Daughter is in 8th grade and we are looking at private school. Any suggestions between GDS, Flint Hill, Holy Cross, and St John? DD plays for a top 3 club and works really hard. She does get playing time at the club. What’s the best way to try to get into the private school?

Yes but their best player Emmi Sellman graduates this Spring.

It looks like Holy Cross is the clear winner of this thread now. They beat Flint Hill and O’Connell twice this year. They ended the season with a championship and 29-0 record, only losing 4 sets all year! The are now at the top of the volleyball tree.

[quote=Anonymous]Generally agree with all prior poster and would add - Yes, Club volleyball, especially open level play, is far more important than HS - 100%. Also true- in the DC area there are some HS where playing varsity can be added value in college recruitment. There’s a reason Metro, Paramount, VAE , VA juniors and ECP coaches show up for certain semi-final and finals matches

Not in rank order at all — just a list of private HS where playing VB can matter (there are some amazing public school teams as well but my own kids are in private so I don’t know that scene well)

WCAC
Holy Cross
O'Connell
SJC
Paul VI
Top three perpetually have multiple college athletes on their teams. PVI is gaining steam. WCAC is a competitive athletic conference generally, high level of vb play. McNamara and Ireton also have some seriously talented recruits depending on the year.

ISL
Flint Hill
GDS
Bullis
(FH is best of the best, actual team stronger than WCAC schools but overall ISL vb play less competitive)

If you have a rising 8th grader who really wants to play vb at a DMV independent I’d recommend
1. Go to the camps this summer - most schools listed have them. This can give your kid an idea of the level of play, team vibe (varsity players coach the camps) , opportunity to make a ton of friends

2. Think hard about the goal — to play freshman? JV? Varsity?

3. Talk to your club coaches because they often have some useful insight re local HS vb scene

If the kid has varsity and college aspirations look hard at the roster — considering your position, height and club experience is that a realistic pursuit?

My own kid plays varsity in the WCAC but likely would never have made it (or at least until senior year) at other schools where the team is stacked. After going to multiple camps, her first choice school changed radically. [/quote]

I would have Stone Ridge ahead of Bullis in ISL but agree with everything else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flint Hill is top dog. Head Coach is a Metro Coach. However, unless your DD plays for Metro, she won't see the court as they will reload with Metro players each year.
Bishop-O'Connell beat Holy Cross the past 2 season. Head Coach at BO is a Virginia Elite Coach. He recruited players from VAE but has various clubs on his team.
GDS beat St John's this year. Head Coach is a Metro Coach but they do have more mixture of players from various clubs.
Holy Cross head coach at MVSA. He has Metro, MVSA among other clubs.
Bullis Head Coach is a parent of a player on the team but she is very qualified. A few players from VA Juniors among other clubs.

Like previous post stated, HS Vball does nothing for recruiting. Focus on the school your DD will thrive at and hope they have a good HS program. Each program will have pros and cons so it ends up being what school is the best fit scholastically and athletically. The best volleyball program may not be the best for your DD.

The only reason to go to Flint Hill is for volleyball. The academics are only average at best.

Funny I just had a colleague at a big 5 tell me they were impressed with the curriculum and it was better than what they have. Keep going with your hatred

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academy of the Holy Cross has a fantastic program and the coach is a teacher also a local club coach. The school is planning a new gym building, which should bring talent and provide space.

Overall the school is solid, and often overlooked, but the students are welcoming, faculty/staff are approachable, and academics hold their own against the best in the DMV.

Yes, this^

Holy Cross has been to I think 13 straight WCAC title games in a row now. Last year had a senior who graduated and is now playing at Louisville and a Junior committed this season to Ohio State and won the Maryland Gatorade player of the year award and has a good chance at winning that award nationally they are a volleyball machine.

https://www.academyoftheholycross.org/athletics/teams-schedules/team-event-details/~athletics-team-id/31

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academy of the Holy Cross has a fantastic program and the coach is a teacher also a local club coach. The school is planning a new gym building, which should bring talent and provide space.

Overall the school is solid, and often overlooked, but the students are welcoming, faculty/staff are approachable, and academics hold their own against the best in the DMV.

Yes, this^

Holy Cross has been to I think 13 straight WCAC title games in a row now. Last year had a senior who graduated and is now playing at Louisville and a Junior committed this season to Ohio State and won the Maryland Gatorade player of the year award and has a good chance at winning that award nationally they are a volleyball machine.

