Anonymous wrote:I'm a current Freshman at BI and here's an honest review:

In my experience, I have had a great time at Ireton, I am enrolled in almost all available honors classes and a fine arts class, I did a fall sport and currently doing a spring sport. I must say that if you are planning on sending your kid here than they are going to meet a lot and I mean a lot of different kids. The people you hang out with can really affect your academics.

I've read some stuff about a "party culture" and honestly I know a handful of freshmen who drink and party but thats only a loud minority and virtually anyone else you meet here are nice and welcoming.

Like any other school there are different cliques and "popular" kids, but really, the only people that like the popular kids are eachother, so why does it matter? Just find a good group of genuine friends and thats all you'll need

You've probably heard this but the English and History departments are great! especially in the freshman honors department, the math certainly lacking and the science is for me enojoyable.

Apparently, this years applicants for the class of 2023 was one of the smallest amounts of people who applied. Which is strange because the new building is going to be great and will most likely be done by the end of the year.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a current Freshman at BI and here's an honest review:

In my experience, I have had a great time at Ireton, I am enrolled in almost all available honors classes and a fine arts class, I did a fall sport and currently doing a spring sport. I must say that if you are planning on sending your kid here than they are going to meet a lot and I mean a lot of different kids. The people you hang out with can really affect your academics.

I've read some stuff about a "party culture" and honestly I know a handful of freshmen who drink and party but thats only a loud minority and virtually anyone else you meet here are nice and welcoming.

Like any other school there are different cliques and "popular" kids, but really, the only people that like the popular kids are eachother, so why does it matter? Just find a good group of genuine friends and thats all you'll need.

Anonymous wrote:This Catholic high school seems to be a popular option for Alexandria families. Is this just simply due to ease of location or is it a good high school? Do a majority of the students live in Alexandria? All I know about the school is that it is one of the smaller Catholic high schools, is cost effective and has a stellar girls lacrosse team. I would appreciate any additional, candid, information.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah- I hear the school hands out vaping devices and encourages drinking. Not sure how the “party culture” is attributed to the school when it’s the parents of the students who are responsible for the students outside of school hours.

In all seriousness, I came here to find out what is happening are BI- where is Head going and who will replace, does anyone hear anything about turnover this year? What about the superintendent? I guess she is also leaving as are the principals of St. Rita, St. Mary’s, St. Thomas More, and some others!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BI has a wide range of students, considering they pretty much accept everybody. My DD applied as her safety and did not want to go, due to BI's party culture. Kids there vape on the regular and absolutely do party. Luckily she got into one of the "Big 3" and is going there instead. We understand there's a party crowd in every school, but we want to send our DD to a school that has a true rep at Ivy's and has a more rigorous education that also doesn't have a big party crowd.
That's not to say BI isn't a good school--it is. You have some outstanding students, and some sub par students. It's like that everywhere, but more so at BI. They need to be more selective, as they accept 87% of applicants.

It is a diocesan school, so the focus is religion. The families that send kids there are focused on having a school environment that is consistent with their Catholic values. It is a good school, but people aren’t going there in droves because they think it will set their kid up for the Ivy League.

Also, it’s nice that they accept applicants with different abilities. If you have a family with a big sibling group, there’s usually some variation in academic aptitude.

I find it interesting how a school so focused on religion has such a strong party culture. Last I checked, the bible pretty much condones vices such as drugs and alcohol[u].
Parents better send their kids somewhere else, like a convent, if they truly want faith instilled in their kids.

That's not a very Christian thing to say. You do know that condone means "accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue." I went to public schools, but I'm pretty sure the bible does not condone vices. Although I do recall there being a fair amount of wine drinking in the good book.

Kidding aside, I think there are teenagers making mistakes in every school and every school does its best to address issues when they arise. I am active in the community and can honestly say that there are concerns expressed about a "party culture" at every single high school in the area. Whether it is the confusing messages sent by the legalization of marijuana or the targeting of e-cigarettes at children, I don't know. Pick the school that is best for your child based on your own experience. Do your homework and don't rely on random strangers on a forum to do your research. They probably have their own agenda and that agenda is not about helping your child make a good school choice as much as it is defending the choice they made for their own child. Our kids are fortunate to have so many quality schools, both public and private, in the area. There's a good place for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BI has a wide range of students, considering they pretty much accept everybody. My DD applied as her safety and did not want to go, due to BI's party culture. Kids there vape on the regular and absolutely do party. Luckily she got into one of the "Big 3" and is going there instead. We understand there's a party crowd in every school, but we want to send our DD to a school that has a true rep at Ivy's and has a more rigorous education that also doesn't have a big party crowd.
That's not to say BI isn't a good school--it is. You have some outstanding students, and some sub par students. It's like that everywhere, but more so at BI. They need to be more selective, as they accept 87% of applicants.

It is a diocesan school, so the focus is religion. The families that send kids there are focused on having a school environment that is consistent with their Catholic values. It is a good school, but people aren’t going there in droves because they think it will set their kid up for the Ivy League.

Also, it’s nice that they accept applicants with different abilities. If you have a family with a big sibling group, there’s usually some variation in academic aptitude.

I find it interesting how a school so focused on religion has such a strong party culture. Last I checked, the bible pretty much condones vices such as drugs and alcohol[u].
Parents better send their kids somewhere else, like a convent, if they truly want faith instilled in their kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BI has a wide range of students, considering they pretty much accept everybody. My DD applied as her safety and did not want to go, due to BI's party culture. Kids there vape on the regular and absolutely do party. Luckily she got into one of the "Big 3" and is going there instead. We understand there's a party crowd in every school, but we want to send our DD to a school that has a true rep at Ivy's and has a more rigorous education that also doesn't have a big party crowd.
That's not to say BI isn't a good school--it is. You have some outstanding students, and some sub par students. It's like that everywhere, but more so at BI. They need to be more selective, as they accept 87% of applicants.

It is a diocesan school, so the focus is religion. The families that send kids there are focused on having a school environment that is consistent with their Catholic values. It is a good school, but people aren’t going there in droves because they think it will set their kid up for the Ivy League.

Also, it’s nice that they accept applicants with different abilities. If you have a family with a big sibling group, there’s usually some variation in academic aptitude.

Anonymous wrote:BI has a wide range of students, considering they pretty much accept everybody. My DD applied as her safety and did not want to go, due to BI's party culture. Kids there vape on the regular and absolutely do party. Luckily she got into one of the "Big 3" and is going there instead. We understand there's a party crowd in every school, but we want to send our DD to a school that has a true rep at Ivy's and has a more rigorous education that also doesn't have a big party crowd.
That's not to say BI isn't a good school--it is. You have some outstanding students, and some sub par students. It's like that everywhere, but more so at BI. They need to be more selective, as they accept 87% of applicants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be interesting to see who the new head will be next year. Teachers are walking around school with a spring in their steps!

Where is Tom Curry going?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very limited and typically go to kids coming from Catholic schools.

Thanks, I was wondering if that might be the case. My son is confirmed Catholic and we are regular parishioners at one of the local Alexandria Catholic Churches, however he does not attend a Catholic middle school. Any current BI parents whose child received one of the merit scholarships despite not attending a Catholic elementary/middle school? Just curious to know if this is a rarity, or if it simply never happens.