Why don't Catholic Schools get more play on this board?

[Anonymous]

Good point. But don't mention Visi -- that will just unleash a new barrage of scorn. To the OP and anyone else considering Catholic schools: talk to parents at the school or in the parish. You'll get all the upsides and downsides. I wish it weren't so, but this is not the site for objective analysis of DC-area Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

1. because many choose within schools that are Catholic
2. that limits the choices to parochial [coed] , Opus Dei, single sex [geographic choice perhaps -ie prep, dematha,gonzaga]
3. coed options if in close in NOVA many look into O'Connell. In NW/Md St. Johns. Further into MD you have Good Counsel.

Many on DCUM investigate a wider range of schools than Catholic only.

[Anonymous]

Sure, but many investigate more schools than just Lowell or GDS. Why can't there be a sane, rational thread on catholic schools, just like there are sane, rational threads on GDS? Because of the bigots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because people on here want their kids to go to a Ivy. Catholic school kids typically don't go Ivy. Catholic schools aren't as prestigious as the exclusive privates. Also if yoy aren't Catholic why send your kid to a Catholic school?

You do know that both the President and VP attended Catholic schools?

[Anonymous]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/08/educating-children-catholic-schools-doing/

"Earlier this month, President Obama challenged high schools across the county to compete against each other in the second annual "Race to the Top” educational success program for the chance to have him give the commencement address at their graduation. Not included in the contest, though, are the more than 2 million students in America’s Catholic schools.

If they could participate, the nation’s parochial schools would be fearsome competitors.
A 2009 comparison between public and Catholic school SAT scores show that public school students had an overall average of 496 points on the critical reading portion of the test while Catholic school students scored 533 points on the same portion. Catholic school students outscored their public school counterparts by an average of 23 points.

What makes the numbers more impressive is that Catholic high schools spend more than $2,000 less per pupil than public schools. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/08/educating-children-catholic-schools-doing/

"Earlier this month, President Obama challenged high schools across the county to compete against each other in the second annual "Race to the Top” educational success program for the chance to have him give the commencement address at their graduation. Not included in the contest, though, are the more than 2 million students in America’s Catholic schools.

If they could participate, the nation’s parochial schools would be fearsome competitors.
A 2009 comparison between public and Catholic school SAT scores show that public school students had an overall average of 496 points on the critical reading portion of the test while Catholic school students scored 533 points on the same portion. Catholic school students outscored their public school counterparts by an average of 23 points.

What makes the numbers more impressive is that Catholic high schools spend more than $2,000 less per pupil than public schools. "

I'd like to see the data that went into this study. That said, in many towns across the country the only alternative to public school is Catholic school. In the DC area there are more choices. There is no doubt about it the more prestigious private schools in this area score higher on tests and send their grad on to more prestigious colleges than the Catholic schools. And I say this as a parent who opted NOT to apply to the big 3-5ish schools.

[Anonymous]

We love our catholic preK-8th grade school. We chose it for the many of the same reasons that are suggested by the OP- the sense of community- the tight knit group- the fact that it is small and my kids know everyone there. We moved our kids from a well-respected MoCo school to our present Catholic school and feel strongly that they are getting a better education now. I'm sure those who send their kids to what are seen as more elite schools in this area would scoff at that, but it works for us, and our kids love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. because many choose within schools that are Catholic
2. that limits the choices to parochial [coed] , Opus Dei, single sex [geographic choice perhaps -ie prep, dematha,gonzaga]
3. coed options if in close in NOVA many look into O'Connell. In NW/Md St. Johns. Further into MD you have Good Counsel.

Many on DCUM investigate a wider range of schools than Catholic only.

Sure, but many investigate more schools than just Lowell or GDS. Why can't there be a sane, rational thread on catholic schools, just like there are sane, rational threads on GDS? Because of the bigots.

NP here. I'm sure there can be a sane, rational thread on Catholic schools. But the PP you're answering gave several sane and rational reasons for not choosing Catholic schools, and you seem to be calling her a bigot. When you call people bigots, that's not going to promote sane discussion.

I understand you don't like your faith criticized, but if you call everyone who disagrees a bigot, you make matters worse. Just because some people are not interested in Catholic schools, don't think they provide as good an education as other non-sectarian schools in the area, and frankly don't support many of the positions of the Vatican, that doesn't mean we're all anti-Catholic bigots. There definitely are some staunch anti-Catholics, just like there are some anti-Landon people, anti-Beauvoir people, anti-suburb people, anti-SAHM, etc. Claiming that Catholics are persecuted is more than everyone else is simply wrong. And just because we don't all agree with you doesn't mean you get to call us all bigots.

[Anonymous]

We didn't consider Catholic because the social views of the Catholic church are in direct conflict with our overarching moral and ethical views as a family. It just didn't make sense to us to consider it. I think a lot of families feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

Not many Catholics in upper NW DC with children of school going age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand you don't like your faith criticized, but if you call everyone who disagrees a bigot, you make matters worse. Just because some people are not interested in Catholic schools, don't think they provide as good an education as other non-sectarian schools in the area, and frankly don't support many of the positions of the Vatican, that doesn't mean we're all anti-Catholic bigots. There definitely are some staunch anti-Catholics, just like there are some anti-Landon people, anti-Beauvoir people, anti-suburb people, anti-SAHM, etc. Claiming that Catholics are persecuted is more than everyone else is simply wrong. And just because we don't all agree with you doesn't mean you get to call us all bigots.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not many Catholics in upper NW DC with children of school going age.

Really? Ever been to Mass at Blessed Sacrement? Or Holy Trinity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn't consider Catholic because the social views of the Catholic church are in direct conflict with our overarching moral and ethical views as a family. It just didn't make sense to us to consider it. I think a lot of families feel the same way.

I second this. I understand how hard it is to leave the faith you were born into, but boy - super hierarchical, anti-woman, anti-gay, supporting pedophiles over protecting the innocent - those are so not the values we want our children to grow up with. I don't think it is bigoted to speak out against values/positions you disagree with. Those who hold those values are the ones who are bigoted, to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not many Catholics in upper NW DC with children of school going age.

Really? Ever been to Mass at Blessed Sacrement? Or Holy Trinity?

Yes about 75% of those people don't live in DC. Just saying upper NW is predominantly Protestant and Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not many Catholics in upper NW DC with children of school going age.

Really? Ever been to Mass at Blessed Sacrement? Or Holy Trinity?

Yes about 75% of those people don't live in DC. Just saying upper NW is predominantly Protestant and Jewish.

Hardly. Catholic population in DC is 21%. Jewish is 5%.