• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Abigail Rutherford, director of admissions at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Essex, chats with students Sept. 13. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Finding the right fit: How to make the most of high school open houses

October 4, 2022
By Todd Karpovich
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Morgan Anderson has been attending St. John the Evangelist School in Severna Park for 10 years, and now she is looking for a Catholic high school that will allow her more amazing opportunities and help her to grow into an adult. 

Morgan and her family plan to attend as many open houses as possible to get a feel for the various schools. The family hopes to get a pulse of the campus and walk away with a good understanding of what it would be like to walk on that campus every day.

It’s that time of the year when thousands of eighth graders around the Archdiocese of Baltimore will visit Catholic schools and determine which one is the best fit.

Morgan Anderson, left, has been attending St. John the Evangelist School in Severna Park for 10 years. (Courtesy St. John the Evangelist)

“The process of selecting a high school is both exciting and overwhelming,” said Stephanie Anderson, Morgan’s mother. “I believe there are so many wonderful schools in the area, so although I don’t think there is a chance she would end up in a bad one, there is a lot of pressure to find the best fit.”

Anderson added that everyone wants to help their children make the best decision and find the best home for their next four years. 

“In the spring we were able to do some Zoom open houses,” she said, “so I am grateful this year that we will be able to visit schools in person.”

Morgan also hoped to attend shadow days to get an even better feel for the schools.

Maureen Cannon, director of enrollment management at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, believes open houses are a great way to see the school “in action” and get a sense of its character, mission and spirit.

“Open house is also a wonderful way to get to know the school community and engage with students, teachers and school leadership,” Cannon said. “Families will tour the school. At Notre Dame Preparatory School, student ambassadors lead our tours.”

She suggests, “Talk to your tour guides, and ask them what they like about attending the school and why they chose it. What’s a typical day like? What are their favorite classes? In which clubs or other school activities do they participate? What are the teachers like?”

Visitors get a chance to talk with teachers about certain subjects. Families can also get a sense if these instructors moderate a specific club, have a background in studying abroad or if they coach a sports team.

Although financial aid is usually a separate process from applications, open houses provide parents with the opportunity to inquire about how it works. Parents can ask about how much aid is typically given and what percentage of students receive aid.

Cannon noted that school websites are the first place to look for information on financial aid.

Cisne Llivichuzcha, a sophomore at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Essex, participates in a science lab. Catholic high schools will offer open houses for new students this fall. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“Make sure to note what type of monies are available – from merit- and talent- to need-based scholarships and grants,” she said. “Most importantly, note the deadline for submitting a financial aid application for need-based monies. Most schools adhere to that strict deadline date for any aid consideration.”

Lawrence S. Callahan, president of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Essex, notes that schools are full of resources and the best way to make use of an open house is to tap into those internal resources.

Open houses also serve as a great community builder in the sense that outside families get to experience the school, he said, while current families, students, and faculty and staff get to be involved and help showcase the school.

“For us, they most likely have been to campus before for a shadow day or a tour, but this is a way when all faculty and staff are on campus and available so they are able to speak to anyone in our school,” Callahan said.

Mount Carmel offers individualized tours, shadow days, open houses and other eighth-grade events for current students to go over how their students will benefit. Specific tables at the open houses address topics such as learning disabilities and extracurricular activities.

Ed Maynard, director of admissions at The John Carroll School and an alumnus of the Bel Air school, recommends starting by exploring the websites of schools that may be of interest before attending the open house. Typically, information regarding academic programs, athletics, campus ministry and much more is already on a school’s website. Admissions offices at Catholic schools are also a great starting point, and they can directly connect people with departments, moderators and coaches for any specific questions.

“Open houses are usually your best way to get a great deal of information about a school in a short amount of time,” Maynard said. “Open houses provide an overview of all that a school has to offer, and also allow for you to speak directly with members of the school community in specific areas that may be of interest to you.”

Sonia Leahy, an eighth-grade student at St. Louis School, Clarksville, is expecting to learn more about the school, the clubs, athletics and their Catholic values as she tours various Catholic high schools. 

“I am very excited for the process; however, at times I do get nervous to see what lies ahead,” Leahy said.

Arkin Kukadi, also an eighth-grade student at St. Louis,  will attend several open houses and is expecting to get an understanding of each school, the responsibilities of being a potential student, and the pros and cons of each institution.

“I am very excited about the process because this is a big change in my life,” Kukadi said. “It is also going to be a very exciting journey for me.”

Read More Schools

Can’t afford a Catholic college? Think again. Many offer full tuition options

When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing?

School club gives students chance to benefit veterans, fosters Gospel value of serving others

school choice

ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gives school-choice advocates partial victory with more to do

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

2025 Stellar graduates

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Todd Karpovich

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

  • Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary

  • Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

  • Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

  • Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz

| Latest Local News |

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

| Latest World News |

Can’t afford a Catholic college? Think again. Many offer full tuition options

Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary

LA archbishop, joined by business leaders, starts fund to help families affected by ICE raids

FBI surveilled SSPX priest amid probe of suspected neo-Nazi’s plans for violence

Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Can’t afford a Catholic college? Think again. Many offer full tuition options
  • Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary
  • LA archbishop, joined by business leaders, starts fund to help families affected by ICE raids
  • FBI surveilled SSPX priest amid probe of suspected neo-Nazi’s plans for violence
  • Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives
  • Our faith is not afraid of questions
  • Catholic ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fights world hunger, one obstacle at a time
  • Parishes need to launch ‘revolution of care’ for the elderly, pope says
  • Broglio: Church teaching obligates the faithful to support pastoral care of migrants

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en