Visitation reputation

[Anonymous]

We are new to this area. My husband wants to apply for our girls.... any info or notes to share?

[Anonymous]

There are a million threads on visitation.

[Anonymous]

Please be more specific. In terms of reputation, as would be expected, some think the school is great, others have more critical things to say. It does not have the clout of a school like NCS, that is for certain.

[Anonymous]

OP, would you like your daughter to have clout in her HS experience?

welcome to DC.

[Anonymous]

Are you catholic?

[Anonymous]

If your child has any learning differences do not expect that Visi will provide any support. They may simply say: sleep more (ask any student). The resource teacher is related to head of school and isn't up to date about what helps. One way at the school only. Rigid and inflexible. Antiquated curriculum. Poor math department/higher level integrated math course and teacher nonsensical. Burdened w unnecessary homework loads. Dean of academics been there for generations and as a result the programming is slow to change. With that said, some girls thrive in the setting. The tradition, legacy, beauty, location and religion add to the spirit and intensity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, would you like your daughter to have clout in her HS experience?

welcome to DC.

It helps if your goal is to have your daughter go to college. But you do you.

[Anonymous]

Visitation is the favorite all girls school of a particular group of native Washington Catholics, many of whom are in the professions. Stone Ridge is probably Visitation's biggest competitor for students and not the secular or non-Catholic religious school. Major feeder schools include Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Mercy and the other parish schools located in NWDC and Bethesda and Potomac in Montgomery County. There are also girls from Virginia because of the easy access to Georgetown from some areas of Virginia.

There are lots of alumni locally and as a result lots of legacies attending the school. The alumni remain a tight-knit group after graduation. Where you went to high school is bigger deal here in DC than other metropolitan areas in the US.

Gonzaga, the Jesuit high school in downtown DC, is seen by many as Visitation's brother school.

Sports are a big deal which is not uncommon for a Catholic school of just about any stripe.

Visitation has plenty of clout with schools like Georgetown, Boston College and Notre Dame.

[Anonymous]

And if you are not Catholic, zero chance of getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child has any learning differences do not expect that Visi will provide any support. They may simply say: sleep more (ask any student). The resource teacher is related to head of school and isn't up to date about what helps. One way at the school only. Rigid and inflexible. Antiquated curriculum. Poor math department/higher level integrated math course and teacher nonsensical. Burdened w unnecessary homework loads. Dean of academics been there for generations and as a result the programming is slow to change. With that said, some girls thrive in the setting. The tradition, legacy, beauty, location and religion add to the spirit and intensity.

Girls with learning differences would do better at Holy Child.

[Anonymous]

The first thing to to know is that private high school is a huge status thing in the DC area. It borders on the comical. It's up there with the right house, the right car and the right country club. Try to keep a clear head about it.

But assuming you are Catholic, Visitation is one of many fine Catholic girls schools in the DC area. It probably sits on its laurels too much and could use a good dusting off so to speak. It's a status destination for a lot of people so beware. The other girls schools to look at are Stone Ridge, Holy Cross and Holy Child. They are all different and, no, one won't get you into a better college over the other. Go with what seems to be the right fit and your daughter with thrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing to to know is that private high school is a huge status thing in the DC area. It borders on the comical. It's up there with the right house, the right car and the right country club. Try to keep a clear head about it.

Most people don't think like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visitation is the favorite all girls school of a particular group of native Washington Catholics, many of whom are in the professions. Stone Ridge is probably Visitation's biggest competitor for students and not the secular or non-Catholic religious school. Major feeder schools include Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Mercy and the other parish schools located in NWDC and Bethesda and Potomac in Montgomery County. There are also girls from Virginia because of the easy access to Georgetown from some areas of Virginia.

There are lots of alumni locally and as a result lots of legacies attending the school. The alumni remain a tight-knit group after graduation. Where you went to high school is bigger deal here in DC than other metropolitan areas in the US.

Gonzaga, the Jesuit high school in downtown DC, is seen by many as Visitation's brother school.

Sports are a big deal which is not uncommon for a Catholic school of just about any stripe.

Visitation has plenty of clout with schools like Georgetown, Boston College and Notre Dame.

The bolded is misleading as in my DD's class at Visi there are the same number of girls from VA (50) and MD (50) and far fewer from DC proper (20).

[Anonymous]

It's not a given to get in OP. It is a well-known Catholic School. My daughter had a roommate at Princeton who went to Visi.

[Anonymous]

I went to an all girls catholic high school and like the concept of single sex high school. It is such a personal decision based on your daughter. Visi is similar to my high school. I mean that it is antiquated and insular.