Blessed Sacrament

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering BS but are concerned about the social atmosphere. We have heard some mixed reports (not from this board, BTW!). Our child is a smart introvert and not so into sports. Thoughts?

Of course, I will be filtering out the really snarky stuff so if this is you, you could save yourself some time.

Depends on the year but some years have some terrible cliques. Some people don't have that terrible experience, those who did are not bashing the school just giving you factual information. Generally speaking based on our experience it would not be a good school for a smart introvert. The boys can be tough.

How many boys leave for Mater Dei? Are the classes girl heavy in the later years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BS has great academics. There is a wide range of students at BS. They are also undergoing a curriculum update. People live to bad mouth this school. I think there are many in the neighborhood who are uncomfortable with DCPS but feel the need to trash BS to make themselves feel better about sending their kids to DCPS.

Yeah. Not so much.

Then why the need to trash a school your child doesn't attend.

I'm not trashing Blessed Sacrament; my "not so much" comment was directed at your assertion that there are so "many" people in CCDC who really wanted to send kids to BS for the "great academics" but instead got the booby prize of Lafayette/Murch and Deal.

Let's stipulate that most of the kids in 20015 are white (it's something like 85% or more, I forget the Census numbers from 2010).

White children in the District of Columbia score higher than any other white children in the US on the NAEP tests that all 4th and 8th graders take nationwide. That would include those Murch and Lafayette DCPS kids who live near BS. I don't think they're as "uncomfortable" with their education as you imagine.

They're killing it.

Killing it? That might be a bit of an exaggeration. When I look around my CCDC neighborhood I see many families choosing other than DCPS. Small sample, yes, but on my street of about 20 home, only two send or have sent kids to public. I think just about every private is represented (CES Jewish Day School, WES, Maret, Sidwell, Beauvoir, etc. and Blessed Sacrament.)
So while DCPS has made major improvements I think it is fair to say many are not willing to risk it if there are other options – I am one of those.

Really. So the fact that dcps white kids (only) score the highest IN THE ENTIRE USA on a reading & math test, beating out white kids in every single other state -- including our good friends next door in vaunted MD and VA -- is unpersuasive to you. It suggests "risk"iness, even!

All right then, there's no budging you. I have a hunch you're one of the cliquey 3rd generation BS blonde moms with a sporty ponytail. Who never once considered public school in any form. Not your safe happy clubby familiar place.

NP. I am really glad you are happy at DCPS! Why are you commenting on a Blessed Sacrament thread? People go to Catholic schools for religious education as well as for a classic education. I fail to understand your need to post. I don't fit your stereotype of BSS moms. You need to get a hobby beyond posting nasty comments about a school with which you have zero experience. Instead why don't you channel your energy by posting to the DCPS forum or maybe get off the computer and volunteer at your kids' school. You cannot deny there are parents in DC who have problems with DCPS, even if you disagree with them. I would hope NO parent would send their child to a terrible school.

[Anonymous]

^^

Isn't it nice that you have choices? Do you understand that other people have to make different choices? Perhaps you would open up 10-15% of BS seats to those parents who would otherwise have to send their kids to a terrible school? I do hope, as you say, that you are not a typical BSS mom because you do not represent well.

[Anonymous]

NP. I am really glad you are happy at DCPS! Why are you commenting on a Blessed Sacrament thread? People go to Catholic schools for religious education as well as for a classic education. I fail to understand your need to post. I don't fit your stereotype of BSS moms. You need to get a hobby beyond posting nasty comments about a school with which you have zero experience. Instead why don't you channel your energy by posting to the DCPS forum or maybe get off the computer and volunteer at your kids' school. You cannot deny there are parents in DC who have problems with DCPS, even if you disagree with them. I would hope NO parent would send their child to a terrible school.

Maybe I'm a parishioner at BS. Maybe that's why I clicked on this thread. And once I got reading, I couldn't let go unanswered the idiotic assertion upthread (was that yours?) that Blessed Sacrament academics were so top notch - and that's a lucky thing, since so many families in the immediate neighborhood were scared to send their kids to Lafayette, Murch and DEeal (not named, but those are the "DCPS" schools that are the only alternative in CCDC).

As a former Catholic school kid, I don't need pointers on why a parent might choose a Catholic education. We cannot let stand, though, your (?) nonsense that Murch, Lafayette and Deal "DCPS" educations lack the academic rigor in comparison to BS. Maybe 30 years ago, perhaps. Not today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP. I am really glad you are happy at DCPS! Why are you commenting on a Blessed Sacrament thread? People go to Catholic schools for religious education as well as for a classic education. I fail to understand your need to post. I don't fit your stereotype of BSS moms. You need to get a hobby beyond posting nasty comments about a school with which you have zero experience. Instead why don't you channel your energy by posting to the DCPS forum or maybe get off the computer and volunteer at your kids' school. You cannot deny there are parents in DC who have problems with DCPS, even if you disagree with them. I would hope NO parent would send their child to a terrible school.

