Catholic school when you are not super Catholic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to an Arlington diocese Catholic K-8. I would guess you would be similar to 75% of the families. There aren’t that many super devote.

This. There are a ton of lapsed Catholics at these schools.

Then it varies because at our Arlington diocese K-8, most are devout if you define devout as attending Sunday mass, taking kids to confession when they get in trouble at school, praying at home, etc. The newcomers who came during COVID but never left are the outliers.
OP, don't go unless you want the faith formation first. Catholic schools can be great, but a kid with iffy behavior will get punished into submission. Which could be what you want but often does a number on boys.

I would guess that fewer than 25% attend Sunday mass on a regular basis. No one takes the kids to confession but the teachers take them once a year during religion class time.

Then you prove my point that it varies.
But once a year confession? What school is that? That seems crazy low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it’s fine especially at the high school level. I’m sending my non-Catholic kid to a Catholic high school. Never once, did I hear any administrator say only Catholics need apply. If they had, their enrollment would be down to about 1/4 of what it is now. In fact, during the application process, I don’t think anyone talked about at all. Most referred to educating the whole child to become an adult. Some talk of Christian service requirements, but honestly, the Christian service requirements are applicable to any faith community (serving the poor, hungry, etc).

If you want Catholic schools to become only for Catholics, you should advocate for administrators to restrict enrollment rather than coming in here to tell people to go away.

I suspect your concern is really about abortion rights and you wouldn’t even want progressive Catholics in your Catholic school.

So many Catholics are pro-choice. Not really pro-abortion, but many do not believe it is something that the government should be legislating.

Agreed, but whenever I see these comments about non-Catholics in Catholic schools not agreeing with Catholic teaching, I assume the poster is worried about abortion and LGBTQ. Many Catholics disagree with the church on those items.

[Anonymous]

There are quite a few threads on this. It's totally fine to put your kid in Catholic school if you're not that religious. Just know they will have to learn the prayers and go through the rituals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are quite a few threads on this. It's totally fine to put your kid in Catholic school if you're not that religious. Just know they will have to learn the prayers and go through the rituals.

Not only fine, but part of the mission. The Archbishop of Washington has famously said, “we don’t teach them because they are Catholic, we teach them because we are,” when asked about a Catholic school that had a low percentage of Catholic students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The faith will pervade everything - prayers before each class, practice, game. Frequent Mass as a school and expectation to attend Sunday Mass as a family. Know that going in.

We saw a slightly older culture - addressing me as “Mrs DH last name” automatically; using cursive; no individualized instruction. Conservative isn’t the right word exactly, but it was different.

Cursive is fantastic for brain development. Many public school systems are looking to bring it back.

We know a 29-year old MD that can't read anything in cursive. I had to read the grandmother's letter to her.

We made our son's learn and practice cursive in high school. They weren't happy about it--but had to write a sentence each day. They now write to their grandmothers in cursive.

Fwiw, my husband isn't Catholic and I didn't practice growing up (more culturally Catholic), but we thought it was important for our kids to learn the morals/values and service so they are at an independent Catholic HS in DC. I am glad they are learning to give back and taking required courses in social justice and ethics and world religions.

[Anonymous]

^
*sons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are quite a few threads on this. It's totally fine to put your kid in Catholic school if you're not that religious. Just know they will have to learn the prayers and go through the rituals.

Yes. And the parents should not be bashing and bad-mouthing the religion on message boards and in person. You send your kids there, you shut up and have your kids participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The faith will pervade everything - prayers before each class, practice, game. Frequent Mass as a school and expectation to attend Sunday Mass as a family. Know that going in.

We saw a slightly older culture - addressing me as “Mrs DH last name” automatically; using cursive; no individualized instruction. Conservative isn’t the right word exactly, but it was different.

It's old fashioned and it's absolutely the thing that I like best. Manners, discipline, dressing up (belts and collars! My nephew can't deal for 1 meal and that drives me crazy). Addressing adults properly, shaking hands, making eye contact. Memorization, public speaking. It's what most of us remember as being the norm but isn't anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faith will pervade everything - prayers before each class, practice, game. Frequent Mass as a school and expectation to attend Sunday Mass as a family. Know that going in.

