Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School

One of the primary reasons we retired in Montgomery! So hard to find authentically Catholic schools and at a reasonable price - we know, we've lived in nine different states. The heart and soul of a Catholic school should be it's theology department, otherwise it is no different than any other school. MCPS's theology department is rock solid! Beyond the faith, academically and athletically/band the school is strong & vibrant. All 5 of our kids attended MCPS; 3 have graduated - 2 are still attending.

Montgomery Catholic has been a great environment for both of my kids. My kids are not Catholic so at first, I was more than a little apprehensive about enrolling my kids in a Catholic school. However, in addition to the strength of the academics and extra-curriculars offered by MCPS, I can definitively say that the faith aspect of the school has been a highlight of their school experience. The elementary religion lessons many times aligned perfectly with my daughter`s lessons at church in Sunday School and the deeper theology lessons my high school son is learning have been a great compliment to his faith foundation and a source of many great discussions. We have seen first-hand how Montgomery Catholic not only works hard to educate kids in all the academic ways, but also how they help form kids of faith, which is such an important foundation in this world we live in.

I am not only a proud Alum but also a current parent. Montgomery Catholic has been a part of my family for generations! The education I received not only prepared me to succeed in college but provided lasting friendships and a foundation in faith that has stayed with me. I am grateful that my children are a part of the Montgomery Catholic legacy. The academic and faith environment encourages growth. We are grateful that teachers educate and love our children and really work to help them succeed. We love that there are opportunities for them to explore their outside interests in sports, music, art and service. I just love this school and everyone who makes it special!

My wife and I have hosted three foreign exchange students, and we sent all three to MCPS. It is the least expensive of the top tier academic schools in the Montgomery area. It has similar numbers of National Merit finalists as other, more expensive private schools in the area, and its students are admitted to desirable colleges in about the same percentages as the others. It has a very intimate, family-like atmosphere. It is a Catholic school and the students are required to take theology classes and attend Mass once a week, but many of the students and some teachers are non-Catholic and there are no attempts made to convert the Protestant or non-believing kids to Catholicism. That said, the school, its leadership, and faculty are unapologetically Christian and they present a Christian worldview and Christian ethic to the students. There is a strong effort directed at character formation, emphasizing the classic virtues of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas. Two of the students we hosted were practicing Catholics, and one was a very pious Protestant. All three reported that they encountered a friendly student body, good teachers, and great activities. One of them played on the soccer team, one played in the band, and one sang in the chorus. The school's athletic program has taken great leaps forward in the past few years. This past fall, the varsity football team played for the state championship for the very first time, and lost a close game. I would highly recommend the school to any Catholic or non-Catholic Christian parents who are looking for a high-quality, reasonably priced private school for their kids.

I''ve attended Montgomery Catholic for 7 years. In the beginning, my experience was great, but the school's value in education, equality of students, and integrity dropped dramatically. Though the school does not participate in the ACE teaching program anymore, for a long part of my academic career here my teachers were first time teachers, who were learning how to control a classroom and create curriculum at the expense of our education. After the 2011-2012 school year, the high school gained a new principle, this change in administration resulted in a loss in the value of education and an increase in the value of the school’s reputation. The teacher turnover is unbelievable, each year the school loses 5+ teachers. As part of the school’s value in its looks and its reputation they are willing to fire a teacher who has been in the Montgomery Catholic school system for a long time, has an Ivy League education, and respect among all students and parents, because they are not a certified teacher. While the certified teachers do nothing valuable in the students education. I believe this "catholic education" is a waste of money and no example of the values which the school is "built on".

I LOVE THIS SCHOOL. IT IS THE BEST SCHOOL EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 93 AND I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!! I PLAYED FOOTBALL WHEN WE WENT MADE THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS OK BECAUSE I HAD THE REST OF MY YEAR AT MY FAVORITE SCHOOL EVER!!!!!!! I LOVED MY TIME THERE!!!!!!!!!! YEEYEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!