https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:08:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698293 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:17:37 +0000 Ms.Badger 2698293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry guys about the evolution thing, must have been more the area of the country i grew up in and or lutherans are more obsessed with creationism than other religions </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698170 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 14:10:43 +0000 meredithNYC 2698170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: was going to say the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698143 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:27:16 +0000 honeybear 2698143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: The theory of evolution is not inconsistent with Catholic teachings. I highly doubt that what you were taught in a Lutheran school is comparable to what the vast majority of Catholic schools are teaching today. </p> <p>I know quite a lot of Catholics since I am one, and I know exactly zero who object to or even have any significant qualms about evolution. Heck, my son and I were reading about Australopithecus and Homo erectus this morning in the lead-in to our history studies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698118 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:05:32 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2698118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: interesting. For my high school we learned about creation in theology and evolution in biology. It was a college prep school though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698113 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:01:35 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2698113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked my husband this question. He went to a private Catholic elementary school and an Episcopalian middle and high school. I think his mom switched her kids to the Episcopalian school because the Catholic high schools where he grew up were separated by sex. </p> <p>Pros:<br /> - Amazing education. He was fully ready for college. There was a wide variety of subjects taught, lots of AP classes offered, etc. It was very much a college prep school.<br /> - Involved teachers. All of his teachers had a masters at the minimum and most had Ph.Ds. They cared very much about education.<br /> - Private school is the norm where he's from because the public schools are so bad. So his school offered all the same sports, clubs, dances, etc that a public school did. He was in JROTC, and ran track and cross country.</p> <p>Cons<br /> -$$$. It cost as much as his public college education. His mom was a single mother so she was able to get financial aid.<br /> -no diversity. The majority of his classmates were rich and white. His graduated with two POC and one member of the LGBTQ+ community. He didn't have a good experience because he never had the right car or bag or shoes. He was the "poor" kid.</p> <p>We are hoping to live somewhere with good public schools that can hopefully combine the better parts of our high school experiences. I went to public school in a poor area. Lots of drugs, gang activity, and not as many advanced classes. But I think I had a good experience and had a wide range of friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698092 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 12:44:53 +0000 Ms.Badger 2698092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a small lutheran grade/middle school (20-25 kids per grade) and then a larger lutheran high school (700ish students), so not catholic but comparable. I would caution, if your child isn't the "typical" type kid, small classes can make it really hard to make friends. I was a shy, reader type, who liked math, nerdy and I had a really hard time making friends. There was only 10 girls and basically 1 click, you were in or you weren't. Luckily I was a competitive gymnast and had lots of friends through that, but without it I would have been pretty miserable. There was also one boy with learning problems and he was basically ostracized. I felt so bad for him.</p> <p>My math education was more than fine, I was ahead of most others at my state-flagship public college. However, my schools were terrible with science. Because they wouldn't accept evolution our science education was basically missing parts. I became basically a 1 person crusade to teach other students and teachers what stem cells really were and what the theory of evolution is. I am a scientist now so it didn't hurt in the long run and maybe helped forcing me to delineate my positions so passionately. </p> <p>But as a scientist, I could not send my child to a school that does not teach evolution. And I would be cautious about sending any children that have a hard time fitting in to a very small school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2698021 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 10:48:47 +0000 MamaCate 2698021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: thanks for sharing! I think those are important considerations. For us, the size of the public school is definitely bigger. But the class size is the same, around 20, because the public school is a Spanish immersion program. I think we are likely to to do the opposite--public K-8 and then catholic HS, but that seems so far away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697939 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 07:44:16 +0000 KayKay 2697939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamacate: we are very likely doing catholic school for k next fall. the school is k-8, and then we will likely do public high school. i'm catholic (loosely practicing...we go to church occasionally, the kids are baptized, etc) but DH is not. we both did full public schooling k-12, and i never really considered doing anything but public school until now.</p> <p>in our case, the public school and the catholic school are both very good academically. it's coming down to size -- the public schools here are fairly large and also fairly crowded (almost 30 per class), while the catholic school only has 2 classes of 17-20 and is a very close-knit community. being as we are new to the area with no local family AND live in a major metro area, it's important to us that our kids (well, particularly our oldest daughter, who seems to thrive in more big fish/small pond scenarios....we may re-evaluate each as we go!) have that smaller, family-feeling community. i imagine it will become less important to us as they get older, which is why i think we'll do public high school, as the opportunities there will probably outweigh my size concerns. but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697871 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 21:33:14 +0000 MamaCate 2697871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @bubblegum: @winniebee: @2littlepumpkins: thank you all for your feedback!</p> <p>@meredithNYC: @Bibliolove: thank you for sharing both of your experiences!</p> <p>I was looking for firsthand experiences since I am very unfamiliar with catholic elementary schools. I definitely understand there is a range of schools and we have toured this school and our other top choice to look at the specifics of our situation.</p> <p>I was looking for other experiences because dh and I had sort of talked ourselves out and no one else we know is considering the catholic school near us.