How is Dematha?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live 20 from it and it is a no go (same as Bishop McNamara); but for a 45-60 minute drive we have and may choose Spalding, St. Mary's Annapolis, St. Jerome Institute and SAAS. We care about academics first and foremost and peer relationships - not sports.

Were sports the only issue? Any info is appropriate

The strongest Catholic schools are not diocesan schools - but are independently run - like Gonzaga, Georgetown Prep, The Heights and SAAS for example. Suggest you look at SAT scores, AP classes and results, languages other than Spanish, clubs and unique programs like IB (Spalding and Good Counsel), art/music or cyber. And college placements after filtering out sports recruits. In addition the school had to be big enough to offer 2-3 levels of math so that the instruction was at the appropriate level for that those students that scored into the class.

For accuracy, DeMatha is an independent school. Offers languages other than Spanish, a robust math and AP course catalog, and a nationally recognized music program.

[Anonymous]

The music program is great as is the camaraderie, but the academics are weak comparatively.

Sure, there are kids who shine there, but if your kid is an academic they aren't going to find a large group of their peers nor will they find as many advanced classes.

For example they have 2 years of algebra classes for some kids, I don't know of any other WCAC school that does that (or needs to).

[Anonymous]

Many men in my family went there, great group of young men who support each other, outstanding athletics and music program, but the academics are not as strong as other schools, which is the biggest reason why we didn't send our son there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many men in my family went there, great group of young men who support each other, outstanding athletics and music program, but the academics are not as strong as other schools, which is the biggest reason why we didn't send our son there.

I don't think anyone is arguing that the school is full of academic super stars, but there are plenty of opportunities for more academically advanced students and a range of kids with different abilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many men in my family went there, great group of young men who support each other, outstanding athletics and music program, but the academics are not as strong as other schools, which is the biggest reason why we didn't send our son there.

I don't think anyone is arguing that the school is full of academic super stars, but there are plenty of opportunities for more academically advanced students and a range of kids with different abilities.

My point was I didn't send my son there because the group of his academic peers would be small and I knew he would do better at a school where there was more kids like him. Can a strong student thrive there? Of course. Will they have the same opportunities and strong peer group? No. I know this because I saw it first hand with my nephew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many men in my family went there, great group of young men who support each other, outstanding athletics and music program, but the academics are not as strong as other schools, which is the biggest reason why we didn't send our son there.

I don't think anyone is arguing that the school is full of academic super stars, but there are plenty of opportunities for more academically advanced students and a range of kids with different abilities.

My point was I didn't send my son there because the group of his academic peers would be small and I knew he would do better at a school where there was more kids like him. Can a strong student thrive there? Of course. Will they have the same opportunities and strong peer group? No. I know this because I saw it first hand with my nephew.

It's a pretty big school. Again, are all kids there academic, no, but there are plenty of kids that are and they find each other. I know this first hand. Again, not trying to argue it's better or more academic than others, but it's a big enough and diverse enough school that there are opportunities for the range of students they support.

[Anonymous]

I generally look at college acceptances to get a feel for academics. https://www.instagram.com/dmcollegecommits2025/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally look at college acceptances to get a feel for academics. https://www.instagram.com/dmcollegecommits2025/

I know some many disagree, but I don't think this is not the best indicator of academic quality. So many factors, beyond, academics go in to college admission, including socioeconomic status, race, location and academics, etc.

DeMatha serves a larger percentage of middle and low income students than some of the other Catholic schools it's compared to so that might be a factor as to why you see more of them going to in-state colleges. They also serve a higher percentage of Black students hence why you'll see more HBCU enrollment than others.

If there a way to have an apples to apples comparison of these IG posts that factored in full pay vs. financial aid, athletics vs. non, etc. that would be one thing, but college admissions is not the clean proxy for academic quality that people want it to be.

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[Anonymous]

Many private colleges (which comprise the vast majority of the top 50) meets needs, so the FA part isn't really an issue for a lower income family if the student had the academic caliber to get in.

What it does show you is the schools the college counseling office likely have a relationship with, you definitely see trends in schools where large groups go to a certain few colleges you don't see at another school, for example.

