What are the Greater DC "Big 3" Catholic Schools?

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP that there is no need for this type ranking. Chose the best ‘fit’ for DC and your family.

We have friends at most of these schools. Everyone is content with their choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that your selected top three are all boys schools. And for what it is worth, The Heights wouldn’t belong on that list.

Stone Ridge is a contender, and it is all girls.

But to be fair, that depends upon what the parents are looking for. I know parents who MOVED to this area precisely because of the Heights (which, yes, DS attended, so I know all of the ins and outs). But by all means continue your bigoted tirade

While the Heights may be a coveted school for a segment of Catholics in the DC area, it would not be considered a top 3 school in the area based on test scores and other factors. Not that it isn't a good school...just not as good as others that rank higher.

If we use Niche is a ranking system, the Big 3 for all private schools in DC area are GDS, Sidwell and NCS.

If we use it for Catholic schools, they are as the other poster outlined: St. Anselms, Prep, and Stone Ridge

FWIW, here are Niche's top 10 Catholic schools in DC area. Note The Heights is #8, so not bad, just not top 3.

1. St. Anselms
2. Prep
3. Stone Ridge
4. VISI
5. Gonzaga
6. Good Counsel
7. Oakcrest
8. The Heights
9. ACH
10. SJC

Big 3 in terms of what?

Most religious?

1. The Heights
2. Oakcrest
3. Prep

Athletics?

1. Gonzaga
2. SR
3. Prep


Academics? (Going off of College placement and SAT scores here)

1. Prep
2. St. Anslems
3. Visi

--Heights would be 4th here (Actually have better SAT than everyone but Anslems)--


The problem with using Niche as a source for "best school" rankings is that they take Athletics, Clubs, and Diversity into account which should have nothing to do with academic rankings.

For those wanting more specific info on the Academics rankings the SAT score rankings are:

1. Anslems @1390
2. Heights @1360
3. Prep @1350
4. Visitation @1330


Commended National Merit Scholars

Prep @11 (0 Semi-Finalists)
Heights @13 (2 Semi-Finalists)
Stone Ridge @5 (0 Semi-Finalists)
Visi @15 (1 FINALIST)
No data for St. Anslems but likely high

St. Anslems & The Heights are also half the size of the rest of these schools, so more kudos to them for putting up more impressive #s with less students

Your data on scores is flawed. The scores are reported by Niche users. Plus you are only using SAT. The ACT scores tell a different story in some cases. Regardless, the scores should not be used to measure academic rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is Niche's official list of the best Catholics

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-catholic-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

BEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
#1 St. Anselm's Abbey School

#2 BEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
Georgetown Preparatory School

#3 BEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

IThis list looks off. I wouldn't rely on Niche for private schools ranking. The the methodology is based on surveys and schools sharing information. Some schools are lower in the ranking because students and parents are not reporting info to them. If a school shares or encourages participating they can move to the top.

The Best Catholic High Schools Methodology
The Best Catholic High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users. Additional data is also collected from schools directly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Niche's official list of the best Catholics

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-catholic-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

BEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
#1 St. Anselm's Abbey School

#2 BEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
Georgetown Preparatory School

#3 BEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

IThis list looks off. I wouldn't rely on Niche for private schools ranking. The the methodology is based on surveys and schools sharing information. Some schools are lower in the ranking because students and parents are not reporting info to them. If a school shares or encourages participating they can move to the top.

The Best Catholic High Schools Methodology
The Best Catholic High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users. Additional data is also collected from schools directly.

Niche has become the authority in private school ranking. It is the “go to.” Niche is to private schools like USNWR is to colleges and universities.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown prep, Saint Anslem‘s, Georgetown visitation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pls don't associate "big #" with catholic schools. that's not why we send our kids there

Ehh… people send their boys to prep for the prestige and alumni network

This what percent are even catholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pls don't associate "big #" with catholic schools. that's not why we send our kids there

Ehh… people send their boys to prep for the prestige and alumni network

This what percent are even catholic?

At Prep?

The overwhelming majority of students, teachers, staff and alumni are.

[Anonymous]

Big 5

Prep
St. Anselms
Gonzaga
SR
VISI

Not in any particular order. I believe this might be in line with Niche rankings, but this is what most would agree with.

[Anonymous]

When you look at the National ranking of all Catholic High Schools, St. Anselm’s has always been in the top 10 and is #6 this year. Prep joined the top 10 too recently and is #9 now. We have many excellent Catholic schools in the area.

[Anonymous]

Is the Heights school an ivy feeder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the DC Area's "Big 3" Catholic Schools?

I've been told
1)Georgetown Prep
2) The Heights
3) St. Anslem's Abbey
Others:

Georgetown Visitation, Good Counsel, St. John's College, Bishop, Connelly School of the Holy Child

Hello patriarchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the DC Area's "Big 3" Catholic Schools?

I've been told
1)Georgetown Prep
2) The Heights
3) St. Anslem's Abbey
Others:

Georgetown Visitation, Good Counsel, St. John's College, Bishop, Connelly School of the Holy Child

Boys
Prep, Gonzaga St. Anselm's

Girls
Stone Ridge, Visi, Connelly

Co-Ed
St. Johns, Good Counsel, Ireton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big 5

Prep - boys
St. Anselms - boys
Gonzaga - boys
SR - girls
VISI - girls

Not in any particular order. I believe this might be in line with Niche rankings, but this is what most would agree with.

Agree. These are your single sex options OP, mix of urban or suburban larger campuses, and then the coed option St John’s College in DC. Large campus in DC, lots of options for honors, rotc, remedial, sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the Heights school an ivy feeder?

None of the Ivy's are Catholic. You'd be surprised, I guess, that a lot of Catholics don't covet non-catholic colleges that used to refuse to admit Catholic students. Legacy exists in Catholic schools too, after all. People like to go where the family always went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the Heights school an ivy feeder?

None of these Catholic schools are Ivy “feeders”. They usually send a few kids to Ivy League schools and many of them are recruited athletes.

Catholic high schools have an advantage at Catholic colleges. They have established relationships with these schools and long histories. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Jesuit colleges like Georgetown and BC view the applications of students from Jesuit high schools favorably.

And Catholic families are connected to Catholic universities and will frequently choose them over Ivies because of this relationship/ tradition.