Best Catholic schools for high academics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown Prep for Boys

+1

+2 for Georgetown Prep!

The Campus is unmatched

More to academics than just a pretty campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question “Which Catholic school is best for high academics?” is both inevitable and completely ridiculous. But of course, someone has to answer it, so here we go:

Academy of the Holy Cross (AHC) – The girls here are precise, almost preternaturally composed. Each carries a notebook that seems capable of recording the history of the universe. Parents whisper “leadership” like it’s a rare mineral. I clap politely, hoping they don’t notice my confusion.

Avalon – Avalon is unconventional, which is polite for saying “I have no idea how this works.” No grades, no desks, no schedule anyone could describe coherently. Somehow, the children emerge enlightened, or at least vaguely terrifyingly competent.

Brookewood – Tiny school. Tiny student body. Giant self-importance. Students whisper about “virtue” like it’s a secret society. The principal wears glasses that double as periscopes. I nod along, holding a plate of cookies I didn’t earn.

Archbishop Carroll – Carroll is solid, quiet, unassuming excellence. Students navigate hallways efficiently, teachers move with discreet purpose. If Carroll were coffee, it would be black, slightly bitter, and judging you softly in a way you can’t quite place.

DeMatha – Structured, disciplined, quietly effective. Kids move through their day with the precision of a well-rehearsed symphony. It’s like watching tiny ninjas with backpacks. One applauds politely from the sidelines, impressed and slightly scared.

Gonzaga – Jesuit rigor, polished smirks. Students volunteer, debate, and correct Latin pronunciations before lunch. Parents beam enigmatically, as though they’ve solved the morality of the universe and are mildly amused you’re still figuring out arithmetic.

Georgetown Prep – Boys know everything, and if they don’t, they explain it for forty-seven minutes. Their confidence is meticulous. Parents smile like they’ve invested wisely in human capital. I sip lukewarm coffee and pretend I understand.

Georgetown Visitation (Visi) – Composed, articulate, preternaturally organized girls. Stress is invisible. LinkedIn profiles assumed at birth. Parents smile enigmatically, as if they’re in on a secret the rest of the world has yet to discover.

Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) – A sprawling labyrinth of tracks, schedules, and parental flowcharts. Children navigate it like diplomats negotiating a treaty. Fun is optional. Organization is mandatory. I clap anyway.

The Heights – Classical, moral, rigorous. Ambiguity expelled. Parents nod knowingly, as if the very walls have whispered secrets of the universe. Wi-Fi off during Mass, which seems both terrifying and inevitable.

Holy Child – Students write essays about feelings while the architecture hums quietly around them. Parents are serene. Observers like me are left mildly unnerved, holding half a cookie and wondering if we’re allowed to leave.

Bishop Ireton – Solid academics. Calm parents. Students navigate school life with the dignity of well-trained librarians. Fluorescent lighting glints off polished floors, reminding everyone of the seriousness of adolescence.

McNamara – Perpetually “on the rise.” Parents cheer cautiously. Students display potential, sometimes spectacularly. One imagines them plotting escape from the gravity of ordinary mediocrity.

Bishop O’Connell – Large, chaotic, real-world prep. Works best if children self-advocate, sometimes involving subtle diplomacy. Parents call it “preparing for life,” which is both reassuring and vaguely alarming.

Elizabeth Seton – Growth-focused, academically rigorous, supportive. Parents loyal. DCUM suspicious. Children eventually emerge calibrated and moderately serene.

St. Anselm’s Abbey – Tiny, quiet, intellectual. Boys read for fun. Social life optional. Parents hover at the perimeter. There is a gentle expectation of existential panic.

St. John’s College High School (SJC) – Urban confidence meets academic rigor. Less performative than other institutions. Children speak to adults with surprising poise. Parents smile faintly, as if they’ve foreseen every possible outcome.

Stone Ridge – Polished, beautiful, demanding. Students alarmingly competent. Parents thrilled. Observers are left with a lingering sense of envy, admiration, and the faint smell of carefully curated polish.

There is no “best Catholic school for high academics.” There are only children, meticulously arranged, and parents, slightly unhinged but devoted. Rankings exist only to provide a thin veneer of control over the chaotic, symmetrical, and subtly absurd world of adolescence. And somewhere in a corner, I sip lukewarm coffee, applaud politely, and try not to blink too quickly.

I get it!