Generally agree with all prior poster and would add - Yes, Club volleyball, especially open level play, is far more important than HS - 100%. Also true- in the DC area there are some HS where playing varsity can be added value in college recruitment. There’s a reason Metro, Paramount, VAE , VA juniors and ECP coaches show up for certain semi-final and finals matches

Not in rank order at all — just a list of private HS where playing VB can matter (there are some amazing public school teams as well but my own kids are in private so I don’t know that scene well)

WCAC
Holy Cross
O'Connell
SJC
Paul VI
Top three perpetually have multiple college athletes on their teams. PVI is gaining steam. WCAC is a competitive athletic conference generally, high level of vb play. McNamara and Ireton also have some seriously talented recruits depending on the year.

ISL
Flint Hill
GDS
Bullis
(FH is best of the best, actual team stronger than WCAC schools but overall ISL vb play less competitive)

If you have a rising 8th grader who really wants to play vb at a DMV independent I’d recommend
1. Go to the camps this summer - most schools listed have them. This can give your kid an idea of the level of play, team vibe (varsity players coach the camps) , opportunity to make a ton of friends

2. Think hard about the goal — to play freshman? JV? Varsity?

3. Talk to your club coaches because they often have some useful insight re local HS vb scene

If the kid has varsity and college aspirations look hard at the roster — considering your position, height and club experience is that a realistic pursuit?

My own kid plays varsity in the WCAC but likely would never have made it (or at least until senior year) at other schools where the team is stacked. After going to multiple camps, her first choice school changed radically.

GDS also has a stellar coach and team, but technically, they can't recruit and a kid has to get into the school on merit... They are not as good as Flint Hill, but my guess is that the education your child will get will be better.

Anonymous wrote:Flint Hill is top dog. Head Coach is a Metro Coach. However, unless your DD plays for Metro, she won't see the court as they will reload with Metro players each year.
Bishop-O'Connell beat Holy Cross the past 2 season. Head Coach at BO is a Virginia Elite Coach. He recruited players from VAE but has various clubs on his team.
GDS beat St John's this year. Head Coach is a Metro Coach but they do have more mixture of players from various clubs.
Holy Cross head coach at MVSA. He has Metro, MVSA among other clubs.
Bullis Head Coach is a parent of a player on the team but she is very qualified. A few players from VA Juniors among other clubs.

Like previous post stated, HS Vball does nothing for recruiting. Focus on the school your DD will thrive at and hope they have a good HS program. Each program will have pros and cons so it ends up being what school is the best fit scholastically and athletically. The best volleyball program may not be the best for your DD.

The only reason to go to Flint Hill is for volleyball. The academics are only average at best.

Flint Hill is top dog. Head Coach is a Metro Coach. However, unless your DD plays for Metro, she won't see the court as they will reload with Metro players each year.
Bishop-O'Connell beat Holy Cross the past 2 season. Head Coach at BO is a Virginia Elite Coach. He recruited players from VAE but has various clubs on his team.
GDS beat St John's this year. Head Coach is a Metro Coach but they do have more mixture of players from various clubs.
Holy Cross head coach at MVSA. He has Metro, MVSA among other clubs.
Bullis Head Coach is a parent of a player on the team but she is very qualified. A few players from VA Juniors among other clubs.

Like previous post stated, HS Vball does nothing for recruiting. Focus on the school your DD will thrive at and hope they have a good HS program. Each program will have pros and cons so it ends up being what school is the best fit scholastically and athletically. The best volleyball program may not be the best for your DD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bump

Set

SPIKE

Anonymous wrote:Academy of the Holy Cross has a fantastic program and the coach is a teacher also a local club coach. The school is planning a new gym building, which should bring talent and provide space.

Overall the school is solid, and often overlooked, but the students are welcoming, faculty/staff are approachable, and academics hold their own against the best in the DMV.

Yes, this^

Academy of the Holy Cross has a fantastic program and the coach is a teacher also a local club coach. The school is planning a new gym building, which should bring talent and provide space.

Overall the school is solid, and often overlooked, but the students are welcoming, faculty/staff are approachable, and academics hold their own against the best in the DMV.

Anonymous wrote:bump

Set