It used to be the safety school for Catholic mafia who couldnt get in to Gonzaga or St Johns. It has lost a fair amount of relevance since the move out to Olney and is now a more local conservative Catholic school with strong but not great sports. Academically on par with the local publics there. You do see some people commute out when they really want Catholic education but cant get into the better schools.

The non Catholic population (excluding athletes) is zero, if that gives an insight into the desirability as a private school. Great facilities.

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. That's our go-to if my son needs to stay in private for high school. Do non-athletic boys fit in OK?

Yes. There are tons of ways to be a part of the community. Is there something else he likes, I can tell you about those programs.

The washington catholic schools are iconic and always get attention from me as a man. When I meet a man in business or in life if they went to GC or Gonzaga ,Dematha , St Johns or Prep.

It gets my attention much more than any public school.

Anonymous wrote:We live near it, and most people move out of it for HS at least everyone I know. People say that academically, it is sub par to the public (sorry) McConnell and Leo VI are much more academic.

People are talking about two different schools.

Good Counsel in Vienna is an elementary and middle school, so everyone moves out after 8th. The fact that you weren't aware of that, means that your judgement on the academics is probably a little suspect.

Good Counsel in Olney in a High School. No one "moves out of it for HS", because it doesn't start until HS. It is well regarded and provides an excellent education. Unlike some of the most popular secular/quaker/episcopal schools (and a couple Catholic schools as well) which seem to have a mission of selecting the most academically talented kids, and then resting on their laurels of their achievements, OLGC and many other Catholic schools make it their mission to serve a variety of kids well.

We live near it, and most people move out of it for HS at least everyone I know. People say that academically, it is sub par to the public (sorry) McConnell and Leo VI are much more academic.

They do have a good program for kids with learning disabilities.

I went there. It's terrible. Don't waste your money if you live in a semi- decent school district.

New poster here. That's our go-to if my son needs to stay in private for high school. Do non-athletic boys fit in OK?

It was too far from us to seriously consider it but my DD is in another high school and now knows kids more familiar with it. She hears good things about their programs and plays against them in sports. They have strong teams because of the size of the school. IB programs are always worth looking at - great for college leverage. Plus they have a fantastic new-ish campus and an arts center on the way.

Anonymous wrote:What specifically do you want to know?

My son loves it. You may want the perspective from a girls parent though.

They have so much for so many different kids.

They have a great theater program. Girls sports are really well respected.

My friends son is in the Robotics/STEM program and is coding at a high level and is in the marching band.

My other friends son did the IB program and is now at Duke.

My son is in the Ryken Program because he is dyslexic and he said it is the first time a teacher understood how he learns.

Great info! Thanks! I guess I'm just looking for the typical info - what is the vibe, what are the extracurriculars like, strong academics? etc.

Anonymous wrote:It's not a high school.

What does that mean?

Great school with options for all types of students. DD in IB program and still able to take AP classes too. Ryken program is fabulous for those students with different learning needs.

What specifically do you want to know?

My son loves it. You may want the perspective from a girls parent though.

They have so much for so many different kids.

They have a great theater program. Girls sports are really well respected.

My friends son is in the Robotics/STEM program and is coding at a high level and is in the marching band.

My other friends son did the IB program and is now at Duke.

My son is in the Ryken Program because he is dyslexic and he said it is the first time a teacher understood how he learns.

It's not a high school.

It's on DD's list of potential high schools. Any current or former parents?