Bishop O’Connell HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't into sports or religion, there are many better choices than O'Connell (even among Catholic schools, if you are targeting based on lower relative cost).

What do you recommend for an academically strong kid with little interest in sports?

St Anselm's

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't into sports or religion, there are many better choices than O'Connell (even among Catholic schools, if you are targeting based on lower relative cost).

What do you recommend for an academically strong kid with little interest in sports?

St Anselm's

That has already been recommended by a few others and the OP is concerned about transport to and from the school.

[Anonymous]

I’m not the OP, but we’re trying to make a decision about O’Connell for next year and would appreciate hearing more about the honors classes and culture.

[Anonymous]

I know many students who have attend Bishop O'Connell, and they represent a range of academic achievement. Students who are capable and desire to reach high levels of academic achievement will be supported and challenged to reach those goals at O'Connell. The school has a range of Honors and AP courses available, a STEM program, a Global Studies program, an Exchange Program, a Study Abroad program, and a Dual Enrollment program with Marymount University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't into sports or religion, there are many better choices than O'Connell (even among Catholic schools, if you are targeting based on lower relative cost).

What do you recommend for an academically strong kid with little interest in sports?

St Anselm's

That has already been recommended by a few others and the OP is concerned about transport to and from the school.

Also, Anselm is all boys. O'Connell is coed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know many students who have attend Bishop O'Connell, and they represent a range of academic achievement. Students who are capable and desire to reach high levels of academic achievement will be supported and challenged to reach those goals at O'Connell. The school has a range of Honors and AP courses available, a STEM program, a Global Studies program, an Exchange Program, a Study Abroad program, and a Dual Enrollment program with Marymount University.

This is what my DS is getting out of O'Connell. He's in the most rigorous schedule and in the advanced math and language tracks. Will have 9 APs when he graduates along with two dual enrollment classes. He plays a sport seriously and will have coach's support with recruiting. Counselors are very helpful and willing to tout candidates to college admissions offices. We left a too-progressive K-12 in search of a non-DEI environment where DS doesn't deal with white guilt, pro-LGBTQ propaganda and skin color-based affinity groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Non-sporty, academically strong kids do well at O'Connell. Just take the higher level and AP courses. If you demand the very best in academic excellence and want a much more homogeneous experience and have the extra money and daily time/hassle to get to St Anselm's everyday in Northeast DC (that right now is a 42 minute drive from my Tysons location), then sure, go for it - academically it's a great little school.

this and the post just above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I know many students who have attend Bishop O'Connell, and they represent a range of academic achievement. Students who are capable and desire to reach high levels of academic achievement will be supported and challenged to reach those goals at O'Connell. The school has a range of Honors and AP courses available, a STEM program, a Global Studies program, an Exchange Program, a Study Abroad program, and a Dual Enrollment program with Marymount University.

This is what my DS is getting out of O'Connell. He's in the most rigorous schedule and in the advanced math and language tracks. Will have 9 APs when he graduates along with two dual enrollment classes. He plays a sport seriously and will have coach's support with recruiting. Counselors are very helpful and willing to tout candidates to college admissions offices.

Non-sporty, academically strong kids do well at O'Connell. Just take the higher level and AP courses. If you demand the very best in academic excellence and want a much more homogeneous experience and have the extra money and daily time/hassle to get to St Anselm's everyday in Northeast DC (that right now is a 42 minute drive from my Tysons location), then sure, go for it - academically it's a great little school.

👆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many students who have attend Bishop O'Connell, and they represent a range of academic achievement. Students who are capable and desire to reach high levels of academic achievement will be supported and challenged to reach those goals at O'Connell. The school has a range of Honors and AP courses available, a STEM program, a Global Studies program, an Exchange Program, a Study Abroad program, and a Dual Enrollment program with Marymount University.

This is what my DS is getting out of O'Connell. He's in the most rigorous schedule and in the advanced math and language tracks. Will have 9 APs when he graduates along with two dual enrollment classes. He plays a sport seriously and will have coach's support with recruiting. Counselors are very helpful and willing to tout candidates to college admissions offices. We left a too-progressive K-12 in search of a non-DEI environment where DS doesn't deal with white guilt, pro-LGBTQ propaganda and skin color-based affinity groups.

