To those who commented at 10:43 and 15:59, Current parent here and I could have written your posts as well. I would add that the AP and Honors classes at Visi are very demanding and that the AP and Honors teachers are excellent. My daughter really enjoys the fact that there are about 120 girls in her class and appreciates having friends in different groups- for example, the girls with whom she hangs out with on weekends, the girls from sports teams, the girls from community service etc. The school spirit is wonderful, the Gold/White Team rivalry is fun and the campus is beautiful. Visitation girls are happy, confident students who thrive in challenging environments in the classroom or on the sports field.

Anonymous wrote:Current family of Visi no legacy connection. The school has been a great community for my daughter and my family. My DD had the opportunity to attend SR but we went with Visi due to everybody starting new. Some girls do come from the same school but you do see they tend to branch out and make new friends. Has it been perfect no but it has given my daughter plenty of material for her college essay. Snobby girls yes but the genuine nice girls out number them. Everybody finds their place and friends. I have heard good things about SR as well.

I could have written this. Non-legacy, we are not from area originally. My DD had some great (non snooty) friends. Great community and academics.
Aren't there snooty girls everywhere? Moms too?

Current family of Visi no legacy connection. The school has been a great community for my daughter and my family. My DD had the opportunity to attend SR but we went with Visi due to everybody starting new. Some girls do come from the same school but you do see they tend to branch out and make new friends. Has it been perfect no but it has given my daughter plenty of material for her college essay. Snobby girls yes but the genuine nice girls out number them. Everybody finds their place and friends. I have heard good things about SR as well.

Agree with poster who says these Catholic stereo types are ridiculous. And, some girls do apply to both visi and ncs. I know mine did and ended up at Holton. They are all fine schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atmosphere at Visi may be kinder and gentler than at NCS or other independent schools. The Irish, the dominant ethnic group there, are a gregarious, communicative and sports-oriented lot.

But non-Catholics should keep in mind that these are people for whom Catholic education and group identity and cohesiveness is important and who have chosen homogeneity over more diversity.

Visi and NCS do rarely compete for the same applicant pool.

Wow as a Catholic I find all these Catholic stereo types amazing. Indeed, I don't pick friends or where my schools attend school, etc., based on my religion. And I haven't met any other Catholics who do either. It seems that most pick a school because it's the right fit for their child and that the religious aspect is secondary. The sweeping generalizations are pretty shocking. There would be a lot of outrage if what was being said about Catholic's was substituting with Jews, Muslims, or whatever.

My neighbor's daughter went to Visi. She was not a legacy. She liked the school very much. I also know current and former Stone Ridge girls. All like their schools. I really haven't heard that either school had a snobby element! I really think you can't go wrong with either school. I think the only difference is Stone Ridge starts much earlier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atmosphere at Visi may be kinder and gentler than at NCS or other independent schools. The Irish, the dominant ethnic group there, are a gregarious, communicative and sports-oriented lot.

But non-Catholics should keep in mind that these are people for whom Catholic education and group identity and cohesiveness is important and who have chosen homogeneity over more diversity.

Visi and NCS do rarely compete for the same applicant pool.

Wow as a Catholic I find all these Catholic stereo types amazing. Indeed, I don't pick friends or where my schools attend school, etc., based on my religion. And I haven't met any other Catholics who do either. It seems that most pick a school because it's the right fit for their child and that the religious aspect is secondary. The sweeping generalizations are pretty shocking. There would be a lot of outrage if what was being said about Catholic's was substituting with Jews, Muslims, or whatever.

Then why are their Catholic Schools with student populations that are nearly 100% Catholic?

The obvious answer is that people select these school because they propagate their faith and because they want to stay inside the culture.

Or is it, as you suggest, just happenstance that all these Catholics find that its these schools that are the perfect fit for their kids irrespective of Religion?

You are talking about all Catholic schools, or just Visi?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atmosphere at Visi may be kinder and gentler than at NCS or other independent schools. The Irish, the dominant ethnic group there, are a gregarious, communicative and sports-oriented lot.

But non-Catholics should keep in mind that these are people for whom Catholic education and group identity and cohesiveness is important and who have chosen homogeneity over more diversity.

Visi and NCS do rarely compete for the same applicant pool.

Wow as a Catholic I find all these Catholic stereo types amazing. Indeed, I don't pick friends or where my schools attend school, etc., based on my religion. And I haven't met any other Catholics who do either. It seems that most pick a school because it's the right fit for their child and that the religious aspect is secondary. The sweeping generalizations are pretty shocking. There would be a lot of outrage if what was being said about Catholic's was substituting with Jews, Muslims, or whatever.

Then why are their Catholic Schools with student populations that are nearly 100% Catholic?

The obvious answer is that people select these school because they propagate their faith and because they want to stay inside the culture.

