Tell me about St. John's . . .

[Anonymous]

We are looking at it for my DS. I am surprised that I rarely read about it on DCUM. My husband, who is an old time Washingtonian, said it was a prestigious place to be when he was growing up. Is it academically rigorous? Is it a much different experience if you choose the ROTC route? Are the families typical D.C. school families (my daughter is at one of those schools mentioned frequently on this board). Would a non-Catholic feel totally out of place?

[Anonymous]

Non Catholic family will do fine, but DS will receive a Catholic Education but theology can be interesting and there are many electives. ROTC is great, I know several families who went through and sons enjoyed it. Yes it is rigorous but there are academics for all levels. They have an amazing learning center if needed, and the vast majority of families and students are hard working, nice, middle of the road people looking for a strong academic high school experience. Send DS for a shadow day this fall and go to an open house and see if it's a good fit. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I would like to check the school, but not from the area. Can you give the full name of the school? Is is a middle school, or just the high school? I was googling. Is it in DC? TIA

[Anonymous]

St John's College High School, it is in NW DC in a beautiful area, has a nice campus, but not so easy to get to via public transport (not near Metrorail, but is near a bus line).
Advantages-large student body, large alumni network, ROTC and other special programs including one for specific learning differences, diversity of classes available, excellent sports programs, Coed, much less expensive than many private schools
Disadvantages-definitely religious, required religion classes, however, lots of non-Catholics there, not a lot of encouragement of kids that are at all "different' i.e. interested in arts to a huge degree or having any real or perceived differences in sexual orientation (based on prior experience with a friend's daughter there), pretty rigid administration, not a huge number of really academically-inclined kids. Most admits to top 20 universities/Ivys are via athletic recruitment

[Anonymous]

It is VERY catholic...kind of an in between place where you go if you can't get in to Gonzaga and you don't want to schlep out to Good Counsel. I do think you'll feel a little out of place as a non-Catholic. Not sure why other than sports a non-catholic would choose...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is VERY catholic...kind of an in between place where you go if you can't get in to Gonzaga and you don't want to schlep out to Good Counsel. I do think you'll feel a little out of place as a non-Catholic. Not sure why other than sports a non-catholic would choose...

Why did your kids go there?

[Anonymous]

I knew a kid who flunked out of St. Anselm's and went to St. Johns. He liked it ok and he was kind of a weird kid so it worked for him.

If a kid is great at certain sports such as basketball, they should go to St. Johns (either girls or boys). They actually had a few girls recruited for b-ball to Harvard. Otherwise, their normal college stats aren't the greatest for getting kids into good colleges.

The school is very diverse economically, socially, and racially. It is now co-ed. It didn't start out that way. It used to be just for folks interested in sending their kids to the military, so I think OP's DH must have come from a military family if he thought the school was good.

[Anonymous]

SJC is a completely different place than it was 25 years ago and it just keeps getting better and better. Before the early 90's, it was a place to go if a boy couldn't get into Gonzaga. Since then, it has gone co-ed, made ROTC optional, built beautiful facilities, recruited high-achieving students for its Honors Program, etc.

The advantages of SJC are: 1) it has a comprehensive and diverse student body, everything from special ed to regular to honors; 2) it is diverse in terms of race, class, economics, etc.; 3) it is very well run; 4) it has a lot of tradition and school spirit and great sports teams.

The downside (for some), is that it is a traditional Catholic school and somewhat rigid in its approach to education, and perhaps it puts too much emphasis on sports. But, if your child does not mind conforming a bit, he or she will do well, and being non-Catholic is not an issue, so long as the student (and family) are not resistant to being exposed to the Catholic tradition.

[Anonymous]

DD is a senior, and here r some things that come to mind in no particular order.

Very diverse, both in SES and race. Kids come from all over, with many from NW DC and surrounding areas.
All Ipad use as of last year. The AP & Honor classes are tough, most require recommendations from a faculty member and high grade in the pre-requirement class. Tons of home work every night, no block periods so you have the same 7 to 8 classes everyday. Wide range of college placement. All info' about the benilde and honors program is on the website. Co-ed, can be a distraction at times. Tons of sporting opportunities...go to the Gonzaga vs SJC football game - regardless of the outcome, it's tons of fun, one huge party - and God is not Purple....

