Parochial schools in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy (Philadelphia, Norwood: school tuition, gated)

[nico2]

My family and I will be relocating to Philly this summer and I was very impressed with Mt. Airy. Unfortunately we can't afford the tuition at the private schools but the Parochial school tuition fees seem to be more affordable. Does anyone know anything about either Our Mother Consolation or Immaculate Heart of Mary schools? I think they are both in Chestnut Hill.
Thanks!
Nico2

[newmarlig]

Ratings from GreatSchools.net


Greatschools.net Search: Our Mother Consolation

Immaculate Heart of Mary School - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - PA - School overview

[juniperbleu]

I vaguely remember kids from OMC, but not enough to judge the school's quality. If you can afford it, Norwood Fontbonne was a fantastic school (went there k-8). It's pricier than parochial (unfortunately), but less expensive than other private schools in the area.

[Empress_Valencia]

Take a look at Holly Cross School @ 144 E Mount Airy Ave Philadelphia, PA 19119. They are right before the intersection of E. Mt. Airy avenue and Germantown Ave. They are K-8 and my son went there while we live in mt. airy until I moved back to the suburbs. I have a cousin that still attends there and he loves it, I loved it. They are very caring and they have a before and after care program. Tuition was about $200 monthly not including aftercare. They have a lot of activities for the kids and it is just a great school. Also take a look at this website www.greatschools.net for info on other parochial schools the area.

[nupe357]

I also went to Norwood Academy from K-8 and can attest that it offered excellent academic training. However, I have a huge problem with this place because (to put it politely) it lacks the type of multicultral teaching staff and student body I would expect to see as a parent raising kids in our increasingly multicultural society.

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by nupe357

I also went to Norwood Academy from K-8 and can attest that it offered excellent academic training. However, I have a huge problem with this place because (to put it politely) it lacks the type of multicultral teaching staff and student body I would expect to see as a parent raising kids in our increasingly multicultural society.

Unfortunately, that's true. I've also seen that in a lot of the private and parochial schools in the area.

Actually, for that matter, it's the same (but opposite) situation in many public schools. Where my mother used to work it was a novelty for the students when they got a "white boy." In 30+ years she's only had a handful of nonAfrican-American students.

[nupe357]

Originally Posted by juniperbleu

Unfortunately, that's true. I've also seen that in a lot of the private and parochial schools in the area.

Actually, for that matter, it's the same (but opposite) situation in many public schools. Where my mother used to work it was a novelty for the students when they got a "white boy." In 30+ years she's only had a handful of nonAfrican-American students.

Juniperbleu:

Although there are similar disparities regarding the racial make-up of public/private schools in Philly I think it is a mistake to equivocate the situations. Philly public schools are part and parcel of a legacy of segregation, underfunding, mis-management, etc. In short, the Philadelphia area exist as a place where many students are faced with poor public schools which provide poor educations and lead to poor opportunities. This is generally not true of private schools in the Philadelphia area.

In short, many of the city's public schools are essentially segregated by economics (which also reflects significant racial disparities as well). Private schools are a choice (i.e., "a commodity") that can be purchased by some and not others, therefore the lack of diversity in some private schools exist within a very different context than the lack of diversity that exist within Philly's public schools. After all, pubic schools are "open" institutions that must serve everyone within certain geographic boundaries while private schools have a great deal more power to select their student bodies.

Another way to put it is this: Segregation, poverty and other disparities did not come about in urban areas "naturally" but because of public policies and private actions that sought to exploit and incapacitate specific groups of people based on race, class, etc. Part and parcel of this is a segregated public school system and (to a certain extent) a private school system that serves as a way for some to "escape" these same conditions.

Bottom line, we can't look to Philly public schools and say that their isolated racial make up is the "same" as the make up of elite private schools. Yes, they may both lack racial diversity but for VERY different reasons...

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by nupe357

Bottom line, we can't look to Philly public schools and say that their isolated racial make up is the "same" as the make up of elite private schools. Yes, they may both lack racial diversity but for VERY different reasons...

I agree, I probably should have said "similar" not "same." My main point was that a lack of diversity (racial, socioeconomic, etc) is not unique to one or two schools, but is fairly widespread. I did not intend to insinuate that the reasons for this are all the same in private v. public or even throughout the region.