I have two DC at SJC- one in Scholars and one in the Benhilde program- the second one does have some Honors and 2 APs this year though. Both have always had homework.

Anonymous wrote:Is it true they don't have a lot of homework?

SJC has changed to a block schedule this year which allows for motivated kids to get some of the homework done during free periods.

Anonymous wrote:Is it true they don't have a lot of homework?

It depends on the courses they take. My DC is in mostly honors classes and has a lot of homework every night, plus constant tests, quizzes, papers and projects. The pace is very fast. Throw in before/afterschool activities and some weeks feel crushing. Other weeks are more balanced.

Is it true they don't have a lot of homework?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a 9th grader at SJC. We live 300 feet from the school. Game changer since she commuted 25 minutes from Chevy Chase to a Catholic PK-8. So much of our family’s life revolves around SJC and we are so happy to be walking distance! Definitely consider that for your HS choice!

We are lucky in CC DC that we have SJC, GDS, Sidwell, STA, Maret and WIS all within a 1 to 2 mile radius.

All great schools and nearly everyone we know attending limited their kids to schools that were essentially walking distances to no more than a short bus ride.

One has a kid at Landon and they complain all the time about the commute (and that’s what…5 miles tops?).

I literally just saw someone in CCMD with an O'Connell magnet on their car, so everyone has their own reasons and tolerance for these things. Lots of families also deal with long commutes to send their kids to single sex schools like Gonzaga, Visi, SAAS, DeMatha, etc., so why not SJC if it suits your family's needs? Long commutes are not uncommon, for any of these schools. I'm not saying the commute isn't a consideration, but it's not the end of the world and it may not always be as simple as saying "just swap this school for that one" if there are truly things that you value about the school that would make the commute worthwhile. Only you can determine what you're willing to put up with. There will be trade offs, but some of them may be worth it to you, OP.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a 9th grader at SJC. We live 300 feet from the school. Game changer since she commuted 25 minutes from Chevy Chase to a Catholic PK-8. So much of our family’s life revolves around SJC and we are so happy to be walking distance! Definitely consider that for your HS choice!

We are lucky in CC DC that we have SJC, GDS, Sidwell, STA, Maret and WIS all within a 1 to 2 mile radius.

All great schools and nearly everyone we know attending limited their kids to schools that were essentially walking distances to no more than a short bus ride.

One has a kid at Landon and they complain all the time about the commute (and that’s what…5 miles tops?).

It’ll be somewhere between 60-75 minutes depending on what time you leave. If you can leave campus after 6:30, that’ll actually be better. Anytime between 4-6:00 and it’s going to be a nightmare most days.

My kid is a 9th grader at SJC. We live 300 feet from the school. Game changer since she commuted 25 minutes from Chevy Chase to a Catholic PK-8. So much of our family’s life revolves around SJC and we are so happy to be walking distance! Definitely consider that for your HS choice!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless there is some very compelling reason (big break on tuition vs alternatives), just send your kid to BOC and have a much better all around family life for four years.

The schools are far more similar than they are different, and really zero difference from an education perspective.

What is BOC?

Bishop O Connell in Arlington/Mclean

I don’t get it. The athletics, extracurriculars, academics are just as good at DJO. Also lower tuition than secular privates.

Just go to O’Connell. Very similar. Don’t make your life harder than it needs to be. If you are looking at Benilde, O’Connell also has good resource support.

It is the worst. Don't make your kid commute more than 30 min to school. Especially if they are in an after school activity. Or unless you are trying to create a burned out robot. And for St Johns? Crazy.

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Arlington and I’ve heard the commute is horrible.

My friends in NOVA who send their kids to SJC all were really glad when their kids could drive and planned on their child having a car of their own.

If you are considering driving, do some practice runs at the time that you would drive, while school is in session. A couple of smooth (or nightmare!) experiences may sway your decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless there is some very compelling reason (big break on tuition vs alternatives), just send your kid to BOC and have a much better all around family life for four years.

The schools are far more similar than they are different, and really zero difference from an education perspective.

What is BOC?

I assume they mean Bishop O'Connell

It is usually abbreviated as DJO (Denis J. O'Connell)