Doesn’t sound like O’Connell would be a good fit then, what with the groups for Black students, Asian students, Hispanic students, and heaven forfend!, the Diversity, Equity, and Unity student group.

[Anonymous]

Be sure to sign up for a shadow day for your child when they open up spots in September or so. The ones for O’Connell and Ireton fill up quickly.

The open houses are a bit of a cattle call. I didn’t think the one at O’Connell showed the school in the best light. It was too crowded and chaotic for us. The shadow was more helpful for ds to get a better sense of the school.

It’s also a good idea to go to the plays and musicals they put on. That’s a nice way to experience the school community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me all about it, both strengths and weaknesses. Of course, we will attend Fall admissions events, but interested in hearing a broader perspective than any school can give. We are mainstream Protestants, not Catholic, but have no particular concerns about DC being exposed to Catholic doctrine. We are more interested in the school’s academics than in its sports, for DC does not play any sport competitively.

Academics LOL no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be sure to sign up for a shadow day for your child when they open up spots in September or so. The ones for O’Connell and Ireton fill up quickly.

The open houses are a bit of a cattle call. I didn’t think the one at O’Connell showed the school in the best light. It was too crowded and chaotic for us. The shadow was more helpful for ds to get a better sense of the school.

It’s also a good idea to go to the plays and musicals they put on. That’s a nice way to experience the school community.

+1. We attended the open house, did a family tour and DC did a shadow. It gave us and DC multiple opportunities to see the school and interact with different students, faculty and administrators in different ways.

The open house was super crowded but we had conversations with multiple staff including the priest, an English teacher, a foreign language teacher and DC got to engage in a science experiment while we talked to a biology teacher all in addition to the student who toured us around.

They also offer free tickets for students to attend the fall play and I think a basketball game. I agree with PP that if it’s a school you’re seriously considering, take every opportunity to get on campus and experience it. That probably goes for any school you apply to, though.

DC feels very confident in their decision to attend next year based on the many interactions and experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me all about it, both strengths and weaknesses. Of course, we will attend Fall admissions events, but interested in hearing a broader perspective than any school can give. We are mainstream Protestants, not Catholic, but have no particular concerns about DC being exposed to Catholic doctrine. We are more interested in the school’s academics than in its sports, for DC does not play any sport competitively.

Academics LOL no

Dumb comment.

OP, O’Connell’s academics are good but if you really want rigor you need to have a kid who is fairly self-motivated. There is a wide range of academic performance among the students and a student who wants to do the minimum and skate by can, but a student who cares to put in the effort can do so and be challenged and excel, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me all about it, both strengths and weaknesses. Of course, we will attend Fall admissions events, but interested in hearing a broader perspective than any school can give. We are mainstream Protestants, not Catholic, but have no particular concerns about DC being exposed to Catholic doctrine. We are more interested in the school’s academics than in its sports, for DC does not play any sport competitively.

Academics LOL no

What schools do you think are better for academics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I know many students who have attend Bishop O'Connell, and they represent a range of academic achievement. Students who are capable and desire to reach high levels of academic achievement will be supported and challenged to reach those goals at O'Connell. The school has a range of Honors and AP courses available, a STEM program, a Global Studies program, an Exchange Program, a Study Abroad program, and a Dual Enrollment program with Marymount University.

This is what my DS is getting out of O'Connell. He's in the most rigorous schedule and in the advanced math and language tracks. Will have 9 APs when he graduates along with two dual enrollment classes. He plays a sport seriously and will have coach's support with recruiting. Counselors are very helpful and willing to tout candidates to college admissions offices.

Non-sporty, academically strong kids do well at O'Connell. Just take the higher level and AP courses. If you demand the very best in academic excellence and want a much more homogeneous experience and have the extra money and daily time/hassle to get to St Anselm's everyday in Northeast DC (that right now is a 42 minute drive from my Tysons location), then sure, go for it - academically it's a great little school.

agreed