Georgetown Prep?

[Anonymous]

01/05/2010 00:25

I'm the one who is at Prep now. I'm not sure why you think my story doesn't ring true. Are you saying that people don't stick it out in schools where they are not happy? We are still there because we hope to transfer more easily to another school than if we left for a less well known school. Prep has a great reputation, despite it being a bad fit for my son.

I posted only to help others who might be looking for the right fit. I'm not saying it's a bad place- I'm saying it is not the best place for every child.

BTW, I agree with the previous comments regarding bullies, Jesuits, and money. I wish I could connect with
you, fellow GPer, perhaps together our voices would be heard.

[Anonymous]

I'm Catholic, but I don't have a kid at Prep. I've never heard so much bad news about Prep. I know it has a sort of exclusive "I'm a wealthy Catholic, but I want to act like a WASP" sort of attitude -- but is it really as bad as some of the posters here indicate? I know a Hispanic kid there who just loves it and he's kind of a big nerd.

[Anonymous]

01/05/2010 10:05

Me again. There are some kids that are happy there. I'm not saying everyone is unhappy, but I think it is sad to walk a campus adorned with posters "men on conscience," "integrity" and "compassion" amidst so many unhappy (and often bullied) young men. The kid you mentioned - if he loves sports, is thick skinned, and thrives on acting macho- perhaps he has found the perfect place for his temperment. My gentle, artistic, inquisitive son who isn't particularly sporty feels, well, exactly like another poster put it- "mean girls for guys."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: We need to do this in a way that does not hinder our relationship with the catholic school concept. /quote]

My kids are at a Catholic school so I'm curious what this statement means. Is Prep part of the archdiocese schools? I thought not.

I don't like what I hear about Georgetown Prep. Both Mater Dei and it scare me. It seems more hardcore and boys will be boys attitude. Also it doesn't seem to be open to criticism and change which festers in some poor behavior by its students (and sometimes parents). I like a more generous concept of a school. If we consider a catholic high school, it would likely be Gonzaga or St Johns.

You are correct - Prep is not an Archdiocesan school. Gonzaga, St. John's and DeMatha are Archdiocesan. Prep, the Heights and St. Anselm's are independent.

[Anonymous]

Gonzaga, St. John's and DeMatha are not Archdiocesan schools. They do administer their admissions processes through the Archdiocese, so that may be what confused you. The only high school that is actually run by the Archdiocese is Archbishop Carroll. Prep, St. Anselm's, Heights, Gonzaga, Stone Ridge, Visi, and all the other Catholic high schools are known as "independent Catholic schools".

All of these independent Catholic schools are recognized by the Archdiocese of Washington-- they need to be recognized by the Archdiocese in order to call themselves "Catholic schools", so the Archbishop does have some power over them. This is why Avalon does not call itself a Catholic school; apparently they got into a fight of some kind with the Archdiocese. These schools all have to meet requirements set by the Archdiocese, including teaching religion to all students, the requirement that the Head of School be a practicing Catholic, etc. But the schools are independently owned and operated.

The difference is that the independent Catholic schools create their own curriculums, set their own tuition, have their own Boards of Trustees, etc. The Archdiocese is not responsible for running any of the day-to-day operations of the schools. The actual "Archdiocesan" schools-- most of the parish grade schools, and Archbishop Carroll-- are run more like a public school system, with central decision-making by a Board of Education, though the schools do have more autonomy than public schools do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is the bullies have lots of money and the Jesuits like money. A lot.

This isn't fair to the Jesuits. They've all taken a vow of poverty, you know. If they care about raising money, it's so they can provide what they provide to others. The problem is really with the spoiled bullies among the students. I don't hear so many complaints about Gonzaga, which is also run by Jesuits, but it's in a lower-rent district and I think the families there are more appreciative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is the bullies have lots of money and the Jesuits like money. A lot.

This isn't fair to the Jesuits. They've all taken a vow of poverty, you know. If they care about raising money, it's so they can provide what they provide to others. The problem is really with the spoiled bullies among the students. I don't hear so many complaints about Gonzaga, which is also run by Jesuits, but it's in a lower-rent district and I think the families there are more appreciative.

The jesuits like money because it also improves the quality of their life. They drink top of the line booze and vacation at their rich kids vacation homes and are simply not good at putting a lid on the bitchiness at prep. I DO think the culture in a jesuit school is one of entitlement and lacking humble values. The vow of poverty is a huge joke. Have you seen how these guys live? Go over to GU and write back to us about how much poverty you see those jesuits experiencing. Sometimes I wish I could think as innocently as the PP. I am being serious when I say, it much be nice to be so blind the all the ugliness and see the world through rose colored glasses. I'll have what you're having.