[Anonymous]

High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question “Which Catholic school is best for high academics?” is both inevitable and completely ridiculous. But of course, someone has to answer it, so here we go:

Academy of the Holy Cross (AHC) – The girls here are precise, almost preternaturally composed. Each carries a notebook that seems capable of recording the history of the universe. Parents whisper “leadership” like it’s a rare mineral. I clap politely, hoping they don’t notice my confusion.

Avalon – Avalon is unconventional, which is polite for saying “I have no idea how this works.” No grades, no desks, no schedule anyone could describe coherently. Somehow, the children emerge enlightened, or at least vaguely terrifyingly competent.

Brookewood – Tiny school. Tiny student body. Giant self-importance. Students whisper about “virtue” like it’s a secret society. The principal wears glasses that double as periscopes. I nod along, holding a plate of cookies I didn’t earn.

Archbishop Carroll – Carroll is solid, quiet, unassuming excellence. Students navigate hallways efficiently, teachers move with discreet purpose. If Carroll were coffee, it would be black, slightly bitter, and judging you softly in a way you can’t quite place.

DeMatha – Structured, disciplined, quietly effective. Kids move through their day with the precision of a well-rehearsed symphony. It’s like watching tiny ninjas with backpacks. One applauds politely from the sidelines, impressed and slightly scared.

Gonzaga – Jesuit rigor, polished smirks. Students volunteer, debate, and correct Latin pronunciations before lunch. Parents beam enigmatically, as though they’ve solved the morality of the universe and are mildly amused you’re still figuring out arithmetic.

Georgetown Prep – Boys know everything, and if they don’t, they explain it for forty-seven minutes. Their confidence is meticulous. Parents smile like they’ve invested wisely in human capital. I sip lukewarm coffee and pretend I understand.

Georgetown Visitation (Visi) – Composed, articulate, preternaturally organized girls. Stress is invisible. LinkedIn profiles assumed at birth. Parents smile enigmatically, as if they’re in on a secret the rest of the world has yet to discover.

Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) – A sprawling labyrinth of tracks, schedules, and parental flowcharts. Children navigate it like diplomats negotiating a treaty. Fun is optional. Organization is mandatory. I clap anyway.

The Heights – Classical, moral, rigorous. Ambiguity expelled. Parents nod knowingly, as if the very walls have whispered secrets of the universe. Wi-Fi off during Mass, which seems both terrifying and inevitable.

Holy Child – Students write essays about feelings while the architecture hums quietly around them. Parents are serene. Observers like me are left mildly unnerved, holding half a cookie and wondering if we’re allowed to leave.

Bishop Ireton – Solid academics. Calm parents. Students navigate school life with the dignity of well-trained librarians. Fluorescent lighting glints off polished floors, reminding everyone of the seriousness of adolescence.

McNamara – Perpetually “on the rise.” Parents cheer cautiously. Students display potential, sometimes spectacularly. One imagines them plotting escape from the gravity of ordinary mediocrity.

Bishop O’Connell – Large, chaotic, real-world prep. Works best if children self-advocate, sometimes involving subtle diplomacy. Parents call it “preparing for life,” which is both reassuring and vaguely alarming.

Elizabeth Seton – Growth-focused, academically rigorous, supportive. Parents loyal. DCUM suspicious. Children eventually emerge calibrated and moderately serene.

St. Anselm’s Abbey – Tiny, quiet, intellectual. Boys read for fun. Social life optional. Parents hover at the perimeter. There is a gentle expectation of existential panic.

St. John’s College High School (SJC) – Urban confidence meets academic rigor. Less performative than other institutions. Children speak to adults with surprising poise. Parents smile faintly, as if they’ve foreseen every possible outcome.

Stone Ridge – Polished, beautiful, demanding. Students alarmingly competent. Parents thrilled. Observers are left with a lingering sense of envy, admiration, and the faint smell of carefully curated polish.

There is no “best Catholic school for high academics.” There are only children, meticulously arranged, and parents, slightly unhinged but devoted. Rankings exist only to provide a thin veneer of control over the chaotic, symmetrical, and subtly absurd world of adolescence. And somewhere in a corner, I sip lukewarm coffee, applaud politely, and try not to blink too quickly.

You think you are so very clever.

But this is cringe. Ick.

It seems as though something rang a little too true for you....

That's ok and expected.

New poster here. Not triggered. But I agree that this is total cringe.

