When I think of Oakcrest, I think weirdo girls school. Send them to Visi.

I am the parent of an Oakcrest student.
My spouse was divorced prior to marrying me.
We had both of our children out of wedlock.
I am part of the LGBTQ+ community.
We are a pro-choice family.
My daughter has very different political beliefs than many of her friends and teachers at Oakcrest.
That said, she loves it there and is doing incredibly well.
She does not compromise her own beliefs to please others.
She does not go to mass every day (no one is forced to go to mass -it is offered, but if you don't go, that's ok too).
She considers the theology class as a study of what some Catholics believe - not what she believes.

She has learned to be comfortable in her own skin and find out that she can have fun, friendships and learn even with people with whom she has differences.

I went to oakcrest…and while I acknowledge that things certainly may have shifted in the past 10 years, enough of the same teachers and administrators are still there and it’s impossible to envision oakcrest having done any sort of 360 monumental shift. So, having acknowledged that, reasons I would never send my daughter there:

Obsession with virginity, chasteness as a reflection of the type of person you are. The ‘flower with petals picked’ analogy was introduced and revisited multiple times throughout my time there. Sexual thoughts of any kind (even without action!) are something to feel guilty and repentant about

So. Much. Judgment. This is not the loving, accepting, welcoming version of Christianity. Judge people who have abortions; judge people who get divorced; judge people who get pregnant out of wedlock and have the baby; judge people who aren’t in church every week or don’t baptize their children; judge birth control; judge women’s clothing choices…and on and on and on.

Definitely an attitude of subservience to men

Anonymous wrote:We know Opus Dei. I'm not sure what she/we should be afraid of?

Indoctrination? Handmaid's Tale culture?

Seriously, I am done with this . On both sides.

Our daughter will be just fine wherever she chooses. And we will be there to support her.

Try supporting your DC vs controlling the environment. It's much more satisfying and you can just enjoy being their parent. And they will respond better to you.

But you do you. Good luck.

It is supportive to not portray to your daughter that this type of environment is acceptable. Majorly sexist, subservient teachings. It’s a woman’s job to be pure and to avoid tempting men, who can’t be responsible for their thoughts or actions when a girl isn’t acting like a lady. Masturbation is a grave sin.

If your goal is fostering an independent, empowered daughter you should run far away from oakcrest, this is not an environment that rewards, encourages or even allows free thought expression.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is looking as well. Non practicing Christian family but DD is very focused on Science and prefers a smaller environment. Seems like a good fit but we will visit and see.

DD has visited multiple schools in the area so far. She has shown amazing insight on campus feel/if she would fit in etc and even picked up on things we totally missed.

Based on this, we are letting her make the choice and we will support wherever she chooses (and if she gets in). We are not allowing our political/religious beliefs to be part of this process. We have done what we can and given her the tools to judge what the right path is for HER. Whether we agree with it her choice or not, it's time to let her follow her path and we will always support and be there if she wants to change course.

From that perspective, we feel that Oakcrest may work for her, but it is her choice.

If you’re describing yourself as a non practicing Christian family I would HIGHLY recommend avoiding oakcrest.

-2009 Oakcrest graduate

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and send my kids to a Catholic K-8. I would not consider Oakcrest for my daughter. It is super conservative.

+1

This is a tangential vent. I’m deeply involved in the Catholic school world and am increasingly frustrated by non-denominational Christians and Christian evangelicals who think that “Catholic school” is some kind of secret synonym for “school for parents who identify as conservative/traditional/Christian”. Inevitably they get through 6 months-2 years and start complaining about all of the parts of the school that follow Catholic teachings and practices versus their own denomination’s practices. Our school (not Oakcrest) has recently had families complain that we were not biblical literalists, argue against the teaching of evolution, complain about service projects, etc. Very tired of hearing people who are surprised that their Catholic school practices and teaches Catholicism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if your daughter is interested in STEM, look at the number of course offerings. It is very limited at Oakcrest and was one of the deciding factors for my DD to attend another school that had a more robust offering of STEM courses.

Definitely limited and check out also the most recent college acceptances. It is not top tier. We pulled out and went public

+1. Not top tiers and for non-Catholics they should be aware of the signing if the cross and the Hail Mary before every class. It’s also not good with SN issues

Catholics gonna catholic. What do you expect? Or are you afraid we all have devil’s horns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if your daughter is interested in STEM, look at the number of course offerings. It is very limited at Oakcrest and was one of the deciding factors for my DD to attend another school that had a more robust offering of STEM courses.

Definitely limited and check out also the most recent college acceptances. It is not top tier. We pulled out and went public

+1. Not top tiers and for non-Catholics they should be aware of the signing if the cross and the Hail Mary before every class. It’s also not good with SN issues

This cracks me up. Yes, many many many Catholic schools start each class with the Hail Mary. And all Catholics start every prayer with the sign of the cross.
my super-social-justice-hippy-guitar-playing-nun Catholic school (not in DC) said the Hail Mary before each class.
(or sometimes the magnificat or Our Father, but usually the Hail Mary. I can still recite in in French quite well .
That's really not the sign of much of anything other than it being a Catholic school.