What HSPT score for Merit money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of snobs!

There is academic rigor at DJO, BI (which has a Scholars program), etc. I realize that doesn’t fit some narratives, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

Ignoring everyone who is arguing about commute times to schools, the conversation is really about relative rigor. Saying DJO/BI are less rigorous overall than SJCHS (the Scholars program), and certainly compared to Visi or Gonzaga, isn’t snobby, it’s just acknowledging the academic stratification that already exists in the local HS ecosystem.

And looping it back to the thread topic: merit strategy tells you a lot. Schools like DJO don’t offer 50% tuition to 99th-percentile HSPT kids out of generosity. They do it because that level of incentive is needed to get those families to pause and seriously consider the option over schools that don’t have to “discount” that aggressively.

So yes, rigor exists at DJO and BI. Individual students and individual tracks can be great at any school. But if they were perceived by the market as academically equivalent to SJCHS (Scholars)/Visi/Gonzaga, they wouldn’t need to make that particular financial argument quite so loudly.

Fair enough, but I do find it odd that it’s only the Scholars program at SJC that everyone thinks is so academically rigorous and prestigious and then that is being compared to DJO as a whole. What about the SJC Scholars program vs all AP/honors at DJO? Would it really be that different? Are the college outcomes that different? And, if it really is, DJO should look into starting a similar program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of snobs!

There is academic rigor at DJO, BI (which has a Scholars program), etc. I realize that doesn’t fit some narratives, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

Ignoring everyone who is arguing about commute times to schools, the conversation is really about relative rigor. Saying DJO/BI are less rigorous overall than SJCHS (the Scholars program), and certainly compared to Visi or Gonzaga, isn’t snobby, it’s just acknowledging the academic stratification that already exists in the local HS ecosystem.

And looping it back to the thread topic: merit strategy tells you a lot. Schools like DJO don’t offer 50% tuition to 99th-percentile HSPT kids out of generosity. They do it because that level of incentive is needed to get those families to pause and seriously consider the option over schools that don’t have to “discount” that aggressively.

So yes, rigor exists at DJO and BI. Individual students and individual tracks can be great at any school. But if they were perceived by the market as academically equivalent to SJCHS (Scholars)/Visi/Gonzaga, they wouldn’t need to make that particular financial argument quite so loudly.

Fair enough, but I do find it odd that it’s only the Scholars program at SJC that everyone thinks is so academically rigorous and prestigious and then that is being compared to DJO as a whole. What about the SJC Scholars program vs all AP/honors at DJO? Would it really be that different? Are the college outcomes that different? And, if it really is, DJO should look into starting a similar program.

Not sure, but this is a thread about which high merit scores = merit money, which is probably why you see the scholars focus. I suspect more of the SJC scholars kids get the merit $.

[Anonymous]

Lots of insufferable people on this thread.

The diocesan high schools have rigor, but you have to take all honors, AP, DE classes. They also accommodate kids who want to take regular college prep courses. Everyone is prepared for college. There is no need for every school to be exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of insufferable people on this thread.

The diocesan high schools have rigor, but you have to take all honors, AP, DE classes. They also accommodate kids who want to take regular college prep courses. Everyone is prepared for college. There is no need for every school to be exclusive.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of snobs!

There is academic rigor at DJO, BI (which has a Scholars program), etc. I realize that doesn’t fit some narratives, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

I see what you did there, including BI as a low-brow parochial. You monster!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:O’Connell gives half off for a 99

Isn’t O’Connell the Radford of Catholic High schools though?

Um, no, it’s the co-ed Catholic high school in Northern Virginia, just like SJC is the co-ed Catholic high school in NW DC. Don’t kid yourself that one is superior just bc you live closer to it or know more people who go there.

FWIW, I live in northern VA, and my kid will go to SJC before they go to DJO. DJO offers nothing near the Scholars program that SJC offers, for example.

Have fun with that commute. If you really want them to go to an academically better school than O Connell, you’ll choose Visi or Gonzaga.

I'm the PP you are responding to. Visi/Gonzaga are our top choice, followed by SJC, FOLLOWED by DJO. DJO is the backup to the backup.

