Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:depends which system, in DCPS and PG catholic school is better, anything in MCPS and FCPS would depend on how weak the schools are. In Arlington it would make sense if you are in the south, probably in the north at the lower performing schools.

What about Alexandria city?

Our child attends an Alexandria Catholic school and is happy, loves the school and is academically challenged. Although he's in 1st grade, his reading level is at 6th grade, so he's been placed in a special reading program that encourages him to read more and be challenged. Take a look at exmissions for the 8th gradeers at the school - our students are getting into some very good Catholic High Schools.

PP, which Alexandria Catholic?

Who do you think gets into Catholic high schools? I don't think it's saying much that children attending catholic elementary and middle schools get into catholic high schools. Most of the ones I see say something like 90% acceptance rate if you attend Catholic elementary and middle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:depends which system, in DCPS and PG catholic school is better, anything in MCPS and FCPS would depend on how weak the schools are. In Arlington it would make sense if you are in the south, probably in the north at the lower performing schools.

What about Alexandria city?

Our child attends an Alexandria Catholic school and is happy, loves the school and is academically challenged. Although he's in 1st grade, his reading level is at 6th grade, so he's been placed in a special reading program that encourages him to read more and be challenged. Take a look at exmissions for the 8th gradeers at the school - our students are getting into some very good Catholic High Schools.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why there is so much hate on these boards for Catholic schools. I think ours is hands down better than the public.

What is your first-hand experience with your local public school?

Anonymous wrote:depends which system, in DCPS and PG catholic school is better, anything in MCPS and FCPS would depend on how weak the schools are. In Arlington it would make sense if you are in the south, probably in the north at the lower performing schools.

What about Alexandria city?

depends which system, in DCPS and PG catholic school is better, anything in MCPS and FCPS would depend on how weak the schools are. In Arlington it would make sense if you are in the south, probably in the north at the lower performing schools.

I don't know why there is so much hate on these boards for Catholic schools. I think ours is hands down better than the public.

very traditional teaching at Catholic schools and lots of rote learning

Now, having said that, there's a need for rote learning but not at the exclusion of critical thinking/in depth analysis.

I just wish someone would figure out that the two should be combined and taught in tandem. Some schools (in MCPS, that is) can't seem to wrap their heads around 2.0. So they de-emphasize the basics and head straight toward abstract thinking.

And I'm a 2.0 fan if it's taught well.

We're lucky. My daughter, who's in 4th grade, has a great teacher this year - her first year in public. She gets the curriculum and can challenge students at their current level. There's flexibility in grouping, which wasn't the case in her Catholic school. And for the first time in 4 years, I know her reading and math levels.

I know there are great Catholic school teachers, too. She had a first year teacher in 2nd grade who knew her pedagogy and was engaging. Unfortunately, the hiring standards for private aren't as rigorous, and the salaries aren't enough to keep a meal on the table if you're single.

We moved our boys from public to Catholic, and the Catholic school has been MUCH more challenging. We actually left public because they were bored to death, and now they are much happier. I agree that it depends on the school. We are in the Arlington diocese and we couldn't be more pleased with the transition.

Anonymous wrote:Teacher salaries are way lower at many catholic schools, so you can imagine how much stimulated are the staff to teach your child.

Exactly! Also, when I went to Catholic school, since they didn't pay well they had to take any screw up that came along. If the teacher was any good, he or she would leave after a year to go work for a public or at an exclusive private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it really depends on what public school your DC would attend and which Catholic school your child would attend.

This. Some schools are great. Some aren't.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I think it really depends on what public school your DC would attend and which Catholic school your child would attend.

This. Some schools are great. Some aren't.

I was actually looking at the homework from catholic school of my daughters to a public school of my cousins and they were completely different. My cousins homework was much more intense then the catholic school. I think due to testing the public schools are working harder to make sure students are acquiring certain skills. I am truly thinking of saving the money in the earlier grades and put money away for the middle and high school years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DCs went from catholic school to public school after 4 years in the former and I was stunned at how far behind they were academically. I think the standards and curriculum is weaker in catholic than public and teachers are not held accountable for student progress as they are in public schools. If I could do it over again, I would not have put DCs in catholic school.

I could have written this. I completely agree. I thought I was doing the right thing for DC at the time but was very wrong.

Agree. And Pope Franciscus wouldn't be happy at all with the hypocrisy from the majority of the teachers at these Catholic schools.

I think it really depends on what public school your DC would attend and which Catholic school your child would attend.