Anonymous wrote:There really isn’t much these two schools have in common. Are you catholic or not? If so, then choose Gonzaga. If not, Landon.

That is an idiotic statement.

Anonymous wrote:The alumni network is very supportive and extensive at Gonzaga.

Now that's a true statement if there ever was one.

There's this huge Purple nation of alums and Gonzaga families especially in Maryland and DC. They are strongly attached to the school and their fellow alumni. Gonzaga is one of the places that gives currency to the frequently heard statement, "In DC, where you went to high school is more important than where you went to college".

They, of course, are talking about the impact of the high school on your adult circle of friends, what clubs you belong to, where you live and where you do and do not send your kids to school.

An older Gonzaga parent, not from the area, once told me that he hadn't seen a doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant or real estate person in the last twenty years that wasn't somehow associated with Gonzaga.

I can't think of two more completely different schools. One is an urban Catholic school with deep generational ties to the local Catholic community, and the other is a non-denominational suburban campus. If you're looking for what a friend of mine described as "muscular Catholicism", Gonzaga is your choice.

The alumni network is very supportive and extensive at Gonzaga.

Anonymous wrote:

Our boys went to Gonzaga.

This seems an odd set of schools to choose between. I can't remember anyone I have ever talked to or knew of that chose between these two.

The alternative to Gonzaga for western Moco and NW DC residents is almost always GPrep. It's a brother Jesuit school and many families are connected to both GPrep and Gonzaga. If you look at the matriculation lists from the Catholic K-8's, you'll see lots of kids going to either Gonzaga, Prep or St Johns and very rarely one going to Landon.

Gonzaga and Landon are so different, it's probably easier to come up with a short list of similarities than the long list of differences. They are both private, single sex and athletics are a big deal. But beyond that ….

Gonzaga is much larger (3x?). It's in an urban environment, about as busy and urban as it gets in DC. There's a homeless shelter on the grounds. It's run by priests. It's student population is mostly Catholics, many with family, neighborhood or parish ties to the school. Large proportions of the students come from Virginia and the District. Sports are highly competitive. A multi-sport athlete at Landon struggle to make one team at Gonzaga. The college matriculation lists at Gonzaga include a lot of Catholic schools.

Gonzaga is less expensive and that does translate into facilities, class size, etc.

Fake post.

I know several NOVA families who strongly consider Landon and Gonzaga.

News flash, not everyone grows up in Montgomgery county which I'm sure you do.

If there are families that are "considering" both these schools, I would suspect that they are new to the area, unfamiliar with the private schools and their student bodies and alumni, and are frequently from NoVa.

These schools --- absent any real in-depth knowledge --- appear the same to them. Apparently, trying to tell them why these choices don't appear to make sense irritates them. I can see the point. No one likes to be told their choices appear to be ridiculous.

If they go to the trouble to peel the onion a few layers, they'll see what the locals are talking about. Or they can go on their merry way assuming apples and kumkwats are the same. They are both foods, aren't they?

There really isn’t much these two schools have in common. Are you catholic or not? If so, then choose Gonzaga. If not, Landon.

I think I would want to know why your eight grader chose these two very disparate alternatives?

Is this a sports-driven thing? Is it based on boys he knows or on the middle school rumor mill?

Some kids, I guess, could be happy anywhere. But with these two schools the differences are so great it’s hard to see a boy well-suited for one would be happy at the other.

I’m thing about Gonzaga is that they have multiple teams for some sports. Even though your child may never make the top rugby team there are six other rugby teams that he might be able to play on this is also true for crew.

Location and campus size. Landon is in suburban Bethesda and Gonzaga is in NE DC.

Gonzaga can't be more than a couple of acres in a very urban area blocks from the Capitol and Landon has 75 sprawling acres fairly close to the Beltway.

Gonzaga is $23k and Landon is $43k per year for high school.

Size difference can't be understated. I think Gonzaga graduates 240 boys per class and Landon is less than half of that.

So, more opportunity for boys to step up at Landon because they need boys to fill slots on teams, musical, service projects etc. Gonzaga has a much deeper field for every tryout, but some boys really thrive in that environment (or prefer to be a spectator).

