Private Catholic Schools - Notre Dame vs. Loyola (Los Angeles, Santa Clarita: low income, neighborhood)

[Torger]

I am optimistically hoping my son will have a choice between these two Catholic schools soon.

Both amazing schools in my opinion, with some obvious differences (Notre Dame is co-ed, Loyola is all-boys).

Can anyone opine on the difference in teaching style between the Holy Cross vs. Jesuit Orders?

Is one school considered more rigorous than the other?

Does either school have more of a religious focus? We have great respect for Catholic values but are otherwise not that religious.

Would especially love to hear thoughts from anyone with experience with both schools.

I should add that my son is not an athlete so I'm more interested in opinions on the academic environments than the sports teams.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[(901)]

The Los Angeles forum is probably not the be best place seeking religious advice. Try this one

http://www.city-data.com/forum/christianity/

[Mr. Zero]

I can’t speak about the Holy Cross order, but I did attend an all-male Jesuit high school on the East Coast. The general perception is that the Jesuits are one of the more academically-focused and more progressive (supporting social justice) orders.

There are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the US, including Georgetown, Fordham, Marquette, Gonzaga, pretty much anything “Loyola” and coincidentally, Holy Cross in Boston.

Meanwhile, while my Jesuit high school has the expected religious/conservative extracurricular groups such as a Pro-Life club, there are also clubs supporting LGBTQ rights and Feminism.

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by (901)

The Los Angeles forum is probably not the be best place seeking religious advice. Try this one

http://www.city-data.com/forum/christianity/

Pretty sure they are asking for an opinion about two schools in LA not religion specifically.

LA is actually much more religious then where I grew up in MA. The Mexican population is very religious and that makes up a large portion of the population. The Filipino and Koreans also tend to be religious and that is also a fairly big part of LA. I moved Santa Clarita a few years ago and up there it seems like 75% of the people I meet attend either Christian or LDS church and are very vocal about it as in mentioning their church to me within 5 minutes of meeting them. Growing up in MA nobody ever talked about religion or attending church

[Torger]

Originally Posted by Thirsty_And_Miserable

Where does HE want to go? Where are HIS FRIENDS going? What public high school would he attend?
Which of the two schools is a bigger commuting hassle? They are in different parts of town.

He’s a bit torn between the schools, as are we.

None of his current friends are going to either school. His friends are going to the local public University High School in West Los Angeles, which is a decent school with good teachers. However 71% of the school is considered Low Income, which equates to a household income of $46k or less for a family of 4. Nothing wrong with that except that extracurriculars are badly underfunded and most students there are not college bound. We are lucky enough to have more resources for private school so we’re looking into it.

Both schools are about the same commute from where we live.

[Torger]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zero

I can’t speak about the Holy Cross order, but I did attend an all-male Jesuit high school on the East Coast. The general perception is that the Jesuits are one of the more academically-focused and more progressive (supporting social justice) orders.

There are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the US, including Georgetown, Fordham, Marquette, Gonzaga, pretty much anything “Loyola” and coincidentally, Holy Cross in Boston.

Meanwhile, while my Jesuit high school has the expected religious/conservative extracurricular groups such as a Pro-Life club, there are also clubs supporting LGBTQ rights and Feminism.

This is helpful insight - thank you!

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Torger

His friends are going to the local public University High School in West Los Angeles, which is a decent school with good teachers. However...

Almost any Catholic high school will provide your child with a better education than a public high school in southern California today. I wouldn't worry about curriculum. If your son does not excel in sports, send him to the co-ed school; the all-boys school will undoubtedly focus heavily on sports.

Been down your path. In our case, it was several years ago, a different suburb of L.A., and while our local public high school was considered highly ranked and a "California Distinguished school," there was far too much disposable income among the students, and many of the high school kids in our neighborhood got into trouble there.

[(901)]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

Pretty sure they are asking for an opinion about two schools in LA not religion specifically.

LA is actually much more religious then where I grew up in MA. The Mexican population is very religious and that makes up a large portion of the population. The Filipino and Koreans also tend to be religious and that is also a fairly big part of LA. I moved Santa Clarita a few years ago and up there it seems like 75% of the people I meet attend either Christian or LDS church and are very vocal about it as in mentioning their church to me within 5 minutes of meeting them. Growing up in MA nobody ever talked about religion or attending church

I was not aware Notre Dame/Loyola moved to southern California

The Mexican/Korean/Philipino communities in my experience are mainly Catholic. My theory is because that's who gives out "the free stuff"! It has very little to do with religion. I personally would never let my child attend anything associated with the Catholic church due to their constant cover-up of child abuse

[Torger]

Originally Posted by Thirsty_And_Miserable

Also, if possible (Call the schools?) see which schools might have more kids in your neighborhood for carpooling???

This is a really good idea I hadn’t thought of. Thanks!

[Torger]

Originally Posted by (901)

I was not aware Notre Dame/Loyola moved to Southern California

Notre Dame High School has been in Sherman Osks for about 70 years. Loyola High School has been in Central Los Angeles since the 1800s.