Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington) for HS

[Anonymous]

DD picked AHC over SR after shadowing at both. Felt more “real world” and was noticeably more diverse, plus had some specific offerings that appealed to her. Suggest visiting/shadowing and speaking to current students and families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always been one of the more racially and socioeconomically diverse schools with a rigorous curriculum.

I graduated in the 90s and both college and law school were a breeze compared to high school. Seriously.

What’s the alternative? Visi and Stone Ridge are far less diverse and cater to more affluent, conservative families. The co-Ed catholic options are a joke (where sports dominate because it fuels dollars).

Stone Ridge more conservative than AHC? That is not my experience.

lol

Stone Ridge is dramatically more affluent and conservative. Always has been, always will be. And very little diversity. It’s a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We considered it and it seemed very white and blonde.

If you want to take Calc, you have to go to the boy’s Prep across the street. No.

They have poor communication.

I’d have preferred St John’s.

Wait, is the bolded really true? I have a kid tracking to take AP Calc in 11th grade, so this would be a no go for me.

No, it is not true. No student goes to any other school for a Math course - or any other course.

I'm truly amazed by the totally false picture some of you are painting. Our two DDs loved the school (one graduated two years ago, the other is a junior there now). The comunity is warm and accepting and I don't know of a single MAGA parent there. Our DDs love the school and really thrived.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We considered it and it seemed very white and blonde.

If you want to take Calc, you have to go to the boy’s Prep across the street. No.

They have poor communication.

I’d have preferred St John’s.

Wait, is the bolded really true? I have a kid tracking to take AP Calc in 11th grade, so this would be a no go for me.

No, it is not true. No student goes to any other school for a Math course - or any other course.

I'm truly amazed by the totally false picture some of you are painting. Our two DDs loved the school (one graduated two years ago, the other is a junior there now). The comunity is warm and accepting and I don't know of a single MAGA parent there. Our DDs love the school and really thrived.

AHC, like many other private schools in the area, encourages kids to take math slowly. They don't follow the acceleration model that the public schools do. As a result, most kids don't need a course past BC calculus. Before the pandemic, for girls who did want a course beyond BC (or IB Math HL which they offered at the time) the option was to go to Prep. Since the pandemic, girls are able to take Linear Algebra or Multivariable/Differential Calculus through One Schoolhouse, an online provider that is specifically for students in independent schools. Stone Ridge uses the same online provider, as do other schools in the area. St. Johns doesn't list an option beyond BC calculus on their website at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD picked AHC over SR after shadowing at both. Felt more “real world” and was noticeably more diverse, plus had some specific offerings that appealed to her. Suggest visiting/shadowing and speaking to current students and families.

Same. My kid picked AHC over SR and Holton. All are great schools but AHC is a great fit for many, including my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously dumb student body

My daughter was on a soccer team with mostly HC players besides the antisemitism and racist crap their college acceptances were basically just small religious private or schools like York in pa. If you are paying for private school you should get more for your money.

And now these parents are full on maga idiots I have zero respect for anyone sending a child there .

While I realize not all parents are Maga I’m appalled at the people I see. Too many to not be a thing.



Yes this is factual my FB feed can attest to this fact.

I wouldn’t take advice from any parent who calls an entire student body dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always been one of the more racially and socioeconomically diverse schools with a rigorous curriculum.

I graduated in the 90s and both college and law school were a breeze compared to high school. Seriously.

What’s the alternative? Visi and Stone Ridge are far less diverse and cater to more affluent, conservative families. The co-Ed catholic options are a joke (where sports dominate because it fuels dollars).

Stone Ridge more conservative than AHC? That is not my experience.

You will get a much more rigorous education and better college matriculation outcomes at SR and VISI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that the negative comments are from people who don’t have a DD at AHC. Mine has been gone for a few years but I will say their communication with parents and their college counseling were both excellent.

Untrue.

