Catholic Parish Schools: Bethesda/Ch Ch/DC/Potomac/Rockville and others

[Anonymous]

Those researching Catholic schools might be interested in picking up a copy of the Parish Times newspaper, the one that came out last week. It has information on the 8th grade classes and their high school choices. As far as I know it is the best exmissions data one can get for the Catholic elementary schools.

Here's my take on some of the schools the original poster mentioned--

By reputation, I think Mercy is probably the best.
de Chantal is likely the best value - best Catholic education for the dollar (especially if you have multiple children in the school, in which case you benefit from generous tuition discounts)
Blessed Sacrament has a wonderful community and as noted it is not impossible to get into. (In recent years it has been very difficult - they give priority to parishioners living in parish boundaries and the boundaries are a very tight area in Chevy Chase)
Holy Redeemer has a strong community and is a solid school but I understand it is dealing with attrition to the wonderful public elementary school in the area. Holy Redeemer is now opening a pre-k to boost enrollment.
St. Bart's has a strong program.

If you decide to cross the river, St. Catherine of Sienna is intriguing. They have a Montessori program (which I think is the only Catholic parish to have one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those researching Catholic schools might be interested in picking up a copy of the Parish Times newspaper, the one that came out last week. It has information on the 8th grade classes and their high school choices. As far as I know it is the best exmissions data one can get for the Catholic elementary schools.

Very interesting. I see a lot of Visitation, Gonzaga and St. John's from the schools in and around DC and Good Counsel further out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those researching Catholic schools might be interested in picking up a copy of the Parish Times newspaper, the one that came out last week. It has information on the 8th grade classes and their high school choices. As far as I know it is the best exmissions data one can get for the Catholic elementary schools.

Here's my take on some of the schools the original poster mentioned--

By reputation, I think Mercy is probably the best.
de Chantal is likely the best value - best Catholic education for the dollar (especially if you have multiple children in the school, in which case you benefit from generous tuition discounts)
Blessed Sacrament has a wonderful community and as noted it is not impossible to get into. (In recent years it has been very difficult - they give priority to parishioners living in parish boundaries and the boundaries are a very tight area in Chevy Chase)
Holy Redeemer has a strong community and is a solid school but I understand it is dealing with attrition to the wonderful public elementary school in the area. Holy Redeemer is now opening a pre-k to boost enrollment.
St. Bart's has a strong program.

If you decide to cross the river, St. Catherine of Sienna is intriguing. They have a Montessori program (which I think is the only Catholic parish to have one).

Where can I get a copy of the Parish Times newspaper?

[Anonymous]

I picked up a copy in the back of my church next to where the bulletins are distributed. I think most of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington participate in this news service, so you might just check the back of any of the churches in the area.

Also, in the paper, I don't see a website listed but there is this email address -- [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

St. John Academy (McLean) and St. Agnes (Arlington) in VA are really good. St. John is a Blue Ribbon school now too. Very competitive with the other academies in the area but still has the strong religious education as well. StJohnacademy.org.

[Anonymous]

also, St. John Academy in McLean has a preschool program, PreK program and then the standard K-8.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any info on St Martin's in Gaithersburg? All I know is they are starting a pre-K program this fall and are pre-K through grade 8. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Very helpful in looking at Catholic schools to read through these comments. Does anyone know anything about St. Bernadette's in Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

Our Lady of Lourdes is in Bethesda. It looks great on paper, but is a terrible school. The principal is nasty and back-stabbing and only pays attention to the people who are big donors. There is NOTHING Cathlolic about this school. The teachers are liberal and it is reflected in their teaching. The gym teacher cusses in front of students and has lay of the land. If you have to send your kids there, it is beter for middle school and not for elementary.

[Anonymous]

I don't have much first hand experience with Our Lady of Lourdes but what I've heard about the school is the exact opposite of what the above poster has written. In fact, I've heard fabulous things about the gym teacher who also runs a much-loved summer camp program. I also understand that the parish is one of the more socio-economically diverse ones in the area. On the issue of Catholicity -- I don't know anything about the teachers but the parish itself is considered one of the more traditional ones in the area. The parish has sponsored a novena in advance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with homilies given by priests who are among the best preachers I've ever heard (with Dominicans, maybe even an Opus Dei priest or two).

[Anonymous]

Is the olol gym teacher the one who runs the afterschool programme and summer camp? I saw something posted on camps boards on this that was troubling. I don't know much about school but considering for below first grade.

[Anonymous]

anyone know anything about Mary of Nazareth, Darnestown?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have much first hand experience with Our Lady of Lourdes but what I've heard about the school is the exact opposite of what the above poster has written. In fact, I've heard fabulous things about the gym teacher who also runs a much-loved summer camp program. I also understand that the parish is one of the more socio-economically diverse ones in the area. On the issue of Catholicity -- I don't know anything about the teachers but the parish itself is considered one of the more traditional ones in the area. The parish has sponsored a novena in advance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with homilies given by priests who are among the best preachers I've ever heard (with Dominicans, maybe even an Opus Dei priest or two).

PP: What is represented in public and the private reality are totally different. The gym teacher is obnoxious and acts like a badly behaved two year old when given the chnce.--think pretending to be friends with parents and then speaking badly about them to other parents, cussing in front of kids, threatening referees in front of kids at basketball games, ignoring rules and common sense, and worse. The school is like a cult. If you don't donate big money the principal wants nothing to do with you. If you do, the rules bend in your favor. The church is different from the school and is conservative. I dont know of any Opus Dei priests at Lourdes, but the pastor is conservative and so are the priests.

[Anonymous]

The kindergarten at lourdes is good.