Bishop O'Connell - what's it like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD graduated from O’Connell last year and chose it over Langley. She loved her public school friends from Cooper but they were all crazy rich, beautiful, smart, competitive, etc. And DD realized it was just too much for her. So she went to O’Connell without knowing anyone. She made sports teams all 4 years, joined student government, formed nice relationships with teachers, had easy access to extra help, etc. (Most of these never would have happened for her at a big school). And all those things payed off when applying to colleges. Her guidance counselor really went to bat for at her first choice reach school. She’s currently at a top 40 college that I’m 100% certain she would not have gotten into had she gone to Langley. So for us, O’Connell was perfect. Of course, everyone is different.

How big are the graduating classes at O'Connell?

Langley has been shrinking and the graduating classes are getting closer to 450 now.

Website says school has 1100 students. So quite a bit smaller than Langley, but not tiny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are co ed VA substitutes for Bishop O'Connell?

Paul VI
Biship Ireton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are co ed VA substitutes for Bishop O'Connell?

Paul VI
Biship Ireton

Paul VI is moving out to Loudon county in the next year or two, so alot of families in Fairfax will be looking at O'Connell and Ireton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not an O’Connell family but am familiar with it and know many kids there. We toured it. And went to a presentation that was given during the practice HSPT. Was on a much smaller scale than the open house. I was very impressed by what they offered. DS was offered a scholarship with his acceptance letter. He also got a scholarship from another school and ended up there instead. I think for kids that are driven and stay on the right path, the school would be fine. That said, many of the kids that we know there are your run of the mill high school kid. I really don’t mean that in a negative way. There are great kids there, and not so great kids. But that can be found anywhere. It really felt to DS like a public school with some Catholicism and uniforms. Knowing the experiences/behaviors of other kids and families that we know there, I’m glad I didn’t pay money for it, even with the scholarship. DS is in the right fit for him. I do think though that he would have been ok there but would have had to work harder to stay on the right path academically and socially. If you’re on the fence, apply, and then have the child shadow after acceptance. In terms of difficulty getting in, I can only speak for parish schools where it is 100% a safety and yes, they all get in. I have never heard of a diocese kid turned away.

+1
O'Connell has been the right choice for my child. Very pleased.

[Anonymous]

Is this a school for mostly Trump voters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a school for mostly Trump voters?

Ha ha! Good one. Everyone knows Trump voters don’t go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a school for mostly Trump voters?

Not willing to stir the pot, just asking if a neutral family that prioritize good education and common sense will thrive there.

[Anonymous]

I've been very pleased with DS's experience. Teachers are very engaged and involved with the students and there's at least a 50/50 split of male/female teachers, giving boys a wide variety of role models and mentors. DS plays a lot of sports and the coaches are good people with high expectations. We like their approach of building men of good character who will go on to contribute to their community after graduation. Coaches spend a lot of time with players, and I like the general messages they're sending - be grateful to your parents, take responsibility for yourself, etc.

College counselors are very active and run group workshops and one-on-one meetings for parents every year the kid's in school. We'll see how it all pans out.

One of the differences in this school and publics is that they kick out kids with behavior problems. I've seen it in action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a school for mostly Trump voters?

Not willing to stir the pot, just asking if a neutral family that prioritize good education and common sense will thrive there.

Then why not ask it that way in the first place?

BTW- you don’t sound neutral at all.

[Anonymous]

How is BO for a DC kid?

[Anonymous]

Re: The Trump comment,

If I understand your concern, my kid is there and is pretty far left.
Went to a k-8 in the Diocese.

My kid says that people engage in open debate, and feels there is room to defend your point of view. Teachers, especially in classes where discussing politics is part of the curriuclum, seem unbiased.

My kid was put in the position to defend a viewpoint for classwork that was the oppositive of their own, and I appreciate that.

Either way to vote, or however you think, you have room.

The March for Life is tomorrow. There are parts of this movement we struggle with. It is a day off for kids who don't march, and day of service for those who do. I appreciate how balanced it is.

What I noticed the 1st month my child was enrolled was that there seemed to be at least one thing that went wrong every day (locker stuck, uniform issue, meal card problem, most of which was a learning curve for my kid) and in EVERY situation, my child was able to find the best adult to trouble shoot the issue and solve it.

The counselors are wonderful, and I follow some of the teachers on Twitter. They are doing great things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is BO for a DC kid?

PP here and my DS is friends with a couple of kids from Capitol Hill. They seem like they're enjoying high school just like any other kid. The location near the East Falls Church metro stop helps with transportation.

[Anonymous]

Hi thanks, am the DC poster-Are there any kids from NW? BO is a quick 12 minute ride from our house. I am just wondering if my child will feel socially isolated.
Yes we will also be looking at other Catholic schools - we are coming from a DC k-8 parish school.

[Anonymous]

Is NWDC kid black or an athlete? Or preppy? Or what?

[Anonymous]

Regular NW (not AA) Kid-does play sports but not sure if they would make teams... Probably though