Landon vs. Georgetown Prep Upper School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Landon of course is the best way to go.

Could be. Depends on who you are.

I have a problem understanding how these two wildly different schools end up competing for any students whatsoever.

I can see St. Albans or Potomac School or St Stephens/St Agnes as alternatives to Landon. Gonzaga or St Anselms or The Heights are competition to Prep.

Catholic families that make this choice should be aware that to many this will appear to be a thumb in the eye of the larger "community". And the fallout goes on forever. It takes a very "tone deaf" family to not get this.

Sincere question here. What is meant by " . . . a thumb in the eye" of the larger community?" Does this mean that the Catholic community would be offended by a Catholic child attending Landon, instead of attending a Catholic school? Does it mean that Catholic children may never be fully accepted at Landon? Or does it mean something else altogether?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Landon of course is the best way to go.

Could be. Depends on who you are.

I have a problem understanding how these two wildly different schools end up competing for any students whatsoever.

I can see St. Albans or Potomac School or St Stephens/St Agnes as alternatives to Landon. Gonzaga or St Anselms or The Heights are competition to Prep.

Catholic families that make this choice should be aware that to many this will appear to be a thumb in the eye of the larger "community". And the fallout goes on forever. It takes a very "tone deaf" family to not get this.

Sincere question here. What is meant by " . . . a thumb in the eye" of the larger community?" Does this mean that the Catholic community would be offended by a Catholic child attending Landon, instead of attending a Catholic school? Does it mean that Catholic children may never be fully accepted at Landon? Or does it mean something else altogether?

TIA

It means "A" of the choices above.

At any one time, there are 1,500 boys at GP and Gonzaga. These schools, plus the others in the Washington Area Catholic Conference, are where the overwhelming majority Catholics who choose private schools send their children.

Given the very bad friction between GP and Landon at many levels, Catholics at Landon as a concept doesn't sit well with many the "community". There are many who feel that there should be a "commitment to Catholic Education". (That term is heard frequently).

You'll read complaints on these forums from Landon parents who bristle at the suggestion that sending your children to Cathollc schools makes you a genuine Catholic. And conversely ....

[Anonymous]

Thanks and maybe I'm a dope, but conversely...what?

Sincerely TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks and maybe I'm a dope, but conversely...what?

Sincerely TIA

And conversely that you are not committed to, or disinterested in, Catholic education.

You have to have some sensitivity to the history of the Irish in America to grasp this. Most are 1.) acutely aware of their Irishness and 2.) not completely unaware of the history of the Irish in the US.

[Anonymous]

I am Catholic and have a son at an area Catholic school. But I don't get why anyone would care that some Catholics choose Landon, or what that has to do with the history of the Irish. First, it's not really anybody else's business. Second, you don't have to go to a Catholic school to get formation (though it helps) -- you can get that from home and being active in your parish. If you are a "Catholic lite" family, the formation may not take root, anyway. And why would parents at the Catholic schools want the "Catholic lite" families? Isn't everybody better off it they go to Landon? Not trying to be argumentative -- just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and have a son at an area Catholic school. But I don't get why anyone would care that some Catholics choose Landon, or what that has to do with the history of the Irish. First, it's not really anybody else's business. Second, you don't have to go to a Catholic school to get formation (though it helps) -- you can get that from home and being active in your parish. If you are a "Catholic lite" family, the formation may not take root, anyway. And why would parents at the Catholic schools want the "Catholic lite" families? Isn't everybody better off it they go to Landon? Not trying to be argumentative -- just curious.

I don't know all the reasons why many hold this opinion. I'm just reporting that it exists.

But because you don't care, doesn't mean others do not.

If there are Catholic or Catholic-lite families that choose to send their son to Landon they can do that with impugnity as long as they don't care what anyone thinks. But you can't have it both ways.

But since you have a son at a Catholic school in DC you probably know that the relationships formed at these schools are a life-long associations. Its reflective of this unique situation here in DC that "where you go to high school is more important socially than where you go to college". And while barriers between the Catholic schools -- like Prep and Gonzaga drop afterwhile based on relationships earlier -- that's not true with those who venture completely outside the group.

