Catholic middle and high schools Bethesda area?

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering what the choices are for Catholic middle and high school for girls in the Bethesda area. I know about Stone Ridge. Are there other options? Are there cheaper options?

It seems like the Catholic high schools around here are very .... "high end"? Very expensive and almost what I would think of as WASPY in tone. (This is mainly from reading posts on this board about those schools, though, so I could be totally wrong. Things like Mrs. Simpson's, and everyone driving big fancy cars...). Can someone educate me? I'm from flyover country, and I feel like I'm always missing the backstory on just about everything out here.

[Anonymous]

There are independent schools and diosese schools. The diocese schools are far cheaper. Try some of these

The Academy of the Holy Cross
www.academyoftheholycross.org
Brookewood School
www.brookewood.org
Connelly School of the Holy Child
www.holychild.org
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
www.dbcr.org
Our Lady of Good Counsel
High School
www.olgchs.org

[Anonymous]

Most of the parish school go through 8th grade, which includes the Middle School school grades. So the majority of girls in Catholic schools will be at Mercy, St. Barts, Little Flower, St Jane de Chantal, etc.

Some of the independent schools also extend down to middle school like Stone Ridge.

The high schools include Stone Ridge, Connelly School, and Holy Cross.

[Anonymous]

I think the high end reflects Bethesda. If you are looking for something else you might want to look at some of the other schools in the area - Elizabeth Seton, Carroll, Bishop McNamara, or some of the VA schools like Paul VI, Ireton or O'Connell.

[Anonymous]

The OP's comment that she feels like she is missing the "backstory out here" couldn't be more correct.

The answer to that is for the PP to find some people she trusts that do understand what these schools are all about, who sends their daughters to these different schools, etc.

There are huge differences between these schools and the alums and parents that the experienced and aware locals are aware of.

The PP is not going to get the "backstory" on here. There are too many people with axes to grind or myths to protect.

[Anonymous]

Oh for crying out loud - go on a tour, ask questions, especially if your tour guide is a parent.

How far do you really need to go back, in order to find out how things are run today, really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh for crying out loud - go on a tour, ask questions, especially if your tour guide is a parent.

How far do you really need to go back, in order to find out how things are run today, really?

Going on a tour to answer basic questions about how a school really differs from another is like going to a car dealership expecting thoughtful answers.

Holy Cross is different from Stone Ridge for a number of reasons starting with what groups send their daughters to each. That's the kind of information that the OP is searching for in her request for a "backstory".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the high end reflects Bethesda. If you are looking for something else you might want to look at some of the other schools in the area - Elizabeth Seton, Carroll, Bishop McNamara, or some of the VA schools like Paul VI, Ireton or O'Connell.

Agree. My kids are in a Parish school. I will say my college babysitter attended Elizabeth Seton which she claims has gone upscale recently (nicer facilities and higher tuition). It really is a supply and demand issue.

[Anonymous]

We are in Bethesda and our neighbor sends their kid to Visitation. On D.C., but not a crazy commute from parts of Bethesda, particularly the west side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the parish school go through 8th grade, which includes the Middle School school grades. So the majority of girls in Catholic schools will be at Mercy, St. Barts, Little Flower, St Jane de Chantal, etc.

Some of the independent schools also extend down to middle school like Stone Ridge.

The high schools include Stone Ridge, Connelly School, and Holy Cross.

This. Plus some may go to DC for high school including Visitation and St. John's College High School.

In general, private school is expensive in this area. For example a popular Independent school in Baltimore or even Howard County might be 25-30K while a similar school in Montgomery County is closer to 40K. For Catholic schools that are Independent, like StoneRidge, the cost is going to be closer to other private schools in the area. When any school costs 30-40K and let's say at least 60% of the families that attend can pay that without blinking there are going to be fancy cars and expensive vacations in the mix. That said, some of those schools may have more racial and economic diversity than say a public school like Whitman which is comprised of homes on average over 700K, and no apartments/condos and few townhouses. I'm sure Whitman has its fair share of fancy cars and Mrs. Simpson.