Boston College High School

150 WILLIAM T MORRISSEY BLVD

Boston, MA 02125

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

7-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on July 07, 2016

MY experience overall at BC High was very good. I attended at a time of transition between the old campus and the new campus, but the school became as good physically as it was theoretically afterwards. The detraction I had was having to navigate construction of the new main building (new in 2006) for 2 years which always made things interesting in the winter. But overall this school made me the man I am today. They put you on a path to success from day 12 and always make sure your going down your own correct path. The environment is friendly and one of strong camaraderie. It wouldn't trade my 4 years here for anything
Submitted by student on July 01, 2016

Honestly, it's nothing special. I've been at bch for two years now and haven't really seen what's so special about this place. There are good teachers and there are bad teachers there (like at any school). I find it really hard to sort of "find your way" there as the school is just way too big. Kids come from all over the state and that sometimes makes it hard to hang out with your friends because it takes over an hour to get to their house. I find the administration to be somewhat disconnected from the students. They only get involved in student life to yell at your entire grade. They don't allow pep rally's or dress down days or field trips or homecoming, etc. which, I feel, is stuff that solidifies school spirit and bonding. My experience at this school has been bad so far.
Submitted by other on March 23, 2016

As an alumnus of BC High, class of '59, I think I have the perspective of time to say unequivocally that I would never have succeeded at university ( A.B. Boston College and Ph.D. Cornell) and beyond without the grounding that BC High's excellent, quite rigorous curriculum provided. Sure I studied and moderately succeeded at Latin, classical Greek, German, and a wide variety of other subjects, but most of all, BC High imparted a love of learning and a sense of discipline that enabled me to go on to a career as a professor of history. I have the best of all professional lives (Well, at least I think so) thanks to the inspiration that that BC High's Jesuit and lay mentors imparted.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2015

I have had two boys attend BC High. They couldn't be more different personality wise or interest wise. But both not only liked BCH, they were supremely proud to have attended. These days it’s difficult to find passion in our youth, so it’s refreshing to see the abundance of passion within BC High’s student body.BCH is one of the most diverse private or public high schools in MA based on demographics, race, culture and region. BC High draws kids from all over eastern Massachusetts unlike public high schools only enrolling kids from one town. And unlike the private independent prep schools, BC High kids come from a much broader economic spectrum. There’s tremendous pride at BC High. It is not an elitist school. There’s very little of the “entitled” attitude often seen at prep schools and high schools in wealthy high profile towns. The overriding attitude I have seen amongst BCH kids is appreciation.The BC High experience is “real-life”, not coddled. Kids at BCH are motivated. Often on my way to work I have dropped of my boys two hours prior to school. Doors open at 6:30am even though school does not begin until 8:30. One may think having 50-200 unsupervised kids at school an hour or two early would be a disaster. If you really want to see the maturity of these kids, drop by at 7am. You will find kids doing homework solo or in groups or they are in clubs or working out. In the gym you won’t find kids playing hoops, but rather lifting weights or training on rowing machines.To expand on BC High’s “real life” nature, teachers expect work hard. They assign a ton of homework, ½ hour per class per night is normal. If you need help, every teacher’s door is open, but kids need to understand that the burden is on them to seek it out. Attitude is sink or swim. Everyone will help, but won’t chase after lazy kids or kids that don’t care. This is the reason that more BC High kids get accepted to Harvard every year than from almost any other high school.If BC High has a drawback, it would impact student athletes who have previously excelled and been first stringers and captains on sports teams, who may find themselves not making a team or warming the bench. This can be a big ego blow for boys used to being stars, and may well be a valid reason for them to attend smaller high schools where they can be bigger contributors.
Submitted by other on October 04, 2013

Both my brother and I went to BCH, graduating in '10 and '08 respectively, and loved it. For the most part the teachers were outstanding, only having 1-2 useless ones through my 4 years. Both of us were lucky enough to play on major sports teams, and this played a huge part of our experiences. Outside of sports there are plenty of extra-curriculars. I had mediocre grades and still ended up at a top 50 college, while my brother went to a top 20. Even after leaving, there are a ton of alumni events, and you meet older BCH guys everywhere. The network is unbelievable.
Submitted by other on September 04, 2013

