Tell me all the good things...

[Anonymous]

My junior wanted to go to O’Connell for HS—coming from a FCPS middle. We kept her at a FCPS for a few reasons. Overall she is having a positive experience, but I wish we would have given her that opportunity.

[Anonymous]

There will be more diversity and clubs at Marshall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be more diversity and clubs at Marshall.

Diversity is overrated TBH

[Anonymous]

He will get a better education at a Catholic HS. Much higher expectations for academics, behavior, life skills like promptness, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a FCPS parent of 9/11 graders. I wish we would have done Catholic, and we aren't Catholic. Huge mistake on my part.

Both of my kids have had some wonderful teachers, but the amount of teachers that don't care or support is awful.

I will say some are the best ever, but some are the worst ever and there is no discipline, vaping, everything.

+1. Stay the course and keep in Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Another positive that was not mentioned is you are supporting your local schools by not going private. Also, the commute would be shorter, presumably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another positive that was not mentioned is you are supporting your local schools by not going private. Also, the commute would be shorter, presumably.

You still pay taxes if you go private. You just don't use the service that you're supporting.

[Anonymous]

There aren't any good things. Although Marshall is a great school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another positive that was not mentioned is you are supporting your local schools by not going private. Also, the commute would be shorter, presumably.

You still pay taxes if you go private. You just don't use the service that you're supporting.

Right, so the public school is actually better off since they receive your taxes but don't have to teach your kid. If every private school student enrolled in FCPS next year, it would be terrible for those public schools.

[Anonymous]

Oconnell was a great school - the grades he gets will probably be better than if he goes to Marshall - and as a result he will get into a better school with more scholarships. Catholic schools were throwing money at my son. In the end, he is going to a good Virginia State school and - while not finalized - will be paying a huge amount less than I expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oconnell was a great school - the grades he gets will probably be better than if he goes to Marshall - and as a result he will get into a better school with more scholarships. Catholic schools were throwing money at my son. In the end, he is going to a good Virginia State school and - while not finalized - will be paying a huge amount less than I expected.

Whoops, I read that too fast. Marshall is a good school too and I'm sure he'll be happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He will get a better education at a Catholic HS. Much higher expectations for academics, behavior, life skills like promptness, etc.

There's going to be a wider range at Marshall, but by hs if you're a high achiever you're in a high track for academics which also has high expectations for behavior. O'Connell's AP courses are no higher than Marshall's IB courses. And IB has external examination and standard assessments throughout, so there is even more "quality control" on academics than AP.

I think though OP it comes down to your finances and your DC's preference. I don't think his chances for college admission will be greater at Marshall though--the average SAT there is consistently around the 75th national percentile but there are lots of high achievers in the top 10% of students. Marshall and O'Connell have about the same number of NMSF per capita (Marshall has 6, O'Connell has 3). If you want to go to UVA/VT/WM in state, it's pretty competitive to get in from any solid FCPS HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He will get a better education at a Catholic HS. Much higher expectations for academics, behavior, life skills like promptness, etc.

We found the opposite. Academic standards at Catholic MS were much lower than public. Little to no acceleration for kids who wanted it. Would not allow algebra in 7th grade or geometry in 8th grade. Plus all the same behavior issues (bullying, vaping, etc.) but an administration that wouldn't acknowledge that those things that were happening, you know, because they were "good" kids. Ours is better off back in public HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will get a better education at a Catholic HS. Much higher expectations for academics, behavior, life skills like promptness, etc.

There's going to be a wider range at Marshall, but by hs if you're a high achiever you're in a high track for academics which also has high expectations for behavior. O'Connell's AP courses are no higher than Marshall's IB courses. And IB has external examination and standard assessments throughout, so there is even more "quality control" on academics than AP.

I think though OP it comes down to your finances and your DC's preference. I don't think his chances for college admission will be greater at Marshall though--the average SAT there is consistently around the 75th national percentile but there are lots of high achievers in the top 10% of students. Marshall and O'Connell have about the same number of NMSF per capita (Marshall has 6, O'Connell has 3). If you want to go to UVA/VT/WM in state, it's pretty competitive to get in from any solid FCPS HS.

AP is miles better than IB.

For an IP school vs AP school, pick AP every time.

[Anonymous]

If you go to Marshall you have more opportunities to lose to Madison.