Or is it, as you suggest, just happenstance that all these Catholics find that its these schools that are the perfect fit for their kids irrespective of Religion?

Anonymous wrote:The atmosphere at Visi may be kinder and gentler than at NCS or other independent schools. The Irish, the dominant ethnic group there, are a gregarious, communicative and sports-oriented lot.

But non-Catholics should keep in mind that these are people for whom Catholic education and group identity and cohesiveness is important and who have chosen homogeneity over more diversity.

Visi and NCS do rarely compete for the same applicant pool.

Wow as a Catholic I find all these Catholic stereo types amazing. Indeed, I don't pick friends or where my schools attend school, etc., based on my religion. And I haven't met any other Catholics who do either. It seems that most pick a school because it's the right fit for their child and that the religious aspect is secondary. The sweeping generalizations are pretty shocking. There would be a lot of outrage if what was being said about Catholic's was substituting with Jews, Muslims, or whatever.

I really like Stone Ridge but at my kids parish school not a single 8th grader choose it (out of class of 60). Visi continues to be most popular.

The atmosphere at Visi may be kinder and gentler than at NCS or other independent schools. The Irish, the dominant ethnic group there, are a gregarious, communicative and sports-oriented lot.

But non-Catholics should keep in mind that these are people for whom Catholic education and group identity and cohesiveness is important and who have chosen homogeneity over more diversity.

Visi and NCS do rarely compete for the same applicant pool.

Very competitive athletically. If your daughter loves a sport but is mediocre, she will probably get cut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP but curious about Visi too. How does it compare to NCS? My perception is Visi is strong academically and provides a kind culture. NCS seems rigorous but at least is the high school there seems to be a mean girl culture. Thinking of sending my daughter to one of these schools but not for many years.

The principle difference is that Visitation is a Catholic school owned and led by nuns (Sisters of the Visitation). The school serves the Catholic population primarily. Many of the Visitation families are DC-area natives.

NCS is not a Catholic school.

Yes NCS is Episcopalian. there seem to be many more differences than just religion. Can anyone expand?

Being a Catholic in DC is more than just an hour a week at Mass. There's a culture and a community at play here.

Many of these girls know one another from grammar school or outside school (e.g. Columbia CC). Their families no one another.
Visi. It's no wonder they get along so well.

They might also be less infected with Ivy Obsession Syndrome with a preference for Catholic universities (Georgetown, Notre Dame, Boston College, etc.)

Because of the large number of legacies and the relationships that the school wants to maintain with the Catholic grammar / feeder schools, non-Catholics end up at the end of the Admissions line.

Non-Catholic Visitation grad here. There were about 10-15 percent of us in our graduating year. And yes, I guess we were the smartest ones in the class. Plenty of legacy families with blonde moms/pearls, but lots of other kinds of girls. I enjoyed my four years there a lot, actually.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP but curious about Visi too. How does it compare to NCS? My perception is Visi is strong academically and provides a kind culture. NCS seems rigorous but at least is the high school there seems to be a mean girl culture. Thinking of sending my daughter to one of these schools but not for many years.

The principle difference is that Visitation is a Catholic school owned and led by nuns (Sisters of the Visitation). The school serves the Catholic population primarily. Many of the Visitation families are DC-area natives.

NCS is not a Catholic school.

Yes NCS is Episcopalian. there seem to be many more differences than just religion. Can anyone expand?

Being a Catholic in DC is more than just an hour a week at Mass. There's a culture and a community at play here.

Many of these girls know one another from grammar school or outside school (e.g. Columbia CC). Their families no one another.
Visi. It's no wonder they get along so well.

They might also be less infected with Ivy Obsession Syndrome with a preference for Catholic universities (Georgetown, Notre Dame, Boston College, etc.)

Because of the large number of legacies and the relationships that the school wants to maintain with the Catholic grammar / feeder schools, non-Catholics end up at the end of the Admissions line.

Anonymous wrote:Visitation is a Washington archdiocese school. It is open to all students in the archdiocese.

Actually No, Visi is an independent Catholic school (sponsored by the Sisters of the Visitation) but is physically located within the Archdiocese of Washington.
The only Washington Archdiocese HS is Archbishop Carroll HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP but curious about Visi too. How does it compare to NCS? My perception is Visi is strong academically and provides a kind culture. NCS seems rigorous but at least is the high school there seems to be a mean girl culture. Thinking of sending my daughter to one of these schools but not for many years.

The principle difference is that Visitation is a Catholic school owned and led by nuns (Sisters of the Visitation). The school serves the Catholic population primarily. Many of the Visitation families are DC-area natives.

NCS is not a Catholic school.

Yes NCS is Episcopalian. there seem to be many more differences than just religion. Can anyone expand?