We saw a slightly older culture - addressing me as “Mrs DH last name” automatically; using cursive; no individualized instruction. Conservative isn’t the right word exactly, but it was different.

It's old fashioned and it's absolutely the thing that I like best. Manners, discipline, dressing up (belts and collars! My nephew can't deal for 1 meal and that drives me crazy). Addressing adults properly, shaking hands, making eye contact. Memorization, public speaking. It's what most of us remember as being the norm but isn't anymore.

+1 to all of this. You wouldn't find any of these skills in a curriculum, but it comes with the Catholic school package.

[Anonymous]

So many threads on this OP- just do a search.

[Anonymous]

Our children attend one of the Arlington diocese parish elementary schools and we have been extremely happy with the experience. However even as a practicing Catholic, and a product of Catholic schools (elsewhere in the country) myself, I was initially a bit surprised by the extent that religion and catholic values are incorporated into each subject and can’t imagine sending my children there if I wasn’t fully on board with the teachings.

OP - you should be aware that the Arlington diocese is known for being one of the most conservative/traditional in the country so the more laid back approach that some pps have described related to the diocese of Washington or at an independent Catholic school are probably less relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to an Arlington diocese Catholic K-8. I would guess you would be similar to 75% of the families. There aren’t that many super devote.

This. There are a ton of lapsed Catholics at these schools.

Then it varies because at our Arlington diocese K-8, most are devout if you define devout as attending Sunday mass, taking kids to confession when they get in trouble at school, praying at home, etc. The newcomers who came during COVID but never left are the outliers.
OP, don't go unless you want the faith formation first. Catholic schools can be great, but a kid with iffy behavior will get punished into submission. Which could be what you want but often does a number on boys.

I would guess that fewer than 25% attend Sunday mass on a regular basis. No one takes the kids to confession but the teachers take them once a year during religion class time.

? At our diocese school they go to confession as a class every three weeks (and are encouraged to also attend outside of school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faith will pervade everything - prayers before each class, practice, game. Frequent Mass as a school and expectation to attend Sunday Mass as a family. Know that going in.

We saw a slightly older culture - addressing me as “Mrs DH last name” automatically; using cursive; no individualized instruction. Conservative isn’t the right word exactly, but it was different.

It's old fashioned and it's absolutely the thing that I like best. Manners, discipline, dressing up (belts and collars! My nephew can't deal for 1 meal and that drives me crazy). Addressing adults properly, shaking hands, making eye contact. Memorization, public speaking. It's what most of us remember as being the norm but isn't anymore.

+1 to all of this. You wouldn't find any of these skills in a curriculum, but it comes with the Catholic school package.

+2. Catholic school is how I remember school. Homework, tests, projects, cursive, respect, dress codes. It’s everything public school should still be, but isn’t.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids went to Catholic HS the other is currently in a Jesuit HS. We are not Catholic. They are still required to take Theology and attend Mass (weekly in MS, monthly in HS). I have no problem with that. We knew that was the deal when we applied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faith will pervade everything - prayers before each class, practice, game. Frequent Mass as a school and expectation to attend Sunday Mass as a family. Know that going in.

We saw a slightly older culture - addressing me as “Mrs DH last name” automatically; using cursive; no individualized instruction. Conservative isn’t the right word exactly, but it was different.

It's old fashioned and it's absolutely the thing that I like best. Manners, discipline, dressing up (belts and collars! My nephew can't deal for 1 meal and that drives me crazy). Addressing adults properly, shaking hands, making eye contact. Memorization, public speaking. It's what most of us remember as being the norm but isn't anymore.

+1 to all of this. You wouldn't find any of these skills in a curriculum, but it comes with the Catholic school package.

+2. Catholic school is how I remember school. Homework, tests, projects, cursive, respect, dress codes. It’s everything public school should still be, but isn’t.

Yep. I always say it’s like my public school was back in the 80s, with some prayers thrown in.