St. Jerome Institute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left the school, it was an awful experience for our family. Other students leave quietly because families who leave are aggressively 'iced' out and quickly forgotten. No one follows up on why someone left. Don't be fooled by their waitlist, they simply don't have the faculty nor footprint to facilitate a larger student body. Most kids are struggling to do math/reading/writing that they will need for college entrance exams. Students are awarded based on school spirit or trying hard instead of actual results. Most of the students there will aspire to go to a school where liberal arts and the faith are central. Please look for and request their matriculation data and their average exam scores. Their SAT equivalents are national average and at D.C. SATs (1090) and at Maryland SATs (1008). Ask yourself if you want to pay 15k+ for 'friends' or 'religious formation' or 'safe environment'. The friends there are only friends if you 100% support their school and it is very difficult on you to disagree. The religious formation there is questionable because the push political agendas especially during the Humanities Seminar. The safe environment is still D.C., there are lock downs ocassionally in the school due to nearby shootings.

This has not been my experience with the school at all. It's definitely not a good fit for everyone. For instance, if you consider it ridiculous to want to go to a college where liberal arts or the faith are central, then a high school where liberal arts and the faith are central is probably not what you're looking for. I know several students who have left the school for various reasons and are still very much in touch with their former classmates. Further, a number of them did not "100% support their school," and still had plenty of friends there. As in any school there are some students who struggle with the material as well as some who excel, but I would not say "most students" struggle. Thus far in the humanities seminar I have not experienced any pushing of "political agendas," although they certainly support Catholic teachings, as any Catholic school should, and Catholic teachings do touch on politics. As to the safe environment, I don't believe that was ever intended to mean no lockdowns, but rather a culture that is largely free of bullying, exclusive cliques, and excessive drama. I do believe that you had a bad experience at SJI, and I am very sorry about that; however I don't want anyone to walk away with the impression that the school is worthless when many students have had wonderful experiences there. One final note is that, yes, if you are primarily interested in high school as a means to get into the ivy league, this is not the place for you. On the other hand, it might very well be a good fit if you are interested in community and truth for their own sakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not send your kid to this school, my kid was there, I am happy we pull him out, it angers me to think that their way of punishing these young adults was and is to make them stare at the wall for 40 minutes, what learning can come from this…

I was under the impression that detention was meant to correct and punish, not teach. I also believe you may underestimate the value of being alone with your thoughts for 40 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To narrow minded.

We chose another Catholic high school. Unfortunately, that was pretty bad too. In religion class, they learned--I am not kidding--that reading your horoscope can open you to demonic possession.

They’re not wrong!

Apparently horoscopes are demonic but hateful Trump rallies are fine.

Truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not send your kid to this school, my kid was there, I am happy we pull him out, it angers me to think that their way of punishing these young adults was and is to make them stare at the wall for 40 minutes, what learning can come from this…

We considered it, but had a weird feeling about it. Some very appealing aspects (classical curriculum, small call size, Catholic values, etc.), but overall it seemed like home school with tuition.

That's the vibe I got too. Seems narrow minded. I think the school was started by someone who wants to turn the surrounding area into a Catholic hub. There was an article written about this effort.

Kind of culty.

https://www.npr.org/2017/04/10/522714982/catholics-build-intentional-community-of-like-minded-believers