Picking the right Catholic school an ‘immersive experience’ at open houses 

When Lori Golueke thinks about where her daughter Reagan will spend the next four years, she isn’t just scanning course catalogs. She’s weighing faith, well-being and whether a school’s culture will help Reagan feel “supported, valued and encouraged to live out her values.” 

Reagan, an eighth grader and student council president at St. Margaret School in Bel Air, will soon attend shadow days at several Catholic high schools.  

“She can get an immersive experience at each school,” her mother said. 

For families like the Goluekes, fairs, open houses and shadow days across the Archdiocese of Baltimore ease the decision-making process. Fairs bring together representatives from every Catholic high school with information tables and Q-and-A opportunities. Open houses, often held in October and November, let students and parents see schools in action. Application deadlines typically fall in December. 

Bonnie Bevans Kottraba, director of enrollment management at Mercy High School in Baltimore, urges families to take advantage of every opportunity.  

“Families should look for a school that has opportunities that could spark their child’s interests,” said Kottraba, a ’98 Mercy graduate, adding that getting involved is “key.”  

She recommends beginning early with camps, athletic events and theater productions. She also cautions against narrowing choices too quickly.  

“Have frank conversations about what is realistic for your family based on distance, affordability, programs offered, academics and the ‘must-haves,’” she said. “Come prepared with questions.” 

Marc Hoffman, in his 21st year as director of admissions at Mount St. Joseph High School in Irvington, emphasizes the importance of visiting multiple campuses.  

“I encourage families to shadow, to visit as many schools as possible so that they can compare those apples to apples and connect with current student families and those of graduates,” he said. “Ask them the good, the bad and the ugly. Was it worth the tuition dollars that they are spending? Have they seen a positive change in their child since he or she enrolled?”  

He advises parents to ask about student-teacher ratios, class sizes, school hours, structure and activity costs. He also highlights the importance of understanding a school’s focus, whether it’s social justice, Scripture or other areas. Support for learning differences, he added, is vital.  

Kristin Green, director of enrollment at The Catholic High School of Baltimore, warns parents not to be swayed by prestige alone.  

“Some parents are attracted by a school’s prestige, ranking or word-of-mouth reputation rather than on the actual student experience,” she said. “They need to choose a school based on what works best for their child, not what works best for them or for their other children. Parents also need to include their child in the ­decision-making process.”  

She recommends asking about discipline, tutoring, counselor availability and teacher engagement.  

“If you can picture your child feeling both challenged and comfortable, it’s often a good sign,” she said.  

Green also encourages families to apply for financial aid regardless of income and notes that schools vary widely: large schools offer many options, small schools foster close-knit communities, highly academic schools push ambitious students and community-focused schools emphasize faith formation and balance. 

At Archbishop Curley High School, David Polsinelli, director of counseling, emphasizes self-awareness. It’s extremely important for families first to be able to pinpoint exactly what their needs are before coming to open houses and asking questions, he said.  

Ultimately, he added, intuition matters: “At the end of the day, your gut feeling as well as listening to your heart can really help you to make right decisions,” he explained. 

For Golueke, that balance is key.  

“We want a school that challenges Reagan academically but also supports her faith and personal growth,” she said. “The culture of the community is really important to us too.”  

Questions to Ask When Choosing a School 

• What opportunities spark my child’s interests? 
• How realistic is this choice in terms of distance, cost and academics? 
• What are student-teacher ratios and class sizes? 
• What are test scores at the school? 
• How does the school support learning differences? 
• Does the school’s culture align with our values? 
• How available are counselors and tutors? 
• Do current families feel the tuition is worth it? 
• Can I picture my child feeling challenged, supported and at home here? 

Source: Admissions directors and counselors at Catholic high schools 

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