Also, Gonzaga is Catholic where Landon is not religiously affiliated.

No wrong answer but two very different choices. Both great in their own ways.

Anonymous wrote:Landon’s headmaster is a Gonzaga graduate.

One difference that has not been mentioned Is that Landon has a lower school. I find that when all boys schools have lower schools attached the high school students need to couch their behavior more since they have to be an example for the younger kids.

I disagree that we’re all sports GZ is better than Landon. But I would look into your child specific sport to see if he would fit in.

Landon’s Is more diverse in the sense that Most students at Gonzaga are going to be Catholic or Christian and Landon is the only all boys school in the area that does not have a religious affiliation. You will have more diversity in that area.

+100

Our boys went to Gonzaga.

This seems an odd set of schools to choose between. I can't remember anyone I have ever talked to or knew of that chose between these two.

The alternative to Gonzaga for western Moco and NW DC residents is almost always GPrep. It's a brother Jesuit school and many families are connected to both GPrep and Gonzaga. If you look at the matriculation lists from the Catholic K-8's, you'll see lots of kids going to either Gonzaga, Prep or St Johns and very rarely one going to Landon.

Gonzaga and Landon are so different, it's probably easier to come up with a short list of similarities than the long list of differences. They are both private, single sex and athletics are a big deal. But beyond that ….

Gonzaga is much larger (3x?). It's in an urban environment, about as busy and urban as it gets in DC. There's a homeless shelter on the grounds. It's run by priests. It's student population is mostly Catholics, many with family, neighborhood or parish ties to the school. Large proportions of the students come from Virginia and the District. Sports are highly competitive. A multi-sport athlete at Landon struggle to make one team at Gonzaga. The college matriculation lists at Gonzaga include a lot of Catholic schools.

Gonzaga is less expensive and that does translate into facilities, class size, etc.

Fake post.

I know several NOVA families who strongly consider Landon and Gonzaga.

News flash, not everyone grows up in Montgomgery county which I'm sure you do.

Landon’s headmaster is a Gonzaga graduate.

One difference that has not been mentioned Is that Landon has a lower school. I find that when all boys schools have lower schools attached the high school students need to couch their behavior more since they have to be an example for the younger kids.

I disagree that we’re all sports GZ is better than Landon. But I would look into your child specific sport to see if he would fit in.

Landon’s Is more diverse in the sense that Most students at Gonzaga are going to be Catholic or Christian and Landon is the only all boys school in the area that does not have a religious affiliation. You will have more diversity in that area.

Anonymous wrote:DS is exploring these two schools. If you and your DS picked one over the other, I'd love to know why.

(and if your DS doesn't attend either, I'm not interested in negative feedback about these schools, thank you

Our boys went to Gonzaga.

This seems an odd set of schools to choose between. I can't remember anyone I have ever talked to or knew of that chose between these two.

The alternative to Gonzaga for western Moco and NW DC residents is almost always GPrep. It's a brother Jesuit school and many families are connected to both GPrep and Gonzaga. If you look at the matriculation lists from the Catholic K-8's, you'll see lots of kids going to either Gonzaga, Prep or St Johns and very rarely one going to Landon.

Gonzaga and Landon are so different, it's probably easier to come up with a short list of similarities than the long list of differences. They are both private, single sex and athletics are a big deal. But beyond that ….

Gonzaga is much larger (3x?). It's in an urban environment, about as busy and urban as it gets in DC. There's a homeless shelter on the grounds. It's run by priests. It's student population is mostly Catholics, many with family, neighborhood or parish ties to the school. Large proportions of the students come from Virginia and the District. Sports are highly competitive. A multi-sport athlete at Landon struggle to make one team at Gonzaga. The college matriculation lists at Gonzaga include a lot of Catholic schools.

Gonzaga is less expensive and that does translate into facilities, class size, etc.

DS is exploring these two schools. If you and your DS picked one over the other, I'd love to know why.

(and if your DS doesn't attend either, I'm not interested in negative feedback about these schools, thank you