</p> <p>All this feedback really helped clarify for me that a lot of this comes down to values and priorities and what is the best fit for our family (since both choices seem strong overall academically). Even though we are catholic, I think the public school is actually a better fit for us and we can supplement with our eclectic, liberal, faith-in-action brand of Catholicism outside of school hours. </p> <p>So I really do appreciate the feedback and dialogue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697699 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:45:52 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2697699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bibliolove: my husband had a similar experience with academics. In my area academics were the reason to go to Catholic school. There was pretty low turnover too. But I know my husband went for one year (9th) and switched to public. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697691 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:43:06 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2697691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also I will say that K is different than the teen years in Catholic schools, they are different so it depends on the schools, and of course the final decision has a lot to do with what else is available to you in your area! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697689 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:42:01 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2697689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my experience... (and I'm typing this on my iPhone so please don't judge by my writing!!)</p> <p>Too strict on behavioral discipline for things that don't matter. For example, 45 minute detention for wearing the wrong socks in my high school. A week of scrubbing down chairs from the cafeteria during lunch break for making too much noise and piggybacking in the hallway, once, in my k-8 school. Two hours detention for not having put away my phone right when I walked on campus and my mom who had just driven away was calling me, like half an hour before school even started. Just sort of silly things, which was also the case in the school my brother went to, a different catholic school. I just felt like in a lot of cases it stunted us.</p> <p>It was close knit but that could work for or against you. In my school all the x race moms were friends and excluded the other kids and parents a lot. I'm not saying they were racist or whatever but it just happened. On the other hand you get to know people well, so that can be nice.</p> <p>Less programs/extracurriculars, but due to the close knit environment a lot of community support for the ones that existed. And there were quit a few teachers that went above and beyond for those extracurriculars in a way I don't think would happen in public schools (or at least most of my public school friends did not describe).. lots of weekends (overnight things too) etc..</p> <p>Most subject areas had a pretty rigorous curriculum especially in my k-12 high school. In my area it was much better with regard to academics than the public schools.</p> <p>The uniforms were good and bad and I'm sure you can probably decide for yourself whether you like the idea of uniforms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697559 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:59:02 +0000 Bibliolove 2697559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: OK, I edited. I feel strongly about my experience, but I do know many who have had a great experience. Just depends on what OP is looking for in schools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697550 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:47:04 +0000 meredithNYC 2697550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bibliolove: your last line read like a blanket statement to me. Apologies for my misunderstanding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697547 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:45:56 +0000 Bibliolove 2697547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: I did say it was my own experience and opinion more than once. This was not my intention to be rude. The OP asked for my first-hand experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697541 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:33:38 +0000 meredithNYC 2697541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: sorry - was more responding to @Bibliolove.</p> <p>This is a sore point with me. It seems that there can't be a discussion about Catholicism/Catholic schools without things getting rude and it wears me out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697539 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:32:32 +0000 winniebee 2697539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should also mention that my husband went to a Jesuit high school (and he is not Catholic). He was well-prepared academically for college. He still isn't interested in sending our kids to a secular school though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697537 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:31:30 +0000 winniebee 2697537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: This is why I wrote that I was sharing based solely on my own experience.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697536 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:30:26 +0000 meredithNYC 2697536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can we please not describe Catholic schools as subpar? Here's a crazy thought: Catholic schools, similar to their public counterparts, vary widely in terms of quality.</p> <p>ETA: as far as the hefty cost, mine was roughly $4,000/year in the 90's, so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697527 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:12:54 +0000 winniebee 2697527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bibliolove: "Math was a joke" - YES. That was my experience. I was behind when I got to high school even though I was considered "advanced" in junior high. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697516 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:52:47 +0000 Bibliolove 2697516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am typing on an ipad, so excuse mistakes. </p> <p>I went to Catholic schools until college, as did my siblings. I do not recommend it if you have great public schools in your area. This is my experience, and my sister agrees. I think each diocese is probably different.</p> <p>Pros: smaller schools, less of a chance to "get lost". In general, the schools I attended were homogenous. White and well-off. This might be something you wanted, so I am keeping it as a pro. Opportunity for religious education and experiences. E.g. Pro-life prayer meets at local PP centers. Republican rallies in high school. Maybe you want that. Some religion teachers were good, others were bat-shit crazy. I actually did not mind my uniform I had to wear.</p> <p>Cons: lack of diversity. Salaries of catholic schools are much smaller than public, and the caliber of teachers reflected that. Math was a joke. This one is the main reason why I would never send my future kids to private and religious schools. Excellent teachers, unless it is their calling to teach in a religious school, follow the money like anyone else. Lack of opportunity for extracurricular, such as band and theater...or anything that was not sports. Sports were huge, but everything else was not emphasized and did not have the student size for.