BCH is not a school for everyone, because of its highly competitive, disciplined environment. Ambitious high achievers thrive there. It's for those who seek an educational and personal experience that will challenge and broaden ones horizon. Each area of endeavor brings positive competition from a large number of talented classmates, and prepares the student for college and life in general. The student who excels at BCH is likely to excel post-graduation, and many relationships made there often continue for a lifetime. Its proud and energized alumni base assures that the school remains vibrant, modern, and prosperous, and graduates tend to be found in areas of leadership and accomplishment.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2013

Some of these reviews are way off base. First, BCH is a private school that costs over $17,000 per year. That alone should tell you that you need to have means to attend. However, the school has a need based tuition adjustment program to accomodate students from all socio-demographic back grounds. I attended an elite private prep school myself, both my older children attended top 50 (in the country) school. BCH is on par with these schools. My son who attends BCH is a dork, but he has never been threatened with violence or even seen drug activity at the school, (That has been his experience). My son loves BCH. He has many friends and his teachers have been outstanding. He is not active in sports, but there are so many clubs like robotics, mindcraft and various other areas to have fun with friends. His science teacher has awakened his mind to the potential of a career in the sciences.
Submitted by other on May 09, 2013

This is an amazing school that gives you the opportunities to excel in whatever you want to. Those who show animosity towards the school have just not embraced what BC High is all about (take it from someone who took 2 years to figure that out). Great opportunities to get involved and feel like you belong to something great. Teachers are superb and being an Eagle really will give you the best chances in life. Unlike a previous comment, the teachers absolutely build a relationship with all of their students and are involved outside the classroom. All the teachers are here for the right reason, because they love teaching and it shows. This community sticks together even when you have graduated many years ago(strong alumni involvement). No kids are "beat up" and if there is any bullying it is immediately dealt with and taken serious and no student thinks of anyone as a "tattle tale" because they know everyone should be respected. Highly recommend if you want a faith based education and an enjoyable four (or six) years. This school really does build men for others.
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2012

THIS IS A GREAT SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS THAT CAN DO THE WORK AND WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE.
Submitted by other on October 03, 2012

Completely overrated. The teachers are poor quality, they don't really develop relationships with their students, and many are reliant on textbooks and online resources. They pride themselves on moving quickly, but in the process they skip over a lot of material, especially in science, & math. There are a lot of drugs-even in the 7th and 8th grades- and violence (people do get beaten up outside the school and in the locker rooms). The english classes are truly a joke. They plan on reading four or five books a year, but they wind up doing two, maybe even one. The teachers are either tyrannical, or have no control over the classes. They do nothing to gain the respect of their students, and it really affects how much material gets accomplished. There are good parts. The foreign language department is above average, and the sports are good, but it is poor overall. The school talks the talk, and the kids are very arrogant about going there, but there is nothing to be proud of. I switched out after my freshman year to attend my local high school. The teachers are MUCH better, the music department is stronger, & the classes are smaller. I recommend everyone to avoid this school.
Submitted by other on June 17, 2012

BC High is by far the best private school in Boston. The teachers, coaches and staff are amazing. The school lives up to its reputation.
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2011

My son is a current freshman at BC High and we are delighted with the way he has embraced all that BC High has to offer. Unlike the most of the other private Catholic schools we visited, BC High's President, Principal, other administrators and teachers seem to share an inspiring vision -in this case,grounded in powerful, time-tested Jesuit/Ignatian principles. It is a fairly large student body and quite diverse, so students have many opportunties to find the friends, sports, clubs, activities that are best suited to them. It can be tough to make certain teams -this is just a reality that one has to be prepared for given the numbers. The teachers are supportive and encouraging, but they do not coddle the young men whom the teach; rather, they expect them to advocate for themselves and admit when they have fallen short. Also, at BC High you feel like you really want to be a stakeholder in its wonderful tradition. You are not constantly badgered to contribute financially, but you feel connected so you want to do the extra if you can. In short, it is an amazing school and we feel privileged to have a son who is a student.
Submitted by other on June 07, 2011