A minute late, you get a detention, forget hw, you get and F...lol..not overly religious at all

Cool down to earth parents who love a good time.

Not that easy to get into now..long waiting list....ROTC . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY17Ixx0jUw

There's a bus from Friendship metro to the school, and bus service from the suburbs.

Some real cool teachers.. https://www.stjohnschs.org/podium/default.aspx?t=52562&a=216657&f=2571185

Best food at open house in all the area schools...lol...


HTH..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St John's College High School, it is in NW DC in a beautiful area, has a nice campus, but not so easy to get to via public transport (not near Metrorail, but is near a bus line).
Advantages-large student body, large alumni network, ROTC and other special programs including one for specific learning differences, diversity of classes available, excellent sports programs, Coed, much less expensive than many private schools
Disadvantages-definitely religious, required religion classes, however, lots of non-Catholics there, not a lot of encouragement of kids that are at all "different' i.e. interested in arts to a huge degree or having any real or perceived differences in sexual orientation (based on prior experience with a friend's daughter there), pretty rigid administration, not a huge number of really academically-inclined kids. Most admits to top 20 universities/Ivys are via athletic recruitment

Please look up from your narrow little notepad and be aware that many, many people would consider required religion classes and "definitely religious" to be a strong ADvantage.

[Anonymous]

Here is the link to them. Please do yourself a favor and read between the lines on the total basher posts. Every school will have pro's and con's, most of the outright bashing comes from parents whose kids attend other schools. Most of the schools offer shadow days in the Fall, and I am sure if you are relocating here they will work with you. I disagree with the post about religion. Yes, it is Catholic but no one will be forced to convert. There are non Catholics who attend. We are Catholic, and my son attends an Episcopal High School after 9 years of Catholic school - can't wait to see the how the religion classes differ.

https://www.stjohnschs.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St John's College High School, it is in NW DC in a beautiful area, has a nice campus, but not so easy to get to via public transport (not near Metrorail, but is near a bus line).
Advantages-large student body, large alumni network, ROTC and other special programs including one for specific learning differences, diversity of classes available, excellent sports programs, Coed, much less expensive than many private schools
Disadvantages-definitely religious, required religion classes, however, lots of non-Catholics there, not a lot of encouragement of kids that are at all "different' i.e. interested in arts to a huge degree or having any real or perceived differences in sexual orientation (based on prior experience with a friend's daughter there), pretty rigid administration, not a huge number of really academically-inclined kids. Most admits to top 20 universities/Ivys are via athletic recruitment

Please look up from your narrow little notepad and be aware that many, many people would consider required religion classes and "definitely religious" to be a strong ADvantage.

Calm down. OP specifically asked about the school for a non-Catholic. It doesn't matter what "many people" consider to be a strong advantage. PP was responding to OP's question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St John's College High School, it is in NW DC in a beautiful area, has a nice campus, but not so easy to get to via public transport (not near Metrorail, but is near a bus line).
Advantages-large student body, large alumni network, ROTC and other special programs including one for specific learning differences, diversity of classes available, excellent sports programs, Coed, much less expensive than many private schools
Disadvantages-definitely religious, required religion classes, however, lots of non-Catholics there, not a lot of encouragement of kids that are at all "different' i.e. interested in arts to a huge degree or having any real or perceived differences in sexual orientation (based on prior experience with a friend's daughter there), pretty rigid administration, not a huge number of really academically-inclined kids. Most admits to top 20 universities/Ivys are via athletic recruitment

Please look up from your narrow little notepad and be aware that many, many people would consider required religion classes and "definitely religious" to be a strong ADvantage.

Calm down. OP specifically asked about the school for a non-Catholic. It doesn't matter what "many people" consider to be a strong advantage. PP was responding to OP's question.

Non-catholic does not always equal non- religious.

[Anonymous]

Excellent baseball