Bishop Denis J O'connell High School

6600 North Little Falls Road

Arlington, VA 22213

18 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 31, 2024

My daughters love O'Connell. The school has something for every type of child, is geared towards the value of service, teamwork, great athletics - and wonderful teachers willing to work and support their students.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2023

We have had three children go to DJO and we have had nothing but positive things to say. The school prepares the young adults for higher education and life skills.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2020

My children were previously in a private Catholic school prior to attending DJO, and they had no interest in any other high school. DJO allows "shadowing" with other students during 8th grade, so a prospective student can get a closer look. The uniforms help equalize a student population that pulls from 80 different schools from VA, DC, and MD, so they are getting to meet people they might otherwise not encounter. My children are very active in sports, and attend many events at school, and there seems to be a strong camaraderie with students. Teachers are also frequently seen at school events, cheering on their students. My children are very happy at this school, and I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2020

Really awful. I genuinely regret wasting the money on my child's time there.
Submitted by other on July 03, 2018

My experience at DJO was HELL for me. I did not fit their standards so I was bullied for being different. Like I said above, I was kicked out for my mental health issues. If your child has mental health issues, do yourself a favor and go to public school. They have more resources for your child. O'Connell is not the school for you.
Submitted by student on December 06, 2017

This school has a bad approach to everything. Paul VI is much better. Also the school spirit sucks as well.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2017

Our son has had a great experience so far. We are impressed with his teachers and the advanced courses offered. He came from a small private middle school and has transitioned into a bigger school environment well. He has developed strong relationships with each of his teachers and is challenged academically. He especially likes the Honors Biology and English combined class. All of his teachers are supportive but firm on deadlines, which we appreciate b/c it gets him to be more conscious planning his schedule and due dates. We especially like the app that updates us on his class grades.
Submitted by parent on July 15, 2017

As a parent of a student who has spent three years so far here I can tell you with no uncertainty there are much better options in the area. Communication with teachers and leadership has always been an issue and even when we demand change little to nothing is done.
Submitted by other on February 14, 2017

They provide a strong academic environment with a number of upper level classes. They could do a bit better with supporting the students. For example there is no benefit from students doing homework the week they have AP exams. Also they could do a little better with college prep. For example working on college essay promps in English class or more organizes SAT prep.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2017

We have two student at O'connell. So far, our experience has been very positive. The teachers, counselors and administrators at O'connnell are dedicated to providing an exceptional education that targets the whole child. Our children have continued to deepen their faith, are challenged academically, made wonderful friends and are happy. We are deeply grateful for what we have found in this school.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2016

We have 3 students here - our experience so far is disheartening. The school counsellors mislead about AP requirements, the school does not correct this. We have three current students - also in orchestra/band - the penalty is that other grades are sacrificed. We complained and requested a meeting, therefore a teacher and then the head of academics painstakingly explained how what had happened was not against rules and regulations ( loading all test scores for a semester into the band trip period when the students were absent, with make up during noisy advisory etc). The school is determined to show how school rules are observed -it fails to comprehend that rules and that allow this should be updated into this century, just because teaching guidelines allow grading to be skewered into a small timeband doesn't make it right, rather its time to reconsider such policies. Students learning is,needless to say, furtherest from consideration. At no point were we asked our views, just heard recitation that everything was in order accordance with governing regulations( this does explain why orchestra and band have few students - hence the music department suffers ). Ex post justification of poor teacher decisions and disorganization abounds, the school is right at any cost - it is at the cost of motivation and teaching of students. An outdated poorly-run school - wish we'd never begun, now the bigger decision of whether to move to somewhere better or put up with the appalling lack of care for the students and bad policies and sanctimonious upholding of their self-made regulations ( in the face of these being arbitrary and capricious) or put our students through having to leave during high school years and start again elsewhere with all that entails. Especially as they had made great friendships in the student body. Do not send your children here. Further the preaching sister who heads academics was at such pains to explain why extending a deadline date helped students who had stayed up to meet the deadline failed to appreciate what poor planning and breach of student-teacher trust was exemplified by such behaviour. Run by a bloated blinkered faculty, you can do better - and as for the school, it really needs to raise the bar and accept some responsibility.
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2015

So far this has been a great experience for my student and a great experience for the family.
Submitted by student on December 13, 2013

Very few teachers appeared to enjoy any aspect of their job. Very politically-driven school with biased leadership who cares more about athletics and image than education.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2012

What a mistake; not only once but twice. After our daughter begged to get out of Bishop O Connell after her second year we relented and sent her to a much better school in the area. She complained that she was not being taught by the instructors. She had to teach herself. We just didn t really believe her. We asked why such low grades, why do you think you re not learning. She was student of the quarter seven out of eight quarters in Jr. High. It wasn t until she arrived at her new school and the English instructor told us how ill prepared she was in English. Her last school did her no favors. Her new school prepared her and has accepted an appointment to a service academy. I only wish my wife had listened to my daughter when we sent our son there. Two years of misery again! Worst money spent.
Submitted by student on September 05, 2011

I love Bishop O'Connell and everyone I know does too. There's not a single one of my friends who wishes they could go elsewhere. At O'Connell everyone fits in! No matter what, each person has at least some friends and that's what's important. The uniforms are cute and tasteful for girls and standard for boys. The teachers are so nice and genuinely care about the students. Overall the vibes are REALLY good! It's a much better environment than public school. (I went to public school before OC and now often times in class i want to pinch myself because i cant believe how much nicer people are!) I knew from the second I stepped foot here that I would love it and I don't think I'll ever change my mind. It really is a gem of a school. If you decide to attend Bishop O'Connell your High School memories will be wonderful!!!! take my word for it :) this is a place where people respect you and are always incredibly supportive!
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2011

When I read the reviews below I wonder what kind of grudge former students/parents have to discredit a good school like O'Connell. Our son went and thrived. Great caring teachers and guidance couselors, good coaches and lots of challenging honors and AP classes. He did well in college placement exams and was accepted to his first choice university. He was well prepared for university classes by the O'Connell staff and maintains a high GPA. I highly recommend this high school.
Submitted by student on April 29, 2011

Ok, I recently just graduated from Bishop Denis J. Oconnell and dont really know where to beign about this school. First off before you even send your kid here, stop. The school is terrible and i have probably a list of 50 reasons but i will sum it down to five. 1) The academics here are an complete joke, even my parents agreed with me sophmore year, but i decided to stay because of my friends. 3/4s of the teachers just pound you with home work and massive amounts of work that does not accomplish anything productive but stressing you out. I learned more in my first month in college then all 4 years at O'Connell. 2) The rules their are absurd, half the time kids dont even follow them so their set up to fail from the beginning. The administration needs to easy up and stop hosting a prison where kids have little freedom. 3) i could have gotten into better or the same colleges that i did from a public school and saved $40,000. 4) The kids their are all rich so that means for all your parents that dont know, Lots of drug use and alcohol use. 5) at a public school your childs friends are all in a close designated area, not all over Virginia like some of my friends were
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2007

This IS an overall good school and it IS a good value for its price in Catholic and private education. There are some excellent teachers.Would we do it again for our child? No. It was the wrong school for our child, because the kids who shine here are the super-brains or they are the star athletes. The other students, while for the most part, are ALL good students, can often struggle to shine or find their identity here. The emphasis lately is more on creating efficiencies in running the school - outsourcing the book store and food service, but less on the students and teacher recruiting (especially in science). My child has excellent grades, some AP credits, is going to attend a good college, but I think would have had more confidence if had attended a different school. We chose public school instead for our second child.