Can someone give me a rundown of the Catholic high schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

Thanks. I am able to do a Google search. I am more looking for personal experiences, the "vibes" of the different schools, etc.

You probably ought to start by understanding more about the different areas of the City and the structure of the Catholic community here in DC. Your assumptions based on your Chicago experience aren't going to work here in Washington.

While the Catholic population in Chicago is a mixed bag of ethnic groups (Irish, Italian, German, etc), here the Irish are the dominant group. And many of them have lived here for several generations. The parishes and the parish schools are different based on the neighborhoods/towns in which they sit. (Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac is different from Holy Redeemer in Kensington) Blessed Sacrament at Chevy Chase Circle serves that area and there are lots of old line Catholic families there.

Stone Ridge and Visitation appeal to the same socio-economic group. But Visitation is more often the darling of the more established families.

Your best bet is to talk to people at whatever Parish you join (if you join one). They'll of course have their favorite and loyalties.

Catholic schools are a big deal here in Washington. You can see that by the sheer number and the range of them.

This is not true of PG and therefore not true for Elizabeth Seton (all girls)

Yeah, that's a bizarre statement. Catholic schools in the DC area are amazingly diverse. There is an Irish-Catholic contingent for sure, but it's not any bigger than other ethnic groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

I don't think you can call SJC and Gonzaga true independents...not sure the curriculum is as rigorous as the Big 3-5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

I don't think you can call SJC and Gonzaga true independents...not sure the curriculum is as rigorous as the Big 3-5.

OP is from Chicago and looking Catholic. She does not care about Big 3/Big 5 etc. Nobody applying to Catholic schools care if the school is independent or not... but Gonzaga, Prep, SJC, Visi, stone Ridge, Heights. Oakcrest, Good Counsel, St. anslems, and others... are Independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

Thanks. I am able to do a Google search. I am more looking for personal experiences, the "vibes" of the different schools, etc.

You probably ought to start by understanding more about the different areas of the City and the structure of the Catholic community here in DC. Your assumptions based on your Chicago experience aren't going to work here in Washington.

While the Catholic population in Chicago is a mixed bag of ethnic groups (Irish, Italian, German, etc), here the Irish are the dominant group. And many of them have lived here for several generations. The parishes and the parish schools are different based on the neighborhoods/towns in which they sit. (Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac is different from Holy Redeemer in Kensington) Blessed Sacrament at Chevy Chase Circle serves that area and there are lots of old line Catholic families there.

Stone Ridge and Visitation appeal to the same socio-economic group. But Visitation is more often the darling of the more established families.

Your best bet is to talk to people at whatever Parish you join (if you join one). They'll of course have their favorite and loyalties.

Catholic schools are a big deal here in Washington. You can see that by the sheer number and the range of them.

This is not true of PG and therefore not true for Elizabeth Seton (all girls)

Yeah, that's a bizarre statement. Catholic schools in the DC area are amazingly diverse. There is an Irish-Catholic contingent for sure, but it's not any bigger than other ethnic groups.

Really.

What other large Catholic ethnic groups are there in the area besides the Irish in NW DC and the part of Montgomery County this person is moiving to.

Are you talking about Hispanics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

I don't think you can call SJC and Gonzaga true independents...not sure the curriculum is as rigorous as the Big 3-5.

OP is from Chicago and looking Catholic. She does not care about Big 3/Big 5 etc. Nobody applying to Catholic schools care if the school is independent or not... but Gonzaga, Prep, SJC, Visi, stone Ridge, Heights. Oakcrest, Good Counsel, St. anslems, and others... are Independent.

Catholic independent means it not part of the diocese - either ADW or Arlington. It is a distinction between a disocesean HS and a high school run by an order.

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross would be worth a look if all-girls appeals to your DD. Good soccer and track programs, very easily metro accessible, draws from DC well into MD suburbs, solid IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

Thanks. I am able to do a Google search. I am more looking for personal experiences, the "vibes" of the different schools, etc.

You probably ought to start by understanding more about the different areas of the City and the structure of the Catholic community here in DC. Your assumptions based on your Chicago experience aren't going to work here in Washington.

While the Catholic population in Chicago is a mixed bag of ethnic groups (Irish, Italian, German, etc), here the Irish are the dominant group. And many of them have lived here for several generations. The parishes and the parish schools are different based on the neighborhoods/towns in which they sit. (Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac is different from Holy Redeemer in Kensington) Blessed Sacrament at Chevy Chase Circle serves that area and there are lots of old line Catholic families there.