</p> <p>Lack of diversity I will touch on again, because this could be my unique experience. But it defintely created a bubble, and being thrust into a big state school for undergrad after that bubble was a shock for me. </p> <p>There is more, but that is enough for me. And this is once again, my experience and opinion. Your school system and city could be very different. But if you have great public schools, it makes zero sense to me to send your kids to a private school (this is a general you, not you in particular). Especially since my parents paid a hefty price for a sub-par education in Catholic schools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697505 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:33:32 +0000 winniebee 2697505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to Catholic grade school and junior high - public high school. I won't be sending my kids to Catholic school. I think there's too much emphasis on religion and not enough emphasis on other extra-curriculars....or math! Also had nuns teaching a lot of grade school - and frankly they were not very kind. This is based solely on my own experience, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697500 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:20:35 +0000 bubblegum 2697500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to Catholic school from K to college. </p> <p>Pros: Teachers are very involved and in most cases love their job. You have to consider than most catholic schools pay their teachers a lot less than public schools, so they're there because they really love their job. Not over crowded! Huge thing for me. I heard of graduating classes that had over 150 students, never been the case for from from K-12th. I love the small school setting. </p> <p>Cons: Not as many resources </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697468 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:39:37 +0000 looch 2697468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was raised Catholic, went to public school and then did religious ed after school. I attended a Jesuit University.</p> <p>My son attended a day care on the campus of a Catholic k-8 school. We enrolled him in preK but ultimately decided to send him to a private non religious preschool and then public school for Kindergarten. </p> <p>I think you have to look at the program that the school has. Is there a computer lab, a science program? Do they have the resources to provide extra help (like a reading specialist) for kids that are struggling? I think if your child is a typical learner, you're fine no matter where you put them. But some kids need a bit extra and parochial schools aren't often in the position to be able to deliver that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697411 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 08:03:48 +0000 MamaCate 2697411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: this sounds very similar to the school we are considering. Thanks for the feedback!!</p> <p>@meredithNYC: thanks! I do like the cozier feel of the catholic school. Our district school is not very good but we were able to open enroll into a spot in the next district over, about 20 minutes away. So those are the choices. Part of me aheees that it would be best to go to free public, but the catholic school is closer and the cost is pretty reasonable for us.</p> <p>@youboots: thanks! Some Catholics can be pretty doctrinaire so I do worry about room of different areas of emphasis but I feel confident that we can focus at home on the things we want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697361 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 22:48:45 +0000 youboots 2697361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are not religious but T goes to a daycare at a private Preschool then K-8. Classes are very small- about 10 per class.</p> <p>I had a great heart to heart with the principal recently and she said as long as we are comfortable with the religious teachings they are happy to have us. There is a variety of kids that are from various backgrounds. We may do private school there. The staff is awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697352 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 22:03:44 +0000 lawbee11 2697352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I attended Catholic school beginning in K and through college. I was raised Catholic but do not practice anymore (I'm actually an atheist now...so that sorta backfired lol). I will try to answer this as objectively as possible. </p> <p>Pros: Smaller school so smaller classes, more tight-knit, everyone knows everyone. I do feel like I got a good education, but the public school alternatives available to me were pretty bad. If you want your child to learn about Catholicism and go to mass regularly during the school year then that would be a pro (for example, I did all my sacraments through my schools). </p> <p>Cons: Expensive. Not as many options for advanced (like AP) classes and other electives (my stepdaughter just took a personal finance/learning to budget class at her public school...nothing even close to that was offered at my school). Not as diverse. Lots of indoctrination (I guess this could be a pro depending on what you're looking for). </p> <p>Hope this helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697346 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:58:23 +0000 mamabolt 2697346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did Catholic school 5-8. It was not the greatest experience for me. Coming in at that age to a very small social circle was hard and since there was only one class per grade level things got cliquey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697342 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:47:41 +0000 Foodnerd81 2697342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to catholic schools k- college. It was important to my parents at least through high school. Pros: it was a small school (maybe 50 odd kids per grade in elementary), so you kind of knew everyone. It was a good school/ education, especiall compared to the public schools I would have gone. I went to a small all girls catholic high school and really enjoyed it. I still have many friends from high school. Tight knit community. </p> <p>Cons: not diverse. not as many options for things like sports or extra curriculars. Lived further from friends than if I had gone to a local public school. </p> <p>Fwiw my parents are still very catholic. I'm catholic enough to get married and baptize my kids in the church and that's about it. We live in a town with excellent public schools so will send our kids there but will probably do ccd.</p> <p>ETA: my grammar and high schools were run by sisters of mercy. College was Jesuit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/catholic-school-pros-and-cons#post-2697331 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:12:19 +0000 MamaCate 2697331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I went to a Jesuit university and if we had a Jesuit school in my town it would be a done deal! But the only one in the state is a boys' HS (where my DH attended) and it is 2 hours away.</p> <p>I tried to ask about the orientation without asking outright and the principal really emphasized the focus on service to others which is right up my alley. Thanks for the feedback! </p>