I have a strong student/99th percentile son who is considering DJO. He also applied to Gonzaga. But I think he prefers DJO because a lot of his friends are going there. I am certain he can be appropriately challenged and supported. No way would we go to SJC from Nova. That is crazy.

Then off to Radford you go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of snobs!

There is academic rigor at DJO, BI (which has a Scholars program), etc. I realize that doesn’t fit some narratives, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

Ignoring everyone who is arguing about commute times to schools, the conversation is really about relative rigor. Saying DJO/BI are less rigorous overall than SJCHS (the Scholars program), and certainly compared to Visi or Gonzaga, isn’t snobby, it’s just acknowledging the academic stratification that already exists in the local HS ecosystem.

And looping it back to the thread topic: merit strategy tells you a lot. Schools like DJO don’t offer 50% tuition to 99th-percentile HSPT kids out of generosity. They do it because that level of incentive is needed to get those families to pause and seriously consider the option over schools that don’t have to “discount” that aggressively.

So yes, rigor exists at DJO and BI. Individual students and individual tracks can be great at any school. But if they were perceived by the market as academically equivalent to SJCHS (Scholars)/Visi/Gonzaga, they wouldn’t need to make that particular financial argument quite so loudly.

But DJO AP and honors classes are mostly equivalent to SJCHS scholars. Certainly not worth making your kid commute to Maryland if you live in Nova. Gonzaga/Visi are a different type of experience. I am not sure the academic results at either are that much better based on what the schools disclose, but it will definitely be a different experience at either of those schools.

Strong students do fine at most schools, particularly around this area where there are lots of good options.

[Anonymous]

If academic rigor and prestige are your only factors, you probably shouldn’t be looking at just Catholic schools anyway. There’s plenty of DC schools that are a higher tier.

If you are only considering Catholic, then Visi, Gonzaga, GP or Stone Ridge are the first tier of Catholic schools, just academically speaking.

Then, the other ones come in, if you want a bigger coed school, including SJC, DJO and BI. But, once you are considering those schools, you are considering location, friends, sports, etc, and not just academic rigor, so that’s why people are arguing the SJC, Scholars Program or not, is not so prestigious and rigorous that it is worth going to over a place that is closer to your house and friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If academic rigor and prestige are your only factors, you probably shouldn’t be looking at just Catholic schools anyway. There’s plenty of DC schools that are a higher tier.

If you are only considering Catholic, then Visi, Gonzaga, GP or Stone Ridge are the first tier of Catholic schools, just academically speaking.

Then, the other ones come in, if you want a bigger coed school, including SJC, DJO and BI. But, once you are considering those schools, you are considering location, friends, sports, etc, and not just academic rigor, so that’s why people are arguing the SJC, Scholars Program or not, is not so prestigious and rigorous that it is worth going to over a place that is closer to your house and friends.

This.

[Anonymous]

Both kids received merit offers with 99th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If academic rigor and prestige are your only factors, you probably shouldn’t be looking at just Catholic schools anyway. There’s plenty of DC schools that are a higher tier.

If you are only considering Catholic, then Visi, Gonzaga, GP or Stone Ridge are the first tier of Catholic schools, just academically speaking.

Then, the other ones come in, if you want a bigger coed school, including SJC, DJO and BI. But, once you are considering those schools, you are considering location, friends, sports, etc, and not just academic rigor, so that’s why people are arguing the SJC, Scholars Program or not, is not so prestigious and rigorous that it is worth going to over a place that is closer to your house and friends.

I would not consider Visi academically better than SJC’s Scholar program. When DD was in 8th grade, both she and us had Visi as the first choice, primarily because it seemed more prestigious. But after several visits (open houses, shadow days) and asking lots of questions regarding their curriculum and evaluating school fit, we were much less impressed by Visi. They didn’t offer as many AP or honors classes, art classes were abominable and remedial, sports program wasn’t all that impressive. She scored 99% on the HSPT and was accepted into both schools, we chose SJC’s Scholars and the Cadet Corps program. DD loves SJC and all it has offered, and we have not regretted the decision. Icing on the cake - tuition at SJC is so much less, especially with the Presidential merit scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If academic rigor and prestige are your only factors, you probably shouldn’t be looking at just Catholic schools anyway. There’s plenty of DC schools that are a higher tier.