Stone Ridge and Visitation appeal to the same socio-economic group. But Visitation is more often the darling of the more established families.

Your best bet is to talk to people at whatever Parish you join (if you join one). They'll of course have their favorite and loyalties.

Catholic schools are a big deal here in Washington. You can see that by the sheer number and the range of them.

This is not true of PG and therefore not true for Elizabeth Seton (all girls)

Who's talking about PG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The good news is that there is literally something for everybody in DC Catholic schools - single sex, coed, very bookish, very sporty. If you are living in Cleveland Park, you will be a short hop to just about everything. You might want to think about living a bit further into upper NW so that you have more schools in range. I don't know Chicago schools, but DC Catholic schools are quite competitive to get into - especially the single sex and independent schools.

Thanks for the info!

The thing about Catholic schools in Chicago is that there are so dang many of them! You are never more than 15 minutes away from a Catholic high school, and there is a parish with an attached K-8 school in pretty much every suburb and many city neighborhoods (we live in a suburb just outside the city). There are HSs where basically anyone with a pulse and $XX,000 to spare can attend, and then there are ones that are very very selective. The single-sex ones tend to fall into the "anyone with a pulse" (OK that sounds really awful of me) category, co-ed is more a mixed bag. So there is something for everyone, whether a very strong student or a not-so-strong student that simply wants to go to a Catholic high school for social reasons, sports, want a smaller environment, whatever.

We will definitely give St. John's a look. From my research it looks like a very well-rounded school, the type where a lot of different kinds of kids could succeed, where there is no one "type"...am I off base here?

For the sake of anonymity I won't say which school she'll be at next year, but I'll definitely talk to the other school families once we get there. Just thought I'd get a head start.

90% of the students play a sport at SJC. It is a VERY sporty school. It has every non-sport activity you would expect at a HS, but sports pulls it all together. For girls, the marquis sport is basketball. I think most of the other girls sports are close to being no-cut, especially for team sports.

OK- good to know. My daughter is sporty but she does cross country and soccer.

You will be very close to NCS - National Cathedral School. Is she s very strong student? If so look into that school. Also Maret though it's not Catholic.
Visitation is all girls and a serious school and pretty preppy and waspy (as is NCS).
Stone ridge is a little more diverse (not a lot but a little) has strong academic programs and a great spirit.
Holy child is very good for girls with learning issues or just regular students.
Holy cross and Brookewood would not be worth the crazy commute from DC.
SJC is very diverse and coed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

Thanks. I am able to do a Google search. I am more looking for personal experiences, the "vibes" of the different schools, etc.

You probably ought to start by understanding more about the different areas of the City and the structure of the Catholic community here in DC. Your assumptions based on your Chicago experience aren't going to work here in Washington.

While the Catholic population in Chicago is a mixed bag of ethnic groups (Irish, Italian, German, etc), here the Irish are the dominant group. And many of them have lived here for several generations. The parishes and the parish schools are different based on the neighborhoods/towns in which they sit. (Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac is different from Holy Redeemer in Kensington) Blessed Sacrament at Chevy Chase Circle serves that area and there are lots of old line Catholic families there.

Stone Ridge and Visitation appeal to the same socio-economic group. But Visitation is more often the darling of the more established families.

Your best bet is to talk to people at whatever Parish you join (if you join one). They'll of course have their favorite and loyalties.

Catholic schools are a big deal here in Washington. You can see that by the sheer number and the range of them.

This is not true of PG and therefore not true for Elizabeth Seton (all girls)

Who's talking about PG?

PP mentioned ADW - PG is part of ADW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMGTFY

Archdiocese of Washington (includes independents like Gonzaga and SJC) - http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2015_ADWbrochure_nomarks.pdf
Diocese of Arlington - https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/secondary.aspx

Location will be key to your search - not all of these are commutable from Cleveland Park.

Thanks. I am able to do a Google search. I am more looking for personal experiences, the "vibes" of the different schools, etc.

You probably ought to start by understanding more about the different areas of the City and the structure of the Catholic community here in DC. Your assumptions based on your Chicago experience aren't going to work here in Washington.

