Leave a “strong” public ES for Catholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re “torn” about this you should probably go private, because no one on this anonymous forum knows you and your kids well enough to make a persuasive or compelling argument for you doing otherwise.

I would give the exact opposite advice. If you are torn, go public to see how it is and also save yourself the money. Switch if needed.

[Anonymous]

I posted this on the other thread OP had on this topic, but I would only consider an independent Catholic. Independent schools are more rigorous and have a much stronger curriculum. Compared with a regular, church-subsidized school, the academic experience in MCPS is stronger, warts and all.

[Anonymous]

The academic experience in MCPS is subpar. It just passes kids along. The expectations are very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted this on the other thread OP had on this topic, but I would only consider an independent Catholic. Independent schools are more rigorous and have a much stronger curriculum. Compared with a regular, church-subsidized school, the academic experience in MCPS is stronger, warts and all.

alk

Honestly, I have heard mixed reports on this. First of all, there are few independent K-8 schools. HS level, yes, many independents.

My student attended a top Catholic independent K-12 for HS. She attended a parochial K-8 for elementary and middle school. We found that academically she was far ahead of most of the students who moved up to the HS within the K-12 independent. I have also heard that other expensive independent Catholic schools in the lower grades are just not worth the money. You can get the same if better academics at the right Parish K-8 school. We saved tens of thousands of dollars taking this route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

Perhaps I should clarify that no religious schools would be okay for us. You are your child's first teacher, education and learning does not take place in a corporate structure. It takes place at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

Perhaps I should clarify that no religious schools would be okay for us. You are your child's first teacher, education and learning does not take place in a corporate structure. It takes place at home.

You do you. We like having the reinforcement of religion in the classroom. It actually expands their education beyond a public school experience where religion can never be discussed. Those kids are missing out and getting the type of education that might make THEM think in a linear way. My kids learned about all religions, not just Catholicism. Sadly not allowed in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The academic experience in MCPS is subpar. It just passes kids along. The expectations are very low.

I wonder what the test scores of the W schools or Poolesville look like compared to random MoCo Catholic high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted this on the other thread OP had on this topic, but I would only consider an independent Catholic. Independent schools are more rigorous and have a much stronger curriculum. Compared with a regular, church-subsidized school, the academic experience in MCPS is stronger, warts and all.

We attended an independent Catholic in Bethesda, a Montessori through Grade 8. The teachers were excellent in the lower school. Many teachers were excellent in upper school, but not all. Some were downright horrible and unprofessional. That, paired with bad school leadership and really nasty kids, cliques, worst bullying you can imagine, and teachers who couldn’t give a crap about mental health or holding kids to high standards made us eventually leave. Glad we did, sorry we stayed for so long. We really loved the VP, admissions team, advancement, and one of the deans, so we kept thinking it would get better. It got worse. Long story short—if you have a strong public, why rock the boat? Do you have 30,000 to throw around for the next ten years? Don’t assume just because a school is Catholic or independent that it has great, morale kids and strong values being touted. Don’t assume it’s a good school. Really get to know the school’s culture. If you still want Catholic, I recommend DeChantal.

[Anonymous]

If I can help you decide. I had both experiences:
We used to live in a bad public school zone, we decided to put our son to catholic school from K5 to K8. After we moved to a great public school area. We put him in public school starting high school. After 3 years, this is last year I asked him, how do you compare your experience with public school to CS? He said : “mom , public school is a joke, all the teachers don’t make sense, I had best teachers during my time at catholic school . I think the people who are reviewing my school are parents not students, that is why the school is well rated.”
OP , think twice…
My son will be graduating this year from public HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to a private k-8 Catholic school and we had terrible teachers and terrible kids. I wish we had moved him to a different Catholic or to public. Grass is always greener.

How can all the teachers and students be "terrible." Sounds like the school was simply not a good fit for your kid. Did he have behavior problems?

Couldn’t the same be said about the schools in public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

Perhaps I should clarify that no religious schools would be okay for us. You are your child's first teacher, education and learning does not take place in a corporate structure. It takes place at home.

You do you. We like having the reinforcement of religion in the classroom. It actually expands their education beyond a public school experience where religion can never be discussed. Those kids are missing out and getting the type of education that might make THEM think in a linear way. My kids learned about all religions, not just Catholicism. Sadly not allowed in public schools.

Religion can be discussed in public school. One religion can’t be forced or supported over all others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

Perhaps I should clarify that no religious schools would be okay for us. You are your child's first teacher, education and learning does not take place in a corporate structure. It takes place at home.

You do you. We like having the reinforcement of religion in the classroom. It actually expands their education beyond a public school experience where religion can never be discussed. Those kids are missing out and getting the type of education that might make THEM think in a linear way. My kids learned about all religions, not just Catholicism. Sadly not allowed in public schools.

Catholic school works great if you're Catholic. Not so much if you aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

Perhaps I should clarify that no religious schools would be okay for us. You are your child's first teacher, education and learning does not take place in a corporate structure. It takes place at home.

You do you. We like having the reinforcement of religion in the classroom. It actually expands their education beyond a public school experience where religion can never be discussed. Those kids are missing out and getting the type of education that might make THEM think in a linear way. My kids learned about all religions, not just Catholicism. Sadly not allowed in public schools.

Catholic school works great if you're Catholic. Not so much if you aren't.

Plenty of non-Catholic families at our Catholic school… about 50% of the student population. I suspect they’re doing just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to make your own choice. But know at Catholic schools, how the school "embraces other religions" is to show how they're inferior but still worthy of studying.

+100

We would never do Catholic, instead we provide other enriching activities through family vacations, an au pair who takes the kids after school 3 x a week (on trips to museums, or other activities), summer camp experiences and spring break trips to a diff state each year.

Education starts at home, it does not begin in school.

We don't want our children to only think in a linear way.

Seems only one who is thinking "in a linear way" is the PP, who claims they would "never do Catholic" when they clearly know nothing about Catholic schools.

Perhaps I should clarify that no religious schools would be okay for us. You are your child's first teacher, education and learning does not take place in a corporate structure. It takes place at home.

You do you. We like having the reinforcement of religion in the classroom. It actually expands their education beyond a public school experience where religion can never be discussed. Those kids are missing out and getting the type of education that might make THEM think in a linear way. My kids learned about all religions, not just Catholicism. Sadly not allowed in public schools.

Catholic school works great if you're Catholic. Not so much if you aren't.

Plenty of non-Catholic families at our Catholic school… about 50% of the student population. I suspect they’re doing just fine.

I'm sure they love the "reinforcement of religion in the classroom" they're getting.