Reputation of St. John's College HS and other "normal" privates

[Anonymous]

You're both correct -- the price point is also significantly lower in some cases, particularly if you get into the honors program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s essentially IMG with weekly Mass, plus a healthy smattering of DCPS refugees whose parents prioritized a whole-house reno /addition in NWDC at some point over paying school tuitions. They kept the kids in DCPS for too long and now don’t have other HS options since Walls didn’t pan out.

Hahaha this is so spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose SJC over BCC and are very happy that we did. There are huge differences between the two schools. Classes at SJC are a lot smaller (average 20 kids per class). SJC hasn’t experienced lockdowns or bomb threats while we have been there. There aren’t any fights or safety issues in the school, and there is not a rampant drug problem. Unlike public schools, you have to apply to SJC so problem kids can be screened out. SJC regularly suspends and expels kids who don’t adhere to its rules.

On top of all of that it has excellent academics and sports. In particular we like that the kids write lots of papers (all seniors have to write a senior thesis paper).

LOL. My college freshman is good friends with a SJC boy who is a drug dealer and my older DS definitely partied with SJC friends. But, carry on…

Who wants to tell her that her college freshman son is either a drug user, or he deals drugs too? 👀

Stop.
Multiple St. John’s football coaches were fired for smoking weed and players expelled.

Really? Good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose SJC over BCC and are very happy that we did. There are huge differences between the two schools. Classes at SJC are a lot smaller (average 20 kids per class). SJC hasn’t experienced lockdowns or bomb threats while we have been there. There aren’t any fights or safety issues in the school, and there is not a rampant drug problem. Unlike public schools, you have to apply to SJC so problem kids can be screened out. SJC regularly suspends and expels kids who don’t adhere to its rules.

On top of all of that it has excellent academics and sports. In particular we like that the kids write lots of papers (all seniors have to write a senior thesis paper).

LOL. My college freshman is good friends with a SJC boy who is a drug dealer and my older DS definitely partied with SJC friends. But, carry on…

Who wants to tell her that her college freshman son is either a drug user, or he deals drugs too? 👀

Stop.
Multiple St. John’s football coaches were fired for smoking weed and players expelled.

When did this happen? Glad they were finally caught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SJC is the backup school when you don't get into Visi, Gonzaga, G-Town Prep and Stoneridge. Everyone knows this.

Not everyone wants a single sex school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see SJC mentioned much at all here. I wonder if it's because it's not one of the top schools, is affordable for normies, and doesn't carry the pretense some of the other more famous privates do. Is that right? We are not from the area and feel a little lost navigating the world of private schools. Both went to fairly elite private schools back home where everyone just kinda intutively knows which schools are the "rich kid schools", the "smart kid schools", "the artsy kid schools", etc. I fantasize sometimes about sending my kids to one of the cathedral schools, for example but I think financially, it's just not gonna be in the cards for us. I am trying to explore what I think of as the second tier schools like Gonzaga, possibly SJC, etc. I don't mean to denigrate any of these schools in any way; I don't know enough about any of them to have much to say positively or negatively. Just talking about tuition alone. Based on what I can gather, we would not qualify for aid but at the same time, $50k+ per child would be pretty uncomfortable for us. I ask about SJC specifically because we live nearby and I just saw on their website that tuition could be doable for us. But I'm really interested in learning about the general reputations of any schools outside of the STA/NCS, Sidwell, GDS, realm where the doctors, lawyers, and otherwise elite send their kids.

If you are on the MD side, B-CC is just as good or better. JR is a mixed bag with DCPS. We felt SJC was just a public school and way to focused on athletics. Very big difference b/t the athletic facilities and rest of the school.

There are lots of kids from Bethesda in bounds for Whitman, BCC, Churchill, etc. that attend SJC. I don't believe they are all athletes (but I am sure some are athletes).

Lots from Olney and that area as well which I never quite understood because Good Counsel is right there...but the ones I know were recruited athletes...though again, never understood it as I assume Good Counsel would also recruit them as well.

Posting as a Bethesda mom of two non-athletic boys at SJC. My kids wanted calm classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. John’s is fairly unique amongst the private school offerings in the DMV in that it is not just Catholic, but it also has a long military tradition. While no longer affiliated with JROTC, the current Cadet Corps program is an important and visible component of the school. Love of country is baked into the DNA of the school. It’s a gem of a school that is incredibly diverse racially and economically. In a region that is a bastion of progressive ideology almost to the exclusion of all other viewpoints, SJC provides a home to families and students looking for more traditional values. They provide tremendous service to the surrounding community and we are lucky to have them. Definitely give the school a look.

Husband is an SJC alumni. We knew a number of kids who went there from my son's class. My son with dyslexia did not get in because they did not have enough slots in the Benilde program for kids with LDs plus the program has "fading support" which means less support year after year. Other friends kids went there and loved the big school with all the activities. One graduated and was recruited to play soccer at Columbia - biology major. The other was recruited and plays baseball at Notre Dame. Other we know did no sports and ended up at MIT. Three kids we know left after freshman year because they were not into sports. One went to School Without Walls, one to GDS and one to Jackson-Reed. A lot of the social life revolves around sports and sporting events, though there are plenty of other things to do. In hindsight, we were glad our son did not get in. First, he wouldn't have gotten the support he needed and then, while he was a decent sports kid, the overall social vibe would have excluded him. However, SJC is ethnically diverse, has strong academics and a very loyal and generous alumni. The science labs are what you would find at the college level and same for sports facilities. GL in making a choice - and don't miss the required entrance exam is you want to get into any local Catholic high school. https://adwcatholicschools.org/high-school/placement-tests/

The Placement tests are Saturday, Dec 7 or 14th, 2024.

NP. I have a child with this profile. Where did he end up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SJC is the backup school when you don't get into Visi, Gonzaga, G-Town Prep and Stoneridge. Everyone knows this.

Not true. I know kids who were rejected by SJC, but got into Gonzaga.

[Anonymous]

SJC is also a school that has diversity, unlike the other schools where you are lucky if you have 1 non-white kid in your class.

[Anonymous]

SJC doesn’t vet very well. I know a girl who attends there who was expelled from her middle for making multiple racist comments against students of different ethnicities (to their face and in writing) and other alarming behavior. The school clearly doesn’t review disciplinary records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SJC doesn’t vet very well. I know a girl who attends there who was expelled from her middle for making multiple racist comments against students of different ethnicities (to their face and in writing) and other alarming behavior. The school clearly doesn’t review disciplinary records.

Well, that's very concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SJC is also a school that has diversity, unlike the other schools where you are lucky if you have 1 non-white kid in your class.

Funny because my child of color has zero interest in SJC because all the snobby white kids she knows go there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC doesn’t vet very well. I know a girl who attends there who was expelled from her middle for making multiple racist comments against students of different ethnicities (to their face and in writing) and other alarming behavior. The school clearly doesn’t review disciplinary records.

Well, that's very concerning.

More like impossible to confirm/prove, conveniently.

[Anonymous]

Funny because my child of color has zero interest in SJC because all the snobby white kids she knows go there

There is more diversity there than most other private schools. Where did DD attend to escape all the snobby white girls!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Funny because my child of color has zero interest in SJC because all the snobby white kids she knows go there

There is more diversity there than most other private schools. Where did DD attend to escape all the snobby white girls!

How did she know so many snobby girls in the first place?