Which negative commenter has a DD there? The one who said “based on the students I see in my neighborhood” or the one who said “my daughter was on a soccer team with mostly HC players” or the one who said “we considered it and it seemed very white and blonde?”

OP asked if anyone has recent lived experience with the school. Obviously not every school is the right fit for every student and there are probably some current parents who may not be happy, but the very negative comments here are not from families at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always been one of the more racially and socioeconomically diverse schools with a rigorous curriculum.

I graduated in the 90s and both college and law school were a breeze compared to high school. Seriously.

What’s the alternative? Visi and Stone Ridge are far less diverse and cater to more affluent, conservative families. The co-Ed catholic options are a joke (where sports dominate because it fuels dollars).

Stone Ridge more conservative than AHC? That is not my experience.

You will get a much more rigorous education and better college matriculation outcomes at SR and VISI.

Um, that’s because their parents and grandparents are legacies and donors. Duh.

[Anonymous]

I had a DD there and we left. The school was unsupportive with issues of intense bullying—offenses that would be prosecutable in Montgomery county. There were girls smoking weed in the bathroom. And as far as diversity, pretty much everyone stuck to their own ethnic group. The education was mediocre and uninspiring the brief time we were there. We were happy to leave and only disappointed we gave them our money in the first instance. I got the impression that ACH was really focused on money and who could pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a DD there and we left. The school was unsupportive with issues of intense bullying—offenses that would be prosecutable in Montgomery county. There were girls smoking weed in the bathroom. And as far as diversity, pretty much everyone stuck to their own ethnic group. The education was mediocre and uninspiring the brief time we were there. We were happy to leave and only disappointed we gave them our money in the first instance. I got the impression that ACH was really focused on money and who could pay.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a DD there and we left. The school was unsupportive with issues of intense bullying—offenses that would be prosecutable in Montgomery county. There were girls smoking weed in the bathroom. And as far as diversity, pretty much everyone stuck to their own ethnic group. The education was mediocre and uninspiring the brief time we were there. We were happy to leave and only disappointed we gave them our money in the first instance. I got the impression that ACH was really focused on money and who could pay.

For sure. Such a toxic environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a DD there and we left. The school was unsupportive with issues of intense bullying—offenses that would be prosecutable in Montgomery county. There were girls smoking weed in the bathroom. And as far as diversity, pretty much everyone stuck to their own ethnic group. The education was mediocre and uninspiring the brief time we were there. We were happy to leave and only disappointed we gave them our money in the first instance. I got the impression that ACH was really focused on money and who could pay.

For sure. Such a toxic environment.

Did you just respond to your own comment twice? It sure seems like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always been one of the more racially and socioeconomically diverse schools with a rigorous curriculum.

I graduated in the 90s and both college and law school were a breeze compared to high school. Seriously.

What’s the alternative? Visi and Stone Ridge are far less diverse and cater to more affluent, conservative families. The co-Ed catholic options are a joke (where sports dominate because it fuels dollars).

Stone Ridge more conservative than AHC? That is not my experience.

You will get a much more rigorous education and better college matriculation outcomes at SR and VISI.

Um, that’s because their parents and grandparents are legacies and donors. Duh.

Not really. My daughter got into a top 20 on her own merits. I am sure there are plenty of legacies as well. I just don't see very impressive college matriculations coming out of AHC. Better results coming out of MCPS high schools honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously dumb student body

My daughter was on a soccer team with mostly HC players besides the antisemitism and racist crap their college acceptances were basically just small religious private or schools like York in pa. If you are paying for private school you should get more for your money.

And now these parents are full on maga idiots I have zero respect for anyone sending a child there .

While I realize not all parents are Maga I’m appalled at the people I see. Too many to not be a thing.



Yes this is factual my FB feed can attest to this fact.

MAGA culture as a private HS in North Bethesda?

Interesting.

It's a common school name, so maybe PP is mixing it up with a different school?