I am currently a student at BC High finishing up my freshmen year. Below are some observations I have made over the past year that some may be interested in: .Some departments of the school are much better than others...The math, history, and language departments are great, but the Science and English departments could use some improvement. .Many people complain about not being able to make sports teams at BC High. However, once kids are cut from teams (Baseball and Basketball are the two that come to mind immediately), they do not make an effort to pursue other, "less-prestigious" teams. .There is a broad mix of students at BC High. There are some kids who are in my opinion, wasting their parents'/the schools' money. Some of the students who are on financial aid or "scholar"ship absolutely do not deserve to be. With that said, most kids at BC High are smart, hardworking individuals. .The arts programs at the school vary greatly, the music and theater programs are good, however, the visual art programs could use major improvements.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2011

Our son is a sophomore at BC High, he loves the school. His teachers are very committed, accessible and truly want him to succeed. He travels about one hour per day from a suburb north west of Boston and takes the bus to the train to BC HIgh. During the commute he studies and catches up on homework, this school is challenging he is doing very well academically, taking honors classes and thriving socially. At BC High, the bar is set high. "a man for others" which the Jesuits instill with community service, kindness and caring for one another at school. We have meet a number wonderful parents through sports and social events at the school. We are so impressed with the school we have decided to send our younger son to the 7th grade program in the fall.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2011

Our son attends BC High. We have found the school to be outstanding in every way. It has very high academic standards in an atmosphere that is supportive and community-spirited. Our son travels almost 1 1/2 hours per day to go to school and he wakes up every morning with a smile on his face. His teachers are dedicated, his peer group is wonderful and he has many opportunities for academic and extra-curricular growth. It is a great school and we highly recommend it.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2011

BC High is a wonderful school. It is academically challengins and very focused on building a young man's character. My son had a wonderful experience, met classmates from many different parts of the Boston area, and has excelled in college. Most importantly, I feel like the teachers really knew my son, his strengths and weaknesses. They knew how to build his academic skills and challenge his thinking. He says that he is a better person because of the education and guidance that he received at BC High.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2011

Sending our son to BC High was the best decision we have ever made. Teachers are the best in the country, the student body is diverse and the extra curricular activities are second to none. Many of the other private schools we looked at were full with White Preppy Boys from very wealthy families. This school has been around for over 100 years for many reason, mainly that it is perfect for teenage boys. BC High is amazing.
Submitted by other on November 21, 2010

I am currently enrolled at B.C. High and it is awesome. The teachers are great, the students are friendly, and the academics challenging. I have read some of the other comments about B.C. High and they're your opinions but I honestly think that B.C. High is one of the best schools in the world.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2010

Next to Boston Latin bc high is the best school in massachusetts. It was established in 1863 by a Jesuit father mcelroy. So that the poor Irish immigrants could get a catholic eduacation. The school lives up to it's Jesuit ideals more than ever today and every student is independant but can still fund support anywhere in the school. Teachers and students email each other to keep updated in material aswell as help with homework. Also there are always teachers and priest waiting to give you help aswell as senior mentors. When I drop my son off I wish I had the oppurtunity to come here. It is an incredible learning institution that doesn't get all the credit that it deserves for the works and services that it provides in it's own community and the outside community.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2010

This school has no idea what is going on within their walls. The teachers seem dedicated and they probably are but it s like the old lady who lived in a shoe she had so many children she didn t know what to do. My son s guidance counselor oversaw more then 300 boys. Don t get me wrong if you have a son that is academically advance or athletically advance he will do well. That being said he would do well wherever he goes, especially if you have the money for private education. The administration is so backward thinking but have programs or club to make them look liberal. It s a joke!