Thoughts on Our Lady of Good Counsel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live near it, and most people move out of it for HS at least everyone I know. People say that academically, it is sub par to the public (sorry) McConnell and Leo VI are much more academic.

People are talking about two different schools.

Good Counsel in Vienna is an elementary and middle school, so everyone moves out after 8th. The fact that you weren't aware of that, means that your judgement on the academics is probably a little suspect.

Good Counsel in Olney in a High School. No one "moves out of it for HS", because it doesn't start until HS. It is well regarded and provides an excellent education. Unlike some of the most popular secular/quaker/episcopal schools (and a couple Catholic schools as well) which seem to have a mission of selecting the most academically talented kids, and then resting on their laurels of their achievements, OLGC and many other Catholic schools make it their mission to serve a variety of kids well.

OLGC was not a big plus as an ES/ MS either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It used to be the safety school for Catholic mafia who couldnt get in to Gonzaga or St Johns. It has lost a fair amount of relevance since the move out to Olney and is now a more local conservative Catholic school with strong but not great sports. Academically on par with the local publics there. You do see some people commute out when they really want Catholic education but cant get into the better schools.

The non Catholic population (excluding athletes) is zero, if that gives an insight into the desirability as a private school. Great facilities.

This is a very dated view about GC. Once you are outside bethesda and potomac Gonzaga and Prep (not St. John's) lose their luster.

GC and St. John's are now the coed options. Also, many kids get into Gonzaga and Prep but choose they don't like the commute or want updated technology ... Stem and/or IB.

The opinion that "dumb" kids go there is just an uneducated response to the fact that GC and StJ (as well as PVI) have nationally recognized programs for kids with LDs. (That is 1/2 the price of the lab school)

I have family at 5 different ADW high schools, and 4 at independent schools, 1 magnet public. (Big catholic family)

It's a really old and outdated view or myopic. One of my sons goes to Gonzaga and I am embarrassed by this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It used to be the safety school for Catholic mafia who couldnt get in to Gonzaga or St Johns. It has lost a fair amount of relevance since the move out to Olney and is now a more local conservative Catholic school with strong but not great sports. Academically on par with the local publics there. You do see some people commute out when they really want Catholic education but cant get into the better schools.

The non Catholic population (excluding athletes) is zero, if that gives an insight into the desirability as a private school. Great facilities.

Nothing in the post above is accurate but the last part is laughable. Half of DD's friends are non-Catholic and even non-Christian. You will see all faiths represented there and agnostics/atheists as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went there. It's terrible. Don't waste your money if you live in a semi- decent school district.

+1. Poor!

[Anonymous]

We went to the Open House and we were really impressed by the school. It has beautiful facilities. The school seemed to meet the needs of kids from UMC backgrounds. Since the school is large, there are many different course offerings. I think that a student could coast through the school if they wanted and took less challenging classes. However for academically minded students, I have no doubt that one could receive a top notch education.

[Anonymous]

LOL...some folks need to take their head out of the sand. OLGC college placement is as good or better the big 5 or whatever.....

One of the few schools with an Engineering track....

Best facilities......

Great teachers.....

-signed - don't have a child going there, but lots of friends and neighbors kids attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be the safety school for Catholic mafia who couldnt get in to Gonzaga or St Johns. It has lost a fair amount of relevance since the move out to Olney and is now a more local conservative Catholic school with strong but not great sports. Academically on par with the local publics there. You do see some people commute out when they really want Catholic education but cant get into the better schools.

The non Catholic population (excluding athletes) is zero, if that gives an insight into the desirability as a private school. Great facilities.

This is a very dated view about GC. Once you are outside bethesda and potomac Gonzaga and Prep (not St. John's) lose their luster.

GC and St. John's are now the coed options. Also, many kids get into Gonzaga and Prep but choose they don't like the commute or want updated technology ... Stem and/or IB.

The opinion that "dumb" kids go there is just an uneducated response to the fact that GC and StJ (as well as PVI) have nationally recognized programs for kids with LDs. (That is 1/2 the price of the lab school)

I have family at 5 different ADW high schools, and 4 at independent schools, 1 magnet public. (Big catholic family)

It's a really old and outdated view or myopic. One of my sons goes to Gonzaga and I am embarrassed by this post.

DS#1 goes to SJC, and was also accepted by OLGC 3 years ago. DS#2 applied this year to OLGC & SJC, but then changed his app to Gonzaga and SJC. DH and I loved OLGC, but we're in upper county and the kids wanted to be in DC. The older one is having a great experience being so close to city, so we're letting his younger brother follow. You really can't go wrong with GC...

[Anonymous]

It really should be compared to PG County Public Schools, its below most Montgomery County Publics

[Anonymous]

"below" in what way? It has a diverse student body, opportunities for all kinds of kids to excel, caring and engaging teachers and produces well-educated and well-adjusted kids who go on to do terrific things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"below" in what way? It has a diverse student body, opportunities for all kinds of kids to excel, caring and engaging teachers and produces well-educated and well-adjusted kids who go on to do terrific things.

You will save yourself a lot of wasted time arguing with Sisyphus. He posts the same tired thing about GC and Bullis every chance he gets.

BTW, Prince George's County is the wealthiest African American-majority county in the United States. They asked for a separate "Group" on DC Urban Moms from MD Schools because so many Montgomery County posters don't really understand PG County as a whole and consistently put down their schools system erroneously. They also have some pretty amazing schools.

Using the term "public school" as a put down is very elitist. There are tons of amazing public schools in our surrounding areas: Montgomery, PG, Howard, Frederick.