Is Oakcrest OK for non-conservative families?

[Anonymous]

We are considering private high school for our daughter. She has expressed a desire for a smaller school and an all girls school. She is a straight A student and an introvert. We are Catholic, but not conservative. Oakcrest seems appealing from the size, all-girls and seems good academically. Will she fit in or feel like an outsider because she has bee raised in a more socially liberal family?

[Anonymous]

God yes. Stay away

[Anonymous]

I know a few families there. Super conservative Catholics. They said that’s why they chose the school in the first place

[Anonymous]

Opus dei.

No, you won't fit in.

[Anonymous]

Our k-8 sent several girls there this year. All from very nice, but extremely conservative families.

[Anonymous]

OP- We have had a few girls from our school attend over the years. Some are more conservative Catholics but I wouldn’t say they were all conservative politically.
DD likes it for the same reasons you have stated. We are not Conservative but practicing Catholics and I am happy to send DD there if it feels like a safe, nurturing environment. We went to an Open House and participated in some Zoom events. We were very impressed with the students and faculty.

[Anonymous]

Mom of a recent Oakcrest alum who went 6-12. We are Catholic and absolutely not conservative. We had a wonderful experience at the school and it is some of the best money we ever spent. Yes, there are conservative types there, but we never found it to be an issue. I didn’t talk a lot of politics at the parent coffees, but school events aren’t really the place for politics. Mostly you are trying to find out who the best math teacher is for the next year and how much tuition is going up. If you have questions or fears, ask the AD to talk to a current family or an alum family. You can expect the party line on all church teachings and you can feel free to disagree with them.

[Anonymous]

Run, don’t walk away from that place if you are not ultra conservative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering private high school for our daughter. She has expressed a desire for a smaller school and an all girls school. She is a straight A student and an introvert. We are Catholic, but not conservative. Oakcrest seems appealing from the size, all-girls and seems good academically. Will she fit in or feel like an outsider because she has bee raised in a more socially liberal family?

Outsider or she will conform her views to for in.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by conservative? Do you just mean politically?

[Anonymous]

There are probably several aspects:
- Socially conservative
- Economically conservative
- Conservative in Catholic doctrine (i.e. Traditionalist)
- Politically conservative (and which of multiple factions within the Republicans, i.e. Trumpists, Libertarians, Neocons, Christian Right, etc.)

Opus Dei itself is Traditionalist, so I imagine the school aligns to their views on Catholic doctrine. I would expect them to be socially conservative in their teachings, accordingly. However, they might not necessarily lean towards teaching economically conservative viewpoints. The faculty likely has a range of personal political views, since most Republican factions aren't really well aligned to the views of the present Pope.

But where the families are on these spectrums is another matter entirely. Previous threads seem to have indicated that Trumpists are not rare at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering private high school for our daughter. She has expressed a desire for a smaller school and an all girls school. She is a straight A student and an introvert. We are Catholic, but not conservative. Oakcrest seems appealing from the size, all-girls and seems good academically. Will she fit in or feel like an outsider because she has bee raised in a more socially liberal family?

Try Brookewood which is small, but a bit more liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Run, don’t walk away from that place if you are not ultra conservative.

Can you share your experience?

[Anonymous]

Your child may meet other liberal students, but they will be rebelling against their parents.

The faculty is very conservative.

Ask how they celebrate pride.

[Anonymous]

Why do you expect a Catholic school to celebrate pride? Just tell me that. There are plenty of choices for people who want to celebrate pride and they are entitled to do so, but a Catholic school shouldn't be expected to. The end.