Anonymous wrote:Gonzaga is twice the size and has a more diversity.

Prep's diversity is different as with the boarders there is an international component.

At our Maryland country club there are parents from both schools -

They are both Jesuit.

You can metro to both.

One is on the block schedule and one is not.

Actually Prep is more diverse and not world bank diverse they have more black and Hispanic students.

If you’re in Virginia, I would 100% choose Gonzag. Prep only has a small number of students from VA each year at Prep (I heard fewer than 8 freshmen last year), which means you’d constantly be driving across the Legion Bridge for homecoming, parties, hangouts, sports etc. Gonzaga, on the other hand, has the Metro option and a much larger Virginia student population, which makes everything a lot easier socially and logistically.

I would also add that I liked the block schedule better at Gonzaga than having every class every day at Prep.

We have had sons at both schools.

Lots of similarities. Same Jesuit education. Same Catholic influence. Very similar kids and families.

Both have student bodies and alumni with great enthusiasm for the school. The Gonzaga people seem a little more committed to that.

There are two big differences.

The first is the city experience versus the burbs. In his senior year, our GZA son was as comfortable as a fish in water in the city. He was completely familiar with all the people, the geography and the transportation system. He ordered half smokes from food trucks regularly. He could move to NYC and not miss a beat.

Prep, of course is in a much less busy place.

The second difference is the "pace". Prep is an idyllic environment. It's a gentler experience. Not only for the boys, but the family members too.

Gonzaga is busier, more frenetic. And it's twice as large. At Prep, you know all your classmates. At Gonzaga, not to the same degree.

After high school, the rivalry greatly dissipates and the boys who stay in DC coalesce into one larger Jesuit educated community. They know their differences are minor compared to those outside the group.

The people who seem to get most exercised about the differences are the non-legacy parents. It seems the less you know, the more likely you are to have a strong (uninformed) opinions.

Prep parent here - we could not be happier with the quality of education our son has received. He is truly known. There are so many opportunities to get involved (they need bodies!) and he has. Both schools are great and, for the life of me, I do not understand why people get so heated about the two. At the end of the day their Jesuit mission is the same. But we have had a fabulous experience and he is headed to an excellent college next year so we have no complaints.

Anonymous wrote:Prep is country-club polished, Jesuit, but make it Bethesda... gorgeous campus, legacy-pipeline energy, a little more insulated. Gonzaga is Jesuit but downtown gritty in the best way ... Metro access, more socioeconomically diverse, more “real world” baked in. Both are academically strong, both send kids to great colleges.

this is a good summary

Gonzaga is twice the size and has a more diversity.

Prep's diversity is different as with the boarders there is an international component.

At our Maryland country club there are parents from both schools -

They are both Jesuit.

You can metro to both.

One is on the block schedule and one is not.

Have your kid tour and do a shadow day. He will likely have a preference.

Gonzaga all the way! Way more diversity, cool city experience, just all around amazing experience.

Prep is almost half the size of Gonzaga (500 vs. 900). Class size is also larger at Gonzaga based on what we were told at the open house 25-30) vs. 15 at Prep.

One gives out car magnets. The other one doesn’t.

Anonymous wrote:Prep is country-club polished, Jesuit, but make it Bethesda... gorgeous campus, legacy-pipeline energy, a little more insulated. Gonzaga is Jesuit but downtown gritty in the best way ... Metro access, more socioeconomically diverse, slightly more “real world” baked in. Both are academically strong, both send kids to great colleges, both will have intense parents.

Gonzaga parents have a lot of school spirit which makes the school fun. Our DD is at Visi but I've observed this when dropping off/picking her up from events.

Prep also has the boarding aspect which makes it feel more fancy. My son toured both and decided only to apply to Gonzaga.

Prep’s campus is beautiful. Nicest high school I have ever seen.

Prep is country-club polished, Jesuit, but make it Bethesda... gorgeous campus, legacy-pipeline energy, a little more insulated. Gonzaga is Jesuit but downtown gritty in the best way ... Metro access, more socioeconomically diverse, slightly more “real world” baked in. Both are academically strong, both send kids to great colleges, both will have intense parents.

Prep is more fraternity-like

I feel like this has likely been discussed ad nauseam, but cannot seem to find a thread.
Pros, cons, differences between the 2?