Mater Dei - pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

It seems some folks jump right in at early grades while others wait.

[Anonymous]

50 years old here.
The best school I ever went to
Beverly Farms
Mater Dei
Churchill
UMD

Great for elementary... Unparalleled for middle.

[Anonymous]

^^^ sent my son too. He's set for life since he now knows how to kick in effort when necessary .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems some folks jump right in at early grades while others wait.

Either way.

MD is all boys and most of the faculty are men.

It's a different world from almost all the alternatives.

Athletics are a big part of it.They know how to work with boys.

It's more Catholic than you might expect.

[Anonymous]

Most boys go on to Prep or Gonzaga. Lots of outside activties with the same people through lacrosse , hockey and football.

Same country clubs and church.

If you are not part of the crew, you can feel like an outsider.

[Anonymous]

Low performers from our parochial are miraculously great students there. Lots of ways to boost grades - correcting mistakes on tests for extra credit, etc. That said, they "get" boys and give them lots of run time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Low performers from our parochial are miraculously great students there. Lots of ways to boost grades - correcting mistakes on tests for extra credit, etc. That said, they "get" boys and give them lots of run time.

This may be an indication that your parochial isn't meeting the needs of boys. Many extremely bright boys get lost in traditional co-ed schools. And don't flame me -- I am not a MaterDei parent. Just stating that if you are trying to slam the school, you should start in your own yard...

[Anonymous]

George Huguely is a grad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:George Huguely is a grad.

So? What school doesn't have an association or two with someone who's done terrible things? I know someone who's a fairly horrible person who sent her two daughters to MD. MD's association with her is no reflection on the school.

[Anonymous]

Girls don't go to MD. Get your story straight.

[Anonymous]

Mater Dei often holds boys back upon entry...fairly standard practice. My son transferred after 6th grade at our parish school; March birthday. He started Mater Dei in 6th. He got good grades at our parish school; we chose to follow the school's recommendation to repeat 6th because of the advantage it would give him in applying to HS (better grades, higher placement in classes, better athletics).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei often holds boys back upon entry...fairly standard practice. My son transferred after 6th grade at our parish school; March birthday. He started Mater Dei in 6th. He got good grades at our parish school; we chose to follow the school's recommendation to repeat 6th because of the advantage it would give him in applying to HS (better grades, higher placement in classes, better athletics).

You have it in the wrong order. Athletics is the first reason, not the third.

[Anonymous]

They take that red-shirt stuff seriously there. Girls joke at the Jr. High dances that the Mater Dei boys have mustaches and drive themselves there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:George Huguely is a grad.

He also went to Landon and UVA so don't forget criticize them too.

[Anonymous]

School understands boys, example: Lower school: work, PE, work, recess, work - energy flow works and keeps boys engaged. (I wish more schools did this for boys). our ds who was already "checking out" in K at a good co-ed (noncatholic) private school, at md checked back in.

Is very catholic. Very athletic oriented (particularly upper school so that is a big consideration for each kid). More traditional curriculum - which is a pro/con depending on your view. Boys will know math, grammar, literature. Boys forced to be independent, responsible, yet school is strict. Minimal parent involvement at school by design - though close community. Diversity slowly increasing.


our boys like going to school every day.