Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I'm not really in a position to compare PVI to GNZ (and I live in ARL), I will note that my son graduated from GNZ two years ago, and is now at UVA. It is a special place - candidly, I never really "got" Catholic education, let alone single sex education, until he went there. So fair warning, I'm a fanboy if you will, but I come by it honestly.

1. Academics were very solid. Wide range of elective courses. Solid writing instruction. He had to work pretty hard. And he came out thinking for himself, and working with others well.
2. What others say about lacrosse and other major stick-and-ball sports is true. You have to be good to play varsity. Sometimes really good. That said, the no-cut sports (eg, XC, hockey, rugby) always suggested to me that they "get" the proper role of sports in the educational experience, and in some cases, they turn kids into pretty good athletes in sports they might not have otherwise tried.
3. Outside of sports, there are plenty of other well supported extracurriculars. (My son was also heavily into tech/stage crew.) And in an era where many Catholic schools can be very dogma-focused, GNZ had an excellent balance between the dogmatic and the social justice doctrine, which is after all part of our faith. (I say this as a relatively conservative Catholic, and I also note that PVI, through its disabilities program, has an excellent reputation for this as well.)
4. I/he really liked the urban aspect of it, much more than I expected. Kids grow up and experience the joy of independence taking the metro to school. And, notwithstanding the increasing gentrification in the area, I think it reinforces the service-related elements of the experience. Obviously FFX is not ARL in terms of access, but if you are close to or pass near a Metro in your morning commute, don't let it dissuade you.

You too have solid options. Good friends son chose
5. Regarding the single sex aspects , my son enjoyed it because he could be himself. And I do believe that translated to a better educational experience -- there are fewer social barriers to trying things that he might not have in a coed environment, and the boys support each other regardless of the activity. Also, though, I shouldn't have to say this, but I never witnessed any disrespectful behavior towards women or girls in his time there.
6. In a related vein, DO NOT underestimate or pooh-pooh the whole "brotherhood" concept that is often spoken of. At least not in this town. There are very strong bonds that are formed. And I do not have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times older gentlemen around town have come up to my son and introduced themselves out-of-the-blue when he was wearing GNZ logo stuff. He's too young to be "networking," but it's an added bonus I had not considered, that I will know will be there if he ever does need it.

Good luck. Both PVI and GNZ are fine schools.

Thank you for posting your thoughts and experiences.

We’ll be going to the Gonzaga open house tomorrow. If all works as planned, DS will decide Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell or McLean HS. All good options.

So you have ruled out PVI already?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I'm not really in a position to compare PVI to GNZ (and I live in ARL), I will note that my son graduated from GNZ two years ago, and is now at UVA. It is a special place - candidly, I never really "got" Catholic education, let alone single sex education, until he went there. So fair warning, I'm a fanboy if you will, but I come by it honestly.

1. Academics were very solid. Wide range of elective courses. Solid writing instruction. He had to work pretty hard. And he came out thinking for himself, and working with others well.
2. What others say about lacrosse and other major stick-and-ball sports is true. You have to be good to play varsity. Sometimes really good. That said, the no-cut sports (eg, XC, hockey, rugby) always suggested to me that they "get" the proper role of sports in the educational experience, and in some cases, they turn kids into pretty good athletes in sports they might not have otherwise tried.
3. Outside of sports, there are plenty of other well supported extracurriculars. (My son was also heavily into tech/stage crew.) And in an era where many Catholic schools can be very dogma-focused, GNZ had an excellent balance between the dogmatic and the social justice doctrine, which is after all part of our faith. (I say this as a relatively conservative Catholic, and I also note that PVI, through its disabilities program, has an excellent reputation for this as well.)
4. I/he really liked the urban aspect of it, much more than I expected. Kids grow up and experience the joy of independence taking the metro to school. And, notwithstanding the increasing gentrification in the area, I think it reinforces the service-related elements of the experience. Obviously FFX is not ARL in terms of access, but if you are close to or pass near a Metro in your morning commute, don't let it dissuade you.
5. Regarding the single sex aspects , my son enjoyed it because he could be himself. And I do believe that translated to a better educational experience -- there are fewer social barriers to trying things that he might not have in a coed environment, and the boys support each other regardless of the activity. Also, though, I shouldn't have to say this, but I never witnessed any disrespectful behavior towards women or girls in his time there.
6. In a related vein, DO NOT underestimate or pooh-pooh the whole "brotherhood" concept that is often spoken of. At least not in this town. There are very strong bonds that are formed. And I do not have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times older gentlemen around town have come up to my son and introduced themselves out-of-the-blue when he was wearing GNZ logo stuff. He's too young to be "networking," but it's an added bonus I had not considered, that I will know will be there if he ever does need it.

Good luck. Both PVI and GNZ are fine schools.

Thank you for posting your thoughts and experiences.

We’ll be going to the Gonzaga open house tomorrow. If all works as planned, DS will decide Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell or McLean HS. All good options.

So you have ruled out PVI already?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I'm not really in a position to compare PVI to GNZ (and I live in ARL), I will note that my son graduated from GNZ two years ago, and is now at UVA. It is a special place - candidly, I never really "got" Catholic education, let alone single sex education, until he went there. So fair warning, I'm a fanboy if you will, but I come by it honestly.

1. Academics were very solid. Wide range of elective courses. Solid writing instruction. He had to work pretty hard. And he came out thinking for himself, and working with others well.
2. What others say about lacrosse and other major stick-and-ball sports is true. You have to be good to play varsity. Sometimes really good. That said, the no-cut sports (eg, XC, hockey, rugby) always suggested to me that they "get" the proper role of sports in the educational experience, and in some cases, they turn kids into pretty good athletes in sports they might not have otherwise tried.
3. Outside of sports, there are plenty of other well supported extracurriculars. (My son was also heavily into tech/stage crew.) And in an era where many Catholic schools can be very dogma-focused, GNZ had an excellent balance between the dogmatic and the social justice doctrine, which is after all part of our faith. (I say this as a relatively conservative Catholic, and I also note that PVI, through its disabilities program, has an excellent reputation for this as well.)
4. I/he really liked the urban aspect of it, much more than I expected. Kids grow up and experience the joy of independence taking the metro to school. And, notwithstanding the increasing gentrification in the area, I think it reinforces the service-related elements of the experience. Obviously FFX is not ARL in terms of access, but if you are close to or pass near a Metro in your morning commute, don't let it dissuade you.
5. Regarding the single sex aspects , my son enjoyed it because he could be himself. And I do believe that translated to a better educational experience -- there are fewer social barriers to trying things that he might not have in a coed environment, and the boys support each other regardless of the activity. Also, though, I shouldn't have to say this, but I never witnessed any disrespectful behavior towards women or girls in his time there.
6. In a related vein, DO NOT underestimate or pooh-pooh the whole "brotherhood" concept that is often spoken of. At least not in this town. There are very strong bonds that are formed. And I do not have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times older gentlemen around town have come up to my son and introduced themselves out-of-the-blue when he was wearing GNZ logo stuff. He's too young to be "networking," but it's an added bonus I had not considered, that I will know will be there if he ever does need it.

Good luck. Both PVI and GNZ are fine schools.

Thank you for posting your thoughts and experiences.

We’ll be going to the Gonzaga open house tomorrow. If all works as planned, DS will decide Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell or McLean HS. All good options.