I think we lost the OP but as a current BS parent, among my kids classes there are several Jewish families and more non-Catholic and non-practicing Catholics and Christians. A lot of people on this board tend to hate on BS and I was really concerned when we were considering it, but here are a few actual facts:

~ 500 students
~ 70% Catholic Parishioners
~20% minority enrollment

How one FEELS is subjective, but last year only 1/2 of the second graders participated in First Communion. It is true that because of its location, BS attracts some wealthy Catholic (and non-Catholic) families from the area. It also attracts people who commute from other parts of the District and MOCO for a wide variety of reasons. I think the previous poster who said you would have to be comfortable knowing that your child was exposed to the Catholic faith daily - they start with a morning prayer, there are monthly masses and there are numerous service projects over the year.

The stereotype of a lax mom in a Tahoe/Suburban driving to Bethanny is not wrong but it is also just that, a stereotype representing a part of the population, not the entire school. You will find that at any of the area privates, swap the sport to travel soccer, car to a Tesla (with a no ELON sticker) or a RIVIAN and maybe a vacation house in Nantucket, and you could say the same about NPS, Sidwell, or any of the many other numerous options within a few miles. Because the reality is that is more about the area than any particular school.

We are out of staters with no generational ties and have found the community to be welcoming and caring. I think the community is at the heart of the school - kids look out for one another (they have a great buddy program), parents look out for kids and the entire school has a positive and warm energy. My kids are happy and thriving. I am not sure I think they have the best academics in the city but I also think they focus on the whole person education and that was/is important to our family. And FWIW, one of the Priests at BS is in the NYT from 2019 calling out the Trump Administration for their abhorrent immigration policies. I found that years ago, when my researching of BS only led me to this board filled with people saying awful things about a place they had never stepped in.

To the Poster asking about HR - I am not as familiar. I know families that attend and like it but they seem to all live right around the school in Kensington and I do think it is slightly smaller and less diverse than BS.


In general the Catholic Church has some progressive positions and some conservative ones. It is not a monolith, neither is BS. But it is a great school for many DC area families - when people come seeking advice, people who don't have any experience with it shouldn't (but typically are) the loudest ones in the chat.

Anonymous wrote:If you live in Chevy Chase, apply to BS. HR is VERY insular. I went there in the 80s and my classmates still live there and send their kids there. BS is also a lot bigger so more opportunities for friends. More diverse as well.

Thank you. We are smack in the middle of both schools, so either would work from a logistics standpoint. Is the diversity you are referencing at Blessed Sacrament an ethnic/racial one, economic one, or both? We are pretty middle class, so we wouldn’t want our kids to feel like fish out of water if the majority of their classmates are strengthening friendships after school or weekends at country clubs that we won’t be able to belong to (I say this because I believe someone previously stated many Blessed Sacrament families belong to Columbia Country Club, if I am not mistaken.) Alternatively, if we do not live in Kensington, will it be difficult for our children to make friends at Holy Redeemer given it’s so insular?

Both schools seem equally nice from the outside. We will be visiting during the Open Houses come October, but it’s always interesting to get an insiders perspective. Thanks to all again who have been responding! (And yes I am not the original poster who was Jewish inquiring about the school. Our family is Catholic, hence the interest in the parochial schools.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciate all of this insight. I suspect we will not apply.

Jew here at this point in time in the YS you must be an idiot to even be considering sending your kids to any Christian based school.

Never Forget you didn’t learn you are a fool.

I’m not a religious Jew but my family died in the Holocaust his do you not understand your Jewish children are not welcome by Christians in this country!

His do you not understand Christians are trying to remove separation of church and state?

Shame on you .

Christians, not Catholics, huge difference.

Catholics were Christian for hundreds of years before whatever group you're referring to was founded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciate all of this insight. I suspect we will not apply.

Jew here at this point in time in the YS you must be an idiot to even be considering sending your kids to any Christian based school.

Never Forget you didn’t learn you are a fool.

I’m not a religious Jew but my family died in the Holocaust his do you not understand your Jewish children are not welcome by Christians in this country!

His do you not understand Christians are trying to remove separation of church and state?

Shame on you .

Christians, not Catholics, huge difference.

Anonymous wrote:Hi — Thoughts on Blessed Sacrament for our kids?

We’re a liberal Jewish family (but not very religious) in the neighborhood.

Our neighbors seem to like BS, and we like that it’s nearby, affordable, and smaller than public but not too small.

We are looking for a school that will provide a good education, in a welcoming community, where our kids and we can make friends.

Good grief, no. Why would you subject your kids to this?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I appreciate all of this insight. I suspect we will not apply.

Jew here at this point in time in the YS you must be an idiot to even be considering sending your kids to any Christian based school.

Never Forget you didn’t learn you are a fool.

I’m not a religious Jew but my family died in the Holocaust his do you not understand your Jewish children are not welcome by Christians in this country!

His do you not understand Christians are trying to remove separation of church and state?

Shame on you .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live in Chevy Chase, apply to BS. HR is VERY insular. I went there in the 80s and my classmates still live there and send their kids there. BS is also a lot bigger so more opportunities for friends. More diverse as well.

Neither of these schools would be welcoming to a Jewish family, these are both very Catholic schools.

PP started a new thread within the thread and said she's catholic.

I think the original (Jewish) OP got their answer.

Anonymous wrote:If you live in Chevy Chase, apply to BS. HR is VERY insular. I went there in the 80s and my classmates still live there and send their kids there. BS is also a lot bigger so more opportunities for friends. More diverse as well.

Neither of these schools would be welcoming to a Jewish family, these are both very Catholic schools.

If you live in Chevy Chase, apply to BS. HR is VERY insular. I went there in the 80s and my classmates still live there and send their kids there. BS is also a lot bigger so more opportunities for friends. More diverse as well.

Anonymous wrote:There’s not a huge difference between the two.

There is a difference between Kensington and Chevy Chase and the population of the two schools reflects that. Both schools send a very large percentage of their graduates to Prep, Gonzaga, St John’s, Visi, Stone Ridge and Holy Child and Holy Cross.

You may be Catholic, but I’ll guarantee you will be surprised at the differences in the Catholic world here in DC and what you are used to.

Thank you for your response to my question above. Good to know there isn’t a big difference between the two. Are both as welcoming to outsiders? What is the Catholic school world like here versus the rest of the country? Thanks again.

No way! We are Christian (not Catholic) and I would never do a parochial school. An independent Catholic school might work, but I really would feel for your kid. I went to an independent catholic school and it was doable as a non catholic Christian. I don't think there was a single Jewish family at my school. Yes, this was the 1990s but still...

There’s not a huge difference between the two.

There is a difference between Kensington and Chevy Chase and the population of the two schools reflects that. Both schools send a very large percentage of their graduates to Prep, Gonzaga, St John’s, Visi, Stone Ridge and Holy Child and Holy Cross.

You may be Catholic, but I’ll guarantee you will be surprised at the differences in the Catholic world here in DC and what you are used to.

NP here- reopening this thread. We are new to the area and are considering Blessed Sacrament School for Kindergarten. We are Catholic, so religion is not an issue. However, we are in Chevy Chase, MD, in between Blessed Sacrament and Holy Redeemer School of Kensington. Does anyone have experience with both schools and can attest to the social atmosphere? We don’t have any legacy with either school being new to the area. We also don’t belong to any of the country clubs nearby. (We aren’t opposed to the country club culture, simply financially cannot afford it at this time.) Is there a difference between the two, either from an academic level or from a friendliness level? Thanks to all in advance.

OP here. I appreciate all of this insight. I suspect we will not apply.