DC Catholic Elementary Schools: Any parents who can comment on diversity?

[Anonymous]

We are an AA and Latino family with a 2 year old DD. Starting to think seriously about elementary school. Currently attend St. Aloysius Gonzaga. It looks like we may need to join another parish so that DD has a realistic shot at admission to a DC Catholic school.

Can anyone who is a current or recent parent, minority or otherwise, comment on the diversity of Annunciation, Our Lady of Victory, Blesses Sacrament or Holy Trinity?

I'm particularly interested in racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity reflecting DC. By that I mean some majority and minority students who receive scholarships and others in both groups who are able to pay full tuition.

Thanks for any insight!

[Anonymous]

BS is not diverse on any of the factors you listed.

[Anonymous]

I've heard St. Ann's (Tenleytown) is somewhat diverse relative to the schools you mention. Don't think it has quite the academic reputation of those ones though.

They did consider closing the school for next year due to low enrollment but recently announced it would remain open. This is a pretty clear sign you would not have trouble getting in regardless of parish affiliation. Not sure if you'd want to start in a school that might close, but perhaps the decision to keep it open signals a commitment to remaining open at least a few more years and trying to get the enrollment back on track.

Apparently one of the reasons they considered closing was because a lot of their students are on the DC school voucher program, which is set to expire. So clearly it does have at least some economic diversity.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for replies -- TRULY informative!

Apologies for spelling error on Blessed Sacrament. Clearly I need to go to bed already.

[Anonymous]

BS has a 10:30 gym mass for kids if you'd like to see for yourself. I wish it was more diverse.

[Anonymous]

We toured Holy Trinity and I think I saw one black child and one Hispanic in the whole school. I couldn't believe it and decided that it wasn't the shcool for us so we didn't apply. I know people who attend OLV and love it. It is pretty diverse. The reason we didn't aplly is the commute would have been too difficult. Good idea to start looking now. If you are a contributing member for two years you get reduced tuition, atleast at Holy Trininty. I would check them all out and if you love the parish and school start going to mass and contribute : ) Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

These schools really do tend to be neighborhood schools with a few coming in because they are near parents' work etc. In that sense they do mirror the area they are in. Economics play into that as well. OLV is probably the best option on your list for diversity but maybe ST, Ann's, Annunciation, even St. Bart's maybe

[Anonymous]

OP -- you might want to take a look at Annunciation as well. Also, I wouldn't rush to become a parishoner anywhere since the DC Archdiocese is changing the rules about preference and tuition reduction for parishoners, which I believe will be implemented by next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- you might want to take a look at Annunciation as well. Also, I wouldn't rush to become a parishoner anywhere since the DC Archdiocese is changing the rules about preference and tuition reduction for parishoners, which I believe will be implemented by next year.

Yes but you will need to be a parishioner SOMEWHERE because the schools I've talked to will all be requiring out-of-parish families to have a note from their home parish signed by the pastor saying they are registered and participating parishioners.

[Anonymous]

To the poster who said most are neighborhood kids that attend the schools, that is totally wrong. I know atleast for Holy Trinity most come from Virgina (McLean, Arlington and other VA burbs). Most of the kids in Georgetown either attend the good public schools or the private schools. You need to go visit all of the schools and get a feel.

[Anonymous]

Many of the VA kids who attend Trinity are actually parishoners there. The church is just over the bridge and attracts a lot of liberal Catholics who don't like the Arlington Diocese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We toured Holy Trinity and I think I saw one black child and one Hispanic in the whole school. I couldn't believe it and decided that it wasn't the shcool for us so we didn't apply. I know people who attend OLV and love it. It is pretty diverse. The reason we didn't aplly is the commute would have been too difficult. Good idea to start looking now. If you are a contributing member for two years you get reduced tuition, atleast at Holy Trininty. I would check them all out and if you love the parish and school start going to mass and contribute : ) Good Luck!

I think your statement about HT diversity is a bit misguided. I don't know how HT defines this - but on their website they say that 18 % of the student body is ethnic or racial minorities.

Also - the Washington Diocese is changing admission policies to their schools. You do not need to be a member of a specific parish to get priority - just as active member of a parish - so if you do not want to change parishes - no need to.

In addition, all Washington Diocese parishioners will get the same tuition - there will be no Parishioner discount. These policies are scheduled to go into place for the 2010 - 2011 school year.

[Anonymous]

Around here "looks can be deceiving" - my friend's four blonde children are considered Hispanic because she is of Hispanic descent. To look at them you'd never know it but it sure is reflected in reporting numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also - the Washington Diocese is changing admission policies to their schools. You do not need to be a member of a specific parish to get priority - just as active member of a parish - so if you do not want to change parishes - no need to.

In addition, all Washington Diocese parishioners will get the same tuition - there will be no Parishioner discount. These policies are scheduled to go into place for the 2010 - 2011 school year.

I know this is true for the tuition angle but I believe that parishes will still give priority for their own parishioners. Why would chock-full schools like Blessed Sacrament, Little Flower or Holy Trinity turn away their own active people for someone from outside the area? That doesn't make sense and would lead to very angry parishioners. Besides, if you want to be part of a school community, wouldn't it be better to make yourself part of the parish community as a whole?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Truly, thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion. I read over the ADW upcoming changes and that is really great news for our family. We live within walking distance of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, LOVE the gospel mass and the priest. So I'm really like to stay members where we are for now. The ADW admissions rule changes open up a whole lot more options so that's fantastic.

Balancing academic rigor with diversity can be a challenge anywhere -- public, independent or parochial. In some ways, for us, open-mindedness and independent thinking of a school's staff and families is equally important as racial/ethnic/socio-economic diversity.

A lot of time diversity is between your ears and not so obvious on outside!