Personalities of Arlington Diocese High Schools

[Anonymous]

Because I had to google it (two younger elementary students at a K-8 parochial), DJO means O’Connell. In case anyone who isn’t far enough along in a high school search to have learned that but still interested.

I was wondering why everyone was ignoring O’Connell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

Not "all four"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

Not "all four"?

OP indicated DJO, BI, and PVI.

[Anonymous]

Is JPG more traditional/religious than BI and DJO? The more conservative Catholics (not necessarily political conservatives) from our parochial seem to pick that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is JPG more traditional/religious than BI and DJO? The more conservative Catholics (not necessarily political conservatives) from our parochial seem to pick that one.

I’d say it definitely attracts a purposeful and faithfully Catholic family. For that reason, there seem to be some families more willing to commute further than they have to in order to attend. JPG has def set the bar with this regard and the other Diocesan schools have elevated their game in response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is JPG more traditional/religious than BI and DJO? The more conservative Catholics (not necessarily political conservatives) from our parochial seem to pick that one.

I think the student population is just more “normal” at JPG. The kids we met seemed all very sweet and kind. There’s a lot more wealth at DJO and BI that results in more “worldly” kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

# 3 code for many maga families
Indoctrination
Of course less academic
Can not have science and religion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

# 3 code for many maga families
Indoctrination
Of course less academic
Can not have science and religion

Not sure why you opine about something you know nothing about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

# 3 code for many maga families
Indoctrination
Of course less academic
Can not have science and religion

Not sure why you opine about something you know nothing about.

DP. I wouldn’t go so far as to make a comment about science and religion. But there has been a major shift in Catholic schools in the last 10-15 years and some families’ desire for them to be aggressive with regard to the extent of religious propagation throughout the school day and curriculum. Part of it seems to be insecurity and part of it seems to be the JD Vances who find Catholicism to be a useful signaling device.

Used to be you just had religion class and went to Mass every once in awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

# 3 code for many maga families
Indoctrination
Of course less academic
Can not have science and religion

Not sure why you opine about something you know nothing about.

DP. I wouldn’t go so far as to make a comment about science and religion. But there has been a major shift in Catholic schools in the last 10-15 years and some families’ desire for them to be aggressive with regard to the extent of religious propagation throughout the school day and curriculum. Part of it seems to be insecurity and part of it seems to be the JD Vances who find Catholicism to be a useful signaling device.

Used to be you just had religion class and went to Mass every once in awhile.

I don’t think it’s ever been just religion and going to mass every once in a while. Religion has always been interwoven in the schools in many ways, that’s what makes it a Catholic school.


I’ve always thought the more conservative-Catholic flavor of the schools here is attributed to them being associated with the Arlington diocese. Very, very conservative in general. So are the parishes.

[Anonymous]

BI has certainly attracted a lot of MAGA offspring lately. Their theater department seems to be consistently good, and their sports teams largely depend on who is coaching, much like every other school around. I’ve generally found O'Connell kids to be more self-aware and engaging than BI but neither school population is remarkable. If your kid has gone to Catholic schools for elementary and middle school I’m sure they would find their people in either place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know families at all three and all seem to be happy with their choice. DC considered two of them but ended up choosing an independent Catholic. IMO, they’re much more similar than different.

All three:

1. Have a wide variety of learners from excellent students who go to top colleges to average/ below average students.

2. Have many different activities that appeal to kids with a wide range of interests and have very good sports teams. DJO and PVI have stronger programs for DC’s sport but all three would provide opportunities for athletes.

3. Incorporate Catholicism into the curriculum.

4. Are large enough to have kids with a wide
range of interests and do not appeal to only a specific type of kid.

If geographically all three could work, I would visit and see what you think. But, unless something really stands out to you, I probably would focus on the school that is closest to you.

# 3 code for many maga families
Indoctrination
Of course less academic
Can not have science and religion

Not sure why you opine about something you know nothing about.

DP. I wouldn’t go so far as to make a comment about science and religion. But there has been a major shift in Catholic schools in the last 10-15 years and some families’ desire for them to be aggressive with regard to the extent of religious propagation throughout the school day and curriculum. Part of it seems to be insecurity and part of it seems to be the JD Vances who find Catholicism to be a useful signaling device.

Used to be you just had religion class and went to Mass every once in awhile.

I don’t think it’s ever been just religion and going to mass every once in a while. Religion has always been interwoven in the schools in many ways, that’s what makes it a Catholic school.


I’ve always thought the more conservative-Catholic flavor of the schools here is attributed to them being associated with the Arlington diocese. Very, very conservative in general. So are the parishes.

Not in the curriculum, it hasn’t. That’s a new thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: BI has certainly attracted a lot of MAGA offspring lately. Their theater department seems to be consistently good, and their sports teams largely depend on who is coaching, much like every other school around. I’ve generally found O'Connell kids to be more self-aware and engaging than BI but neither school population is remarkable. If your kid has gone to Catholic schools for elementary and middle school I’m sure they would find their people in either place.

Self aware and engaging? Sheesh, how in the world would you possibly know this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: BI has certainly attracted a lot of MAGA offspring lately. Their theater department seems to be consistently good, and their sports teams largely depend on who is coaching, much like every other school around. I’ve generally found O'Connell kids to be more self-aware and engaging than BI but neither school population is remarkable. If your kid has gone to Catholic schools for elementary and middle school I’m sure they would find their people in either place.

Self aware and engaging? Sheesh, how in the world would you possibly know this?

What does that even mean? It’s fine to have diversity of political thought. It makes class discussions more interesting. Students figure out how to respect other viewpoints. Everything doesn’t have to be “group think.”

How many BI and DJO students do you know where you can generalize that 900 students at a nearby high school are less engaging and self aware? This is silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: BI has certainly attracted a lot of MAGA offspring lately. Their theater department seems to be consistently good, and their sports teams largely depend on who is coaching, much like every other school around. I’ve generally found O'Connell kids to be more self-aware and engaging than BI but neither school population is remarkable. If your kid has gone to Catholic schools for elementary and middle school I’m sure they would find their people in either place.

My kids' K-8 is geographically centered between BI and DJO, so about 1/4 of the 8th grade class typically goes to BI and 1/4 to DJO, with a couple to PVI, 1 or 2 to Visitation and GZ, and the remainder to public. If you're trying to use "self-aware and engaging" as a euphemism for the sporty popular kids, I'd agree with that a bit more (although not that characterization of the popular crowd, at all) because the more academic and artistic kids do tend to choose BI. Otherwise, there's really no difference between the kids who choose either school and it comes down to family preference and location.