Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 16:12     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:My high achieving academic son is having a great year at DeMatha, and there are plenty of high achieving kids there. He's in 1 AP as a 9th grader this year, but had the option to take 2. He'll take 3 next year (AP Computer Science Principles, AP Government, AP Calc AB) as a 10th grader. He wanted to take more, but I wouldn't let him because he's a 14 year old kid.

The music program is excellent, but he doesn't do that.
The alumni network is excellent, and many of the teachers there are former students. I'd say over 50% if not more.

My son isn't Black and we aren't Catholic, but we particularly appreciate the diversity and the social justice mission of the school.

Because so many of the teachers have been there for a long time - they just get teenage boys. They are strict but understanding. My son loves the social vibe, and he has made a lot of kids. There's a lot of school spirit, and the sports are a lot of fun!

My only issue with the school is that you have to get a 93 or 94% to get an A in a class and between that and a 90 is an A-, so there is some GPA depression because of that. And honors-level courses only count for 0.5 extra points for weighted GPA.



My son is a kindergartener and we will close by. I so hope it’s the same when it’s time for him to go to hs. Sounds like a great environment.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 15:48     Subject: Re:How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the problems with a school that’s so elite with sports is that if your kid isn’t a recruited athlete they probably won’t make teams or get to play. So it’s a great thing that you won’t be part of. Most people are probably better off at a school where the sports are mediocre.


Lots of opportunities for sports at DeMatha. Football has big rosters and teams at the Freshman, JV and Varsity level. Basketball is perhaps the most competitive but they do offer an intramural league in the Spring that's odd limits to any student on a basketball roster.

Otherwise, lots of other sports that are either no cut or at least less competitive to join.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 15:46     Subject: Re:How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:One of the problems with a school that’s so elite with sports is that if your kid isn’t a recruited athlete they probably won’t make teams or get to play. So it’s a great thing that you won’t be part of. Most people are probably better off at a school where the sports are mediocre.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 13:11     Subject: Re:How is Dematha?
One of the problems with a school that’s so elite with sports is that if your kid isn’t a recruited athlete they probably won’t make teams or get to play. So it’s a great thing that you won’t be part of. Most people are probably better off at a school where the sports are mediocre.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 12:54     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:How is Dematha for queer boys?


I don't know, but my kid and his friends have or are close to queer parents. I have not heard any anti-LGBT talk from the school or even any pro-life talk.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 12:29     Subject: How is Dematha?
How is Dematha for queer boys?
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 12:28     Subject: How is Dematha?
My high achieving academic son is having a great year at DeMatha, and there are plenty of high achieving kids there. He's in 1 AP as a 9th grader this year, but had the option to take 2. He'll take 3 next year (AP Computer Science Principles, AP Government, AP Calc AB) as a 10th grader. He wanted to take more, but I wouldn't let him because he's a 14 year old kid.

The music program is excellent, but he doesn't do that.
The alumni network is excellent, and many of the teachers there are former students. I'd say over 50% if not more.

My son isn't Black and we aren't Catholic, but we particularly appreciate the diversity and the social justice mission of the school.

Because so many of the teachers have been there for a long time - they just get teenage boys. They are strict but understanding. My son loves the social vibe, and he has made a lot of kids. There's a lot of school spirit, and the sports are a lot of fun!

My only issue with the school is that you have to get a 93 or 94% to get an A in a class and between that and a 90 is an A-, so there is some GPA depression because of that. And honors-level courses only count for 0.5 extra points for weighted GPA.

Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 15:34     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


Since we’re being blunt amongst friends… you’re a racist @ss and I’m glad you’re keeping your racist family from PG county.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 14:52     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


Ha ha! Why do people‘s great granddad‘s and cringey drunken uncles post on threads about high schools.

And if you’re really interested in schools, let me just say that the young, groovy, urban “small-town-college-feel” environment of PG County is better without you in it -
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 14:46     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:I generally look at college acceptances to get a feel for academics. https://www.instagram.com/dmcollegecommits2025/


Wow! This is amazing. I knew during our tour of DeMatha that the young men there really had a positive vibe — more than Gonzaga for sure. And you can just see it in these glowing smiles!
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 17:35     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


This is a troll, right?

--Former SAAS and current SJC parent
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 15:59     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


Yikes. I've never known of any issues at the school whatsoever, but this statement is totally cringe. I can't even believe you'd type this and hit enter. It also shows you know nothing about PG County.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 15:04     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


So why are you reading this message thread? Simply to disparage a school due to its location?
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 11:58     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


Post like these make me cringe. If you you had good intentions, I suggest you educate yourself or reach out to friends of color if you have any, on why a post like this are problematic, ignorant, and racist.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 09:16     Subject: How is Dematha?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:let me be blunt. It's located in PG county. I would never send my kid to a school in that county. Maybe a decent area in DC is as much risk as I would take.


Sorry for you for missing out on wonderful people because you're too blinded by your racism and classism.

OP, lots of good, seemingly firsthand replies. I'll add that if your child has a learning disability, DeMatha offers good scaffolding and academic support. We also love that DeMatha's student body looks like America -- all of America, not just the lily white -- so is a good primer for life outside of Bethesda and, at least in our experience, lends to developing empathy.


Well put, PP. I'm not the OP, but was tempted to respond to this of ignorant comment myself.

DeMatha's location, in between the arts district and UMD, not to mention inside the Beltway and near the D.C. line, and its people are partially what makes it such a gem. It is a true melting pot that pulls students from all walks of life and all kinds of interests and abilities together. It's not a utopia, but it reflects the real world in a way that many schools do not. Every student there is better off because of it.