You also see the schools your kids friends will be shooting for. It is a data point that is important to look at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I generally look at college acceptances to get a feel for academics. https://www.instagram.com/dmcollegecommits2025/

I know some many disagree, but I don't think this is not the best indicator of academic quality. So many factors, beyond, academics go in to college admission, including socioeconomic status, race, location and academics, etc.

DeMatha serves a larger percentage of middle and low income students than some of the other Catholic schools it's compared to so that might be a factor as to why you see more of them going to in-state colleges. They also serve a higher percentage of Black students hence why you'll see more HBCU enrollment than others.

If there a way to have an apples to apples comparison of these IG posts that factored in full pay vs. financial aid, athletics vs. non, etc. that would be one thing, but college admissions is not the clean proxy for academic quality that people want it to be.

.

100%

[Anonymous]

The link shared is Class of 2024–not 2025. For my Black son DeMatha was hands down the best option of the Catholic schools. Gonzaga was unwelcoming. Prep has its own issues, and son did not like the nerdy environment of SAAS. So. will e able to do dual enrollment and start college possibly with a semester under his belt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DeMatha is a solid choice, especially if you're looking for flexibility with transferring. Academically, it offers a mix—you’ll find both strong students taking AP and honors courses and those who need more support. If your student is academically minded, he’ll find a challenging curriculum, particularly in subjects like math, science, engineering, history and world languages, and teachers who push students to excel. The faculty genuinely care, but like any school, a student has to be self-motivated to take advantage of what’s offered.

Discipline-wise, DeMatha has a structured environment with clear expectations, but it's not overly rigid. It’s a big school with a diverse student body, so experiences can vary, but the administration does a decent job of maintaining order. I am not aware of any major bullying and I think there's little tolerance for any disciplinary issues.

Sports are a big part of school life—DeMatha has nationally recognized programs in multiple sports, and the school spirit around athletics is strong. However, non-athletes aren’t sidelined; there’s a good balance with arts, music, and other extracurriculars. Your student doesn’t need to be an athlete to fit in, but the energy around sports is definitely part of the culture.

College outcomes are solid. You’ll see students going to top-tier universities, including Ivy League schools, but also a range of solid choices ranging from small liberal arts schools, public flagships, regional colleges and HBCUs, military academies, Catholic universities, as well as Ivy and highly selective institutions. There’s a strong support system for college admissions, but, as with any school, individual outcomes depend on the student’s efforts.

As for tuition—if your son will take advantage of the academics, resources, and extracurriculars, it can be worth it. The alumni network is strong, and the experience can be invaluable for the right student.

+1 - the sense of brotherhood and the music program are top notch! Great engineering and STEM classes, too. I know many current students and alumni who are successful and happy to be a Stag!

+2 -- we have a Junior and have been very happy with our experience at DeMatha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many private colleges (which comprise the vast majority of the top 50) meets needs, so the FA part isn't really an issue for a lower income family if the student had the academic caliber to get in.

What it does show you is the schools the college counseling office likely have a relationship with, you definitely see trends in schools where large groups go to a certain few colleges you don't see at another school, for example.

You also see the schools your kids friends will be shooting for. It is a data point that is important to look at.

While many top private colleges claim to meet full demonstrated financial need, the reality is often more complex. Financial aid packages vary significantly based on how each school calculates need, and they often include loans or work-study that may not be ideal for middle class or low-income families. Additionally, admissions at these schools are incredibly competitive, and not all of them are need blind admissions, meaning that even highly qualified low-income students may not get in, leaving them to consider less selective schools or other options that are with in reach financially.

While college admissions lists can offer a snapshot of where a school's graduates attend college, they are not definitive indicators of the quality of a school's college counseling services. They don't account for students' legacy status, financial status, and other factors that helps keep the deck stacked for those with means.

[Anonymous]

let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.

Sorry for you for missing out on wonderful people because you're too blinded by your racism and classism.

OP, lots of good, seemingly firsthand replies. I'll add that if your child has a learning disability, DeMatha offers good scaffolding and academic support. We also love that DeMatha's student body looks like America -- all of America, not just the lily white -- so is a good primer for life outside of Bethesda and, at least in our experience, lends to developing empathy.