If you want a well rounded, down to earth, men for improving the world, humble values, put your kid in a christian brothers school. They have truly dedicated their lives to teaching and charity work (and you never hear about it because they ARE humble).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is the bullies have lots of money and the Jesuits like money. A lot.

This isn't fair to the Jesuits. They've all taken a vow of poverty, you know. If they care about raising money, it's so they can provide what they provide to others. The problem is really with the spoiled bullies among the students. I don't hear so many complaints about Gonzaga, which is also run by Jesuits, but it's in a lower-rent district and I think the families there are more appreciative.

The jesuits like money because it also improves the quality of their life. They drink top of the line booze and vacation at their rich kids vacation homes and are simply not good at putting a lid on the bitchiness at prep. I DO think the culture in a jesuit school is one of entitlement and lacking humble values. The vow of poverty is a huge joke. Have you seen how these guys live? Go over to GU and write back to us about how much poverty you see those jesuits experiencing. Sometimes I wish I could think as innocently as the PP. I am being serious when I say, it much be nice to be so blind the all the ugliness and see the world through rose colored glasses. I'll have what you're having.

If you want a well rounded, down to earth, men for improving the world, humble values, put your kid in a christian brothers school. They have truly dedicated their lives to teaching and charity work (and you never hear about it because they ARE humble).

Gonzaga is about half the cost of Prep. Prep 's main feeder is Mater Dei which redshirts for potential prep students. The age distribution at prep might vary significantly from Gonzaga, STA, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gonzaga, St. John's and DeMatha are not Archdiocesan schools. They do administer their admissions processes through the Archdiocese, so that may be what confused you. The only high school that is actually run by the Archdiocese is Archbishop Carroll. Prep, St. Anselm's, Heights, Gonzaga, Stone Ridge, Visi, and all the other Catholic high schools are known as "independent Catholic schools".

All of these independent Catholic schools are recognized by the Archdiocese of Washington-- they need to be recognized by the Archdiocese in order to call themselves "Catholic schools", so the Archbishop does have some power over them. This is why Avalon does not call itself a Catholic school; apparently they got into a fight of some kind with the Archdiocese. These schools all have to meet requirements set by the Archdiocese, including teaching religion to all students, the requirement that the Head of School be a practicing Catholic, etc. But the schools are independently owned and operated.

The difference is that the independent Catholic schools create their own curriculums, set their own tuition, have their own Boards of Trustees, etc. The Archdiocese is not responsible for running any of the day-to-day operations of the schools. The actual "Archdiocesan" schools-- most of the parish grade schools, and Archbishop Carroll-- are run more like a public school system, with central decision-making by a Board of Education, though the schools do have more autonomy than public schools do.

I find this very interesting. When my child gets to 8th grade, they limit his selection for applying to 2 catholic schools. Which schools are they? I didn't think G. Prep was part of that but not sure why now based on your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this very interesting. When my child gets to 8th grade, they limit his selection for applying to 2 catholic schools. Which schools are they? I didn't think G. Prep was part of that but not sure why now based on your post.

The following Catholic high schools use the Archdiocese's own High School Placement Test in their admissions process:
The Academy of the Holy Cross
Archbishop Carroll High School
Bishop McNamara High School
Elizabeth Seton High School
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
DeMatha Catholic High School
Gonzaga College High School
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
St. John’s College High School
St. Mary’s Ryken High School
St. Vincent Pallotti High School

You can only select two of these schools to receive your child's test scores; the Archdiocese will not send the scores to more than two of these schools. The rest of the admissions process (recommendations, interviews, essays) are separate for each school. There is no "common application" for Catholic high schools, just a common test that the 11 schools listed above use. The Archdiocese's test is administered in school for 8th graders in Catholic schools. If your child is not enrolled in a Catholic school, he or she would take the test at the school(s) to which s/he is applying on a Saturday morning, just as at any other private school.

The other Catholic high schools, including Stone Ridge, St. Anselm's, Prep, etc. administer their own admissions tests. You apply to these schools the same way you would a non-Catholic school.

Note also that none of this applies to schools in NoVa, which are under the Diocese of Arlington and have their own rules.

See http://www.adw.org/education/edu_applic.asp for more info.

[Anonymous]

Wow thanks so much PP! Any ideas on why the restriction on 2 schools only?

[Anonymous]

Not sure about that... could just be a matter of them not having the clerical support to handle anything more. It does seem like a weird restriction.

[Anonymous]

My guess it was based on some analysis done in the 50s where applications were snail mailed in. My concern is that kids change their minds so frequently - i've heard stories already of angst in picking the two and then deciding later that neither one will do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any ideas on why the restriction on 2 schools only?

I think it's so the admissions offices don't get swamped with applications from kids who are very unlikely to accept an admission offer.

[Anonymous]

If you are coming from public schools for example, can you apply to just 2 of these schools as well?