The original question is cringe. This is DCUM. Some version of this question has been ask hundreds of times.

thousands of times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

That's because the top schools and ivies have't released their decisions yet. Some people are waiting to apply RD to the top schools. You have to look at the decisions for an entire year. HC is always underwhelming by comparision in terms of rank of university. I am sure those girls are very happy with their decisions though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

You can't look at a partial year. EDs are still being released for the ivies and T20 this week. Look at it in the spring.

Looking at 2025:

Holy Child: 3% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/hcseniors25_/

VISI: 19% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/

I sincerely doubt HC will keep up with VISI for the rest of the year.

[Anonymous]

There is no “best Catholic school for high academics.” There are only children, meticulously arranged, and parents, slightly unhinged but devoted. Rankings exist only to provide a thin veneer of control over the chaotic, symmetrical, and subtly absurd world of adolescence. And somewhere in a corner, I sip lukewarm coffee, applaud politely, and try not to blink too quickly.

Whole post is great, but this last bit is very relevant. What you are looking for is not the "best school", or even the "best school for a particular metric" but the "best school for your child".

Curious about OP's vibe for Oakcrest, St Jerome, and Paul VI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Subject line

Hahaha
Thanks for the laugh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

You can't look at a partial year. EDs are still being released for the ivies and T20 this week. Look at it in the spring.

Looking at 2025:

Holy Child: 3% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/hcseniors25_/

VISI: 19% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/

I sincerely doubt HC will keep up with VISI for the rest of the year.

Holy Child is not "academic" It sends students to Old Miss ... or Alabama etc... or Texas Christian and right now any parent who sends a DD to any of those schools is literally signing away their daughters rights. Beyond stupid to do that given what these states are changing laws for women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

Gonzaga and the Heights LOL no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

Gonzaga and the Heights LOL no

Gonzage 15% to T25 schools https://www.instagram.com/gonzagaseniors2025
The Heights 20% to T25 schools https://www.instagram.com/heights25.seniors/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

You can't look at a partial year. EDs are still being released for the ivies and T20 this week. Look at it in the spring.

Looking at 2025:

Holy Child: 3% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/hcseniors25_/

VISI: 19% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/

I sincerely doubt HC will keep up with VISI for the rest of the year.

Holy Child is not "academic" It sends students to Old Miss ... or Alabama etc... or Texas Christian and right now any parent who sends a DD to any of those schools is literally signing away their daughters rights. Beyond stupid to do that given what these states are changing laws for women.

Wait, I want to send my daughter to Vanderbilt. It is her dream school. I am not worried about Tennessee's laws lol. You go ahead and send your kid to Northeastern or whatever other school you consider to be safer. Heck, look what just happened at Brown, which is in a very blue city in a very blue state. I'll take Tennessee any day of the week over Providence, RI.

This snob who keeps posting about HC has serious issues and seems to be unhinged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

You can't look at a partial year. EDs are still being released for the ivies and T20 this week. Look at it in the spring.

Looking at 2025:

Holy Child: 3% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/hcseniors25_/

VISI: 19% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/

I sincerely doubt HC will keep up with VISI for the rest of the year.

Holy Child is not "academic" It sends students to Old Miss ... or Alabama etc... or Texas Christian and right now any parent who sends a DD to any of those schools is literally signing away their daughters rights. Beyond stupid to do that given what these states are changing laws for women.

Hey Dummy, it's Ole Miss, not Old Miss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High schools ranked by strength of college admissions:

Georgetown Prep/St. Anselms
Georgetown Visitation/Stone Ridge
Gonzaga
SJC
The Heights
Everyone Else

Most Catholics don’t believe in abortion. They believe in getting married when you get knocked up, so your point is moot to them.

Have you compared ED decisions for HC and Visi this year? Identical.

You can't look at a partial year. EDs are still being released for the ivies and T20 this week. Look at it in the spring.

Looking at 2025:

Holy Child: 3% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/hcseniors25_/

VISI: 19% matriculated to USNWR T25 https://www.instagram.com/visidcseniors_2025/

I sincerely doubt HC will keep up with VISI for the rest of the year.

Holy Child is not "academic" It sends students to Old Miss ... or Alabama etc... or Texas Christian and right now any parent who sends a DD to any of those schools is literally signing away their daughters rights. Beyond stupid to do that given what these states are changing laws for women.