If you are only considering Catholic, then Visi, Gonzaga, GP or Stone Ridge are the first tier of Catholic schools, just academically speaking.

Then, the other ones come in, if you want a bigger coed school, including SJC, DJO and BI. But, once you are considering those schools, you are considering location, friends, sports, etc, and not just academic rigor, so that’s why people are arguing the SJC, Scholars Program or not, is not so prestigious and rigorous that it is worth going to over a place that is closer to your house and friends.

I would not consider Visi academically better than SJC’s Scholar program. When DD was in 8th grade, both she and us had Visi as the first choice, primarily because it seemed more prestigious. But after several visits (open houses, shadow days) and asking lots of questions regarding their curriculum and evaluating school fit, we were much less impressed by Visi. They didn’t offer as many AP or honors classes, art classes were abominable and remedial, sports program wasn’t all that impressive. She scored 99% on the HSPT and was accepted into both schools, we chose SJC’s Scholars and the Cadet Corps program. DD loves SJC and all it has offered, and we have not regretted the decision. Icing on the cake - tuition at SJC is so much less, especially with the Presidential merit scholarship.

Completely reasonable choice, but again, you admit you thought Visi was more prestigious, and you ended up choosing the Scholars program at SJC bc of more AP classes, art and sports - not just academic rigor and prestige. Plus, you’re also comparing an honors program to a school as a whole. When just comparing Visi vs SJC, Visi is more prestigious and rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of insufferable people on this thread.

The diocesan high schools have rigor, but you have to take all honors, AP, DE classes. They also accommodate kids who want to take regular college prep courses. Everyone is prepared for college. There is no need for every school to be exclusive.

What’s insufferable are Arlington DJO parents who truly believe the school is academically challenging when compared to SJC and Gonzaga. Thankfully college admissions known the difference and that’s all that matters.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If academic rigor and prestige are your only factors, you probably shouldn’t be looking at just Catholic schools anyway. There’s plenty of DC schools that are a higher tier.

If you are only considering Catholic, then Visi, Gonzaga, GP or Stone Ridge are the first tier of Catholic schools, just academically speaking.

Then, the other ones come in, if you want a bigger coed school, including SJC, DJO and BI. But, once you are considering those schools, you are considering location, friends, sports, etc, and not just academic rigor, so that’s why people are arguing the SJC, Scholars Program or not, is not so prestigious and rigorous that it is worth going to over a place that is closer to your house and friends.

Clown take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of snobs!

There is academic rigor at DJO, BI (which has a Scholars program), etc. I realize that doesn’t fit some narratives, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

Ignoring everyone who is arguing about commute times to schools, the conversation is really about relative rigor. Saying DJO/BI are less rigorous overall than SJCHS (the Scholars program), and certainly compared to Visi or Gonzaga, isn’t snobby, it’s just acknowledging the academic stratification that already exists in the local HS ecosystem.

And looping it back to the thread topic: merit strategy tells you a lot. Schools like DJO don’t offer 50% tuition to 99th-percentile HSPT kids out of generosity. They do it because that level of incentive is needed to get those families to pause and seriously consider the option over schools that don’t have to “discount” that aggressively.

So yes, rigor exists at DJO and BI. Individual students and individual tracks can be great at any school. But if they were perceived by the market as academically equivalent to SJCHS (Scholars)/Visi/Gonzaga, they wouldn’t need to make that particular financial argument quite so loudly.

But DJO AP and honors classes are mostly equivalent to SJCHS scholars. Certainly not worth making your kid commute to Maryland if you live in Nova. Gonzaga/Visi are a different type of experience. I am not sure the academic results at either are that much better based on what the schools disclose, but it will definitely be a different experience at either of those schools.

Strong students do fine at most schools, particularly around this area where there are lots of good options.

Yeah, no.

Between Gonzaga, SJC and DJO, DJO is the dumpster. Fire.