While the Catholic population in Chicago is a mixed bag of ethnic groups (Irish, Italian, German, etc), here the Irish are the dominant group. And many of them have lived here for several generations. The parishes and the parish schools are different based on the neighborhoods/towns in which they sit. (Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac is different from Holy Redeemer in Kensington) Blessed Sacrament at Chevy Chase Circle serves that area and there are lots of old line Catholic families there.

Stone Ridge and Visitation appeal to the same socio-economic group. But Visitation is more often the darling of the more established families.

Your best bet is to talk to people at whatever Parish you join (if you join one). They'll of course have their favorite and loyalties.

Catholic schools are a big deal here in Washington. You can see that by the sheer number and the range of them.

This is not true of PG and therefore not true for Elizabeth Seton (all girls)

Who's talking about PG?

Girls commute from DC to Seton. Especially girls who want a girls school but not a waspy rich girl environment ala Visi.

Oakcrest is pretty buttoned up and serious and a commute as its in Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are basically 3 possible options for a girl if you are living in Cleveland Park and want a Catholic high school:

Visitation--all girls

St. John's--co-ed

Stone Ridge--all girls, technically an option but would be roughly 30 min or more commute.

All are good schools, quite different. Look at their websites and that will give you a better flavor of their philosophies and cultures.

+ Holy Cross (all girls)
+ Oak Crest (all girls)

+Avalon (all boys)
+Brookewood (all girls)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The good news is that there is literally something for everybody in DC Catholic schools - single sex, coed, very bookish, very sporty. If you are living in Cleveland Park, you will be a short hop to just about everything. You might want to think about living a bit further into upper NW so that you have more schools in range. I don't know Chicago schools, but DC Catholic schools are quite competitive to get into - especially the single sex and independent schools.

Thanks for the info!

The thing about Catholic schools in Chicago is that there are so dang many of them! You are never more than 15 minutes away from a Catholic high school, and there is a parish with an attached K-8 school in pretty much every suburb and many city neighborhoods (we live in a suburb just outside the city). There are HSs where basically anyone with a pulse and $XX,000 to spare can attend, and then there are ones that are very very selective. The single-sex ones tend to fall into the "anyone with a pulse" (OK that sounds really awful of me) category, co-ed is more a mixed bag. So there is something for everyone, whether a very strong student or a not-so-strong student that simply wants to go to a Catholic high school for social reasons, sports, want a smaller environment, whatever.

We will definitely give St. John's a look. From my research it looks like a very well-rounded school, the type where a lot of different kinds of kids could succeed, where there is no one "type"...am I off base here?

For the sake of anonymity I won't say which school she'll be at next year, but I'll definitely talk to the other school families once we get there. Just thought I'd get a head start.

90% of the students play a sport at SJC. It is a VERY sporty school. It has every non-sport activity you would expect at a HS, but sports pulls it all together. For girls, the marquis sport is basketball. I think most of the other girls sports are close to being no-cut, especially for team sports.

OK- good to know. My daughter is sporty but she does cross country and soccer.

You will be very close to NCS - National Cathedral School. Is she s very strong student? If so look into that school. Also Maret though it's not Catholic.
Visitation is all girls and a serious school and pretty preppy and waspy (as is NCS).
Stone ridge is a little more diverse (not a lot but a little) has strong academic programs and a great spirit.
Holy child is very good for girls with learning issues or just regular students.
Holy cross and Brookewood would not be worth the crazy commute from DC.
SJC is very diverse and coed.

NCS is also not Catholic. It is Episcopalian.

I agree that NCS is waspy, but Visi is Catholic. You can't be waspy (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) and Catholic.

Holy Cross is a great school. It's commute is no more crazy that SR. It's one more metro stop, but much more conveniently located relative to the stop than SR.

[Anonymous]

A catholic school is by definition not waspy. Pp, what do you mean by describing visitation as waspy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: A catholic school is by definition not waspy. Pp, what do you mean by describing visitation as waspy?

Omg, really? You have to ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are basically 3 possible options for a girl if you are living in Cleveland Park and want a Catholic high school:

Visitation--all girls

St. John's--co-ed

Stone Ridge--all girls, technically an option but would be roughly 30 min or more commute.

All are good schools, quite different. Look at their websites and that will give you a better flavor of their philosophies and cultures.

+ Holy Cross (all girls)
+ Oak Crest (all girls)

+Avalon (all boys)
+Brookewood (all girls)

And way out there, completely lacking in facilities (except boys on football scholarships) and very very quirky.