Maybe I'm a parishioner at BS. Maybe that's why I clicked on this thread. And once I got reading, I couldn't let go unanswered the idiotic assertion upthread (was that yours?) that Blessed Sacrament academics were so top notch - and that's a lucky thing, since so many families in the immediate neighborhood were scared to send their kids to Lafayette, Murch and DEeal (not named, but those are the "DCPS" schools that are the only alternative in CCDC).

As a former Catholic school kid, I don't need pointers on why a parent might choose a Catholic education. We cannot let stand, though, your (?) nonsense that Murch, Lafayette and Deal "DCPS" educations lack the academic rigor in comparison to BS. Maybe 30 years ago, perhaps. Not today.

I didn't say anything regarding DCPS. I have plenty of friends who kids attend DCPS and are happy. I just don't have an axe to grind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^

Isn't it nice that you have choices? Do you understand that other people have to make different choices? Perhaps you would open up 10-15% of BS seats to those parents who would otherwise have to send their kids to a terrible school? I do hope, as you say, that you are not a typical BSS mom because you do not represent well.

BSS (and all ADW Catholic schools) no longer has neighborhood boundaries. You can apply regardless of where you live.

[Anonymous]

eh. the moms seem really fake and insecure. tory burch shoes and LV handbags. belch.

[Anonymous]

This thread should go back to what OP really was asking about: BS academics compared to top performing public schools (JKLM). OP, I would rely on feedback from current or former parents at BS. Don't waste your time listening to others who really don't/can't know.

In this very thread a parent speaks of her children having attended BS and now at competitive high schools and thriving (AP classes, etc.) so some learning must be happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BS has great academics. There is a wide range of students at BS. They are also undergoing a curriculum update. People live to bad mouth this school. I think there are many in the neighborhood who are uncomfortable with DCPS but feel the need to trash BS to make themselves feel better about sending their kids to DCPS.

Yeah. Not so much.

Then why the need to trash a school your child doesn't attend.

I'm not trashing Blessed Sacrament; my "not so much" comment was directed at your assertion that there are so "many" people in CCDC who really wanted to send kids to BS for the "great academics" but instead got the booby prize of Lafayette/Murch and Deal.

Let's stipulate that most of the kids in 20015 are white (it's something like 85% or more, I forget the Census numbers from 2010).

White children in the District of Columbia score higher than any other white children in the US on the NAEP tests that all 4th and 8th graders take nationwide. That would include those Murch and Lafayette DCPS kids who live near BS. I don't think they're as "uncomfortable" with their education as you imagine.

They're killing it.

Killing it? That might be a bit of an exaggeration. When I look around my CCDC neighborhood I see many families choosing other than DCPS. Small sample, yes, but on my street of about 20 home, only two send or have sent kids to public. I think just about every private is represented (CES Jewish Day School, WES, Maret, Sidwell, Beauvoir, etc. and Blessed Sacrament.)
So while DCPS has made major improvements I think it is fair to say many are not willing to risk it if there are other options – I am one of those.

Really. So the fact that dcps white kids (only) score the highest IN THE ENTIRE USA on a reading & math test, beating out white kids in every single other state -- including our good friends next door in vaunted MD and VA -- is unpersuasive to you. It suggests "risk"iness, even!

All right then, there's no budging you. I have a hunch you're one of the cliquey 3rd generation BS blonde moms with a sporty ponytail. Who never once considered public school in any form. Not your safe happy clubby familiar place.

+1

[Anonymous]

Agree with 12:21. If 9-10 girls got accepted to Georgetown Visitation (out of a class of how many I wonder?) it can't be that bad! Lots of boys go to Gonzaga too I've heard. I also know a BS parent who said they spend a lot more time learning the basics - grammar, spelling, handwriting etc. which may be why they don't seem as "advanced" in their curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^

Isn't it nice that you have choices? Do you understand that other people have to make different choices? Perhaps you would open up 10-15% of BS seats to those parents who would otherwise have to send their kids to a terrible school? I do hope, as you say, that you are not a typical BSS mom because you do not represent well.

There are multiple free Catholic schools in the ADW. Also, each school has financial aid if needed. All these kids go yo the same high schools eventually, but in elementary school most kids go to the closest school to their house.

[Anonymous]

BS still uses a very outdated math program and academics seem very weak. Very good friends of ours have kids there and complain all the time about the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone noticed that all the moms seem to drive a suburban or Denali? I find it rather entertaining.

[Anonymous]

BS uses Saxon math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BS uses Saxon math.

Exactly: this is a program from the 1950's