Bishop O'Connell High School: A Comprehensive Overview

Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School, also known as DJO, is a private, Catholic, co-educational college preparatory school situated in Arlington County, Virginia. Established in 1957 by the Diocese of Richmond and under the direction of the Diocese of Arlington since 1974, the school is named in honor of Bishop Denis J. O'Connell.

A Historical Perspective

On September 9, 1957, Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School welcomed its first class of 360 ninth-graders. Guiding their education were the Brothers of Christian Schools and Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). Since its inception, Bishop O'Connell has graduated over 18,000 men and women. Today, the school serves students from more than 80 different schools throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

Location and Accessibility

Bishop O'Connell High School is located in the state of Virginia in the USA. The school is approximately 7 miles away from Washington, D.C., a vibrant city along the Potomac River, bordered by Maryland and Virginia. Washington is home to the U.S. government, including the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court. The city also boasts renowned museums like the Smithsonian and cultural venues such as the Kennedy Center.

Academics

Bishop O'Connell High School maintains high expectations for its students, faculty, and staff. The academic program is structured around required courses designed to achieve specific learning goals for each student. All students follow a demanding college preparatory curriculum aimed at preparing them for admission to leading colleges and universities.

The school offers a challenging college-prep curriculum that includes 28 AP subjects and 36 honors courses. Bishop O'Connell High School offers 24 AP courses. Coursework is available at the Honors and Advanced Placement levels. Dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities are also available through a partnership with Marymount University. The Global Studies Certificate Program offers optional beyond-the-classroom learning experiences focused on themes of world importance.

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The Muller Academic Services Program provides support for students with documented learning disabilities.

The school boasts that 82% of its faculty hold master's degrees or higher. The total number of classroom teachers is 101. The average class size is 18 students.

Departments and Programs

Bishop O'Connell offers a variety of departments and programs to enrich the academic experience.

Advanced Courses

Bishop O'Connell High School offers a wide range of advanced courses, including:

Art History
Art/Drawing
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Comparative Political Systems
Computer Science
English Language
English Literature
Environmental Science
French Language
Latin
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Modern European History
Music Theory
Physics B
Physics C (E & M)
Physics C (Mechanical)
Psychology
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature
Statistics
United States Government
United States History

Spiritual Life

Bishop O'Connell High School is a Catholic coeducational community. Campus Ministry provides opportunities for students to experience the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist, to experience His healing power in the sacrament of Reconciliation, and to enter into a relationship with Him in personal prayer.

Campus Ministry Programs

Living Our Faith
Retreats
Christian Service
Pro-Life Ministry
O'Connell Vocations
Spiritual Life Committee
Diocesan Week of Service

Arts

Bishop O'Connell has a vibrant and award-winning arts program.

Athletics

Bishop O'Connell High School participates in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). In this league, O'Connell participates in all major sports against other Catholic high schools of the D.C. metro area. Since the mid-1980s, the school's primary athletic rival has been Paul VI Catholic High School, located in Chantilly.

Bishop O'Connell High School offers 21 interscholastic sports:

Baseball
Basketball
Cheering
Crew
Cross Country
Dance
Diving
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Winter Track
Wrestling

Student Life

O'Connell has over 100 student-organized clubs, generally focusing on academic, service, and/or common interests.

Traditions

The O'Connell Superdance: An annual 12-hour dance-a-thon held at the school which raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Superdance is organized and run by students. It was started under the administration of principal Msgr. James McMurtrie.
The Hearty Soup Drive: Held annually throughout the month of October. Students collect cans of hearty soup, which are then donated to the local Catholic Charities food bank. The school collects approximately 10,000 cans of soup each year.

Admission

The application deadline for Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School is Jan. 10 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. The acceptance rate of Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School is 90%.

Read also: Education at Bishop Heber College

Tuition and Financial Aid

Yearly Tuition: \$16,535

Financial Aid is Available. Tuition and fees may vary depending on grade, boarding status (if applicable), and may have changed for the current school year.

The average private school tuition in Arlington, VA is \$14,464 for elementary schools.

Notable Alumni

Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School has produced a number of notable alumni, including:

Eric Metcalf (Class of 1985): Former University of Texas and NFL player and three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers.
Nataly Arias (Class of 2004): Member of the Colombia National Soccer team during the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany and the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada. Two-time Olympian representing Colombia in the 2012 Olympics in London, England, and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Controversies

On the morning of May 7, 2002, on D.C. metro area shock jock Elliot Segal's radio program, DC101's Elliot in the Morning was conducting a contest. The winners of this contest would be cage dancers at an upcoming Kid Rock concert at George Mason University's Patriot Center. Two sixteen-year-old O'Connell pupils, claiming to be eighteen, called the show and disclosed alleged sexual activity at O'Connell. The principal addressed pupils over the PA system and criticized the content of the radio show. The two days of broadcasting were ruled indecent by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

School Information

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,153 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
Minority Student Enrollment: 40.4%
Average Class Size: 18 students
Religious affiliation: Catholic Church
Established: 1957
Oversight: Diocese of Arlington
Head of school: William Crittenberger
Gender: Co-educational
School Assoc.: School Membership(s)

Additional Programs

Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School offers a summer program.

Classroom Dress Code

Fall/Spring: Casual
Winter: More formal with jacket

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