The greatest surprise to me is that there are families that consider both Landon and Prep. Historically that's been a very, very small number of families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks and maybe I'm a dope, but conversely...what?

Sincerely TIA

And conversely that you are not committed to, or disinterested in, Catholic education.

You have to have some sensitivity to the history of the Irish in America to grasp this. Most are 1.) acutely aware of their Irishness and 2.) not completely unaware of the history of the Irish in the US.

Thanks for helping me to understand your thinking.

I don't think I can agree with the idea of the importance of where a person attends high school in the Metro Washington Region. To begin with it's a fairly large region in terms of employment opportunities. Then the percentage of students who graduate from private schools vis-a-vis public schools is probably small and even smaller yet if you isolate out the numbers exclusive to GP and Landon grads.

Washington, D.C. being the U.S. Capital makes it a natural magnet for people from all over the country who in all likelihood did not attend either public or private local high schools. Add to this the fact that not every graduate of local private high schools will even remain or ever return to the Metro Region after graduating from college further attenuates the influence of local high school graduates. These factors make it difficult to believe there is ultimately much adulthood professional and social successes attached to where individuals may or may not have attended high school.

However, if a person were to graduate from a highly rated public or private this would probably be beneficial when applying to elite universities which could in turn have a positive impact on acceptance rates to graduate schools, etc. etc. and eventually lead to lucrative employment opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks and maybe I'm a dope, but conversely...what?

Sincerely TIA

And conversely that you are not committed to, or disinterested in, Catholic education.

You have to have some sensitivity to the history of the Irish in America to grasp this. Most are 1.) acutely aware of their Irishness and 2.) not completely unaware of the history of the Irish in the US.

Thanks for helping me to understand your thinking.

I don't think I can agree with the idea of the importance of where a person attends high school in the Metro Washington Region. To begin with it's a fairly large region in terms of employment opportunities. Then the percentage of students who graduate from private schools vis-a-vis public schools is probably small and even smaller yet if you isolate out the numbers exclusive to GP and Landon grads.

Washington, D.C. being the U.S. Capital makes it a natural magnet for people from all over the country who in all likelihood did not attend either public or private local high schools. Add to this the fact that not every graduate of local private high schools will even remain or ever return to the Metro Region after graduating from college further attenuates the influence of local high school graduates. These factors make it difficult to believe there is ultimately much adulthood professional and social successes attached to where individuals may or may not have attended high school.

However, if a person were to graduate from a highly rated public or private this would probably be beneficial when applying to elite universities which could in turn have a positive impact on acceptance rates to graduate schools, etc. etc. and eventually lead to lucrative employment opportunities.

All very logical.

But it shows a lack of familarity with how things work here .... at least in the world of the private schools for those for whom DC is their home and their family's home. DC is a very "Balkanized" place. And that someone not from here can't see that isn't surprising. You can't see these networks of lawyers and doctors accountants and people in real estate and construction because they aren't obvious.

These private schools are not academic "hot houses" that provide intensive academic programs that enable one to out-perform the public schoolers. They are in may cases familoy traditions that go back a couple of generations.

[Anonymous]

[i][b]"...These private schools are not academic "hot houses" that provide intensive academic programs that enable one to out-perform the public schoolers. They are in may cases familoy traditions that go back a couple of generations...." [/b][/i]


I think PP's statement is sad but true and is one explanation why the schools and its student body overall are very average despite a great academic reputation among those who do not know the schools well.

[Anonymous]

Why don't Landon and Prep have an academic throwdown where they compete over English essays, math problems, geography quizes and foreign language proficiency?

[Anonymous]

Despite a good math department reputation, GP does not have a math team. Not sure about Landon. Unfortunately, it's clear that academics is not the schools first priority.

[Anonymous]

Get out of here, Prep father and Alumni right here. Although Landon isn't my favorite school, both Prep and Landon offer a far more accelerated academic program over 90% of privates in this area. The exceptions who have better academic programs include STA and Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Accelerated academic program? Landon???????

[Anonymous]

Yes Landon and Prep. PP, which school does your DS or DD go to? I'm saying it because Landon and Prep are so identical besides the religion and social aspects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Accelerated academic program? Landon???????

Different poster here, but yeah, Landon has a good curriculum.