing that they will need for college entrance exams. Students are awarded based on school spirit or trying hard instead of actual results. Most of the students there will aspire to go to a school where liberal arts and the faith are central. Please look for and request their matriculation data and their average exam scores. Their SAT equivalents are national average and at D.C. SATs (1090) and at Maryland SATs (1008). Ask yourself if you want to pay 15k+ for 'friends' or 'religious formation' or 'safe environment'. The friends there are only friends if you 100% support their school and it is very difficult on you to disagree. The religious formation there is questionable because the push political agendas especially during the Humanities Seminar. The safe environment is still D.C., there are lock downs occasionally in the school due to nearby shootings.

Above post was also used verbatim in a 7/22 post about St Anselm's Abbey School. Likely someone with an agenda re. both schools. Take it with a grain of salt!

I apologize for the double post, it was only meant to describe SJI not St Anselm's. We do not have experience with St. Anselm's. No agenda, lol...as a parent not really sure what agenda a parent could have. I want people to know there are serious issues at this school, it is not the typical issues you find at any place. I do agree that you should take it with a grain of salt. Don't be fooled by the information they use to lure you into the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We left the school, it was an awful experience for our family. Other students leave quietly because families who leave are aggressively 'iced' out and quickly forgotten. No one follows up on why someone left. Don't be fooled by their waitlist, they simply don't have the faculty nor footprint to facilitate a larger student body. Most kids are struggling to do math/reading/writing that they will need for college entrance exams. Students are awarded based on school spirit or trying hard instead of actual results. Most of the students there will aspire to go to a school where liberal arts and the faith are central. Please look for and request their matriculation data and their average exam scores. Their SAT equivalents are national average and at D.C. SATs (1090) and at Maryland SATs (1008). Ask yourself if you want to pay 15k+ for 'friends' or 'religious formation' or 'safe environment'. The friends there are only friends if you 100% support their school and it is very difficult on you to disagree. The religious formation there is questionable because the push political agendas especially during the Humanities Seminar. The safe environment is still D.C., there are lock downs ocassionally in the school due to nearby shootings.

My kids attended different Catholic high schools, but I just read a flyer for SJI that claimed their 2023-2024 SAT average score is 1215. That would put it in the same range as other Catholic schools considered academically competitive.

I know multiple families who do/did have children at SJI, and while not everyone has been happy with the school, some really love it. I suppose that's true of most schools. SJI undoubtedly will appeal most to families who are looking for a so-called "Classical," or liberal-arts based education. From what I've gathered, it is a more rigorously Catholic Classical curriculum and culture than even other schools considered in that vein, such as St. Anselm's, Brookewood or The Heights.

This is only their 3rd graduating class, maybe fourth. Most kids there take the Classical Learning Test (CLT) so their numbers are probably skewed. My son's class had serious issues with Math, they took several weeks from their curriculum to prepare for the CLT. It was depressing to go over middle school math. I would ask for sure. The courses are not classical/nor liberal arts, do research and understand what these terms actually mean. That is if a parent even cares about this at all.

[Anonymous]

The SATs are 1215, yikes...that is not a good score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

I don't believe you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The SATs are 1215, yikes...that is not a good score.

A little above 75th percentile, comfortably in "these kids are suited to go to college" range, for what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

They’re not wrong!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

They’re not wrong!

Apparently horoscopes are demonic but hateful Trump rallies are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

They’re not wrong!

Apparently horoscopes are demonic but hateful Trump rallies are fine.

take it to
politics; that mind of hate doesn't belong here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

It’s a Catholic school and that’s the Catholic viewpoint on horoscopes, sooooo….

[Anonymous]

It’s a quirky, faithful classical Catholic environment. My sporty “bro” son wasn’t feeling it after his shadow day. It was a good time investment and I recommend shadowing for anyone interested. Nice place with good people. Just not everyone’s vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

It’s a Catholic school and that’s the Catholic viewpoint on horoscopes, sooooo….

No, it's not.

The Catholic church turned against astrology in the 18th century because science proved it wrong. Once science revealed this, the catechism says not to put your faith in unscientific astrology, etc. because “all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and in the final analysis, other human beings.” They “contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear we owe to God alone.” (First Commandment).

https://uscatholic.org/articles/201507/should-catholics-consult-their-horoscopes/

Nothing wrong with reading a horoscope for kicks and giggles; just don't put your faith in it.

[Anonymous]

Do not send your kid to this school, my kid was there, I am happy we pull him out, it angers me to think that their way of punishing these young adults was and is to make them stare at the wall for 40 minutes, what learning can come from this…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not send your kid to this school, my kid was there, I am happy we pull him out, it angers me to think that their way of punishing these young adults was and is to make them stare at the wall for 40 minutes, what learning can come from this…

We considered it, but had a weird feeling about it. Some very appealing aspects (classical curriculum, small call size, Catholic values, etc.), but overall it seemed like home school with tuition.