2020-2021 Admissions Viewbook

become your best self EXCEL

SERVE

LOVE

2020–2021 ADMISSIONS VIEWBOOK 2020–21 VIEWBOOK | OLGCHS.ORG/APPLY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

02 —

06 —

28 —

COME EXPLORE

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

COME BELONG

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COME EXPERIENCE

22 —

29 —

30 —

31 —

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

APPLICATION DEADLINE DEC. 11, 2020

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SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

COME PLAY

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

OLGCHS.ORG/APPLY

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

WELCOME TO OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL —

Welcome to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.

If the Good Counsel experience could be defined in a single word, it’s “community.”

We are a community… where you will be challenged by our caring faculty as they help you build the skills and knowledge for success in college and beyond.

We are a community… where you will receive daily encouragement and support in your spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social growth.

We are a community ... where you will be exposed to opportunities to uncover talents you never knew you had.

“

We are a community ... where you will feel like you belong, making friendships—with classmates, teachers, and coaches— that will last a lifetime.

Our students are dedicated to improving our world by engaging in service to other communities: close

We are a community… where you will come to understand and appreciate our five core values: Simplicity, Humility, Compassion, Zeal, and Trust.

to home, across the nation, and around the world.

”

Four years of exceptional experiences at Good Counsel produce a young person who is ready to thrive in college and make a difference in the world, for the better.

Our mission says it all: We inspire our students to excel, serve, and love.

Dr. Paul Barker President

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become who you want to be EXCEL

SERVE

LOVE

OLGCHS.ORG/APPLY

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

COME EXPLORE —

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School offers young men and women unparalleled opportunities to become who they want to be. As one of the area’s top college preparatory high schools, our students are challenged to become their best selves as members of our inclusive and supportive community.

For families looking for the best-fit high school for their child, we are a Catholic, private, co-educational community that inspires each student to excel, serve, and love in his or her unique way.

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ABOUT THE SCHOOL

51 — $12M — 11 — 150 — 2 — 5+ — 1,200+ ACRE CAMPUS

STATE-OF-THE-ART PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABS

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WE INSPI OUR STU TO EXCEL AND LOV

SEAT CHAPEL ­

GYMNASIUMS

ATHLETIC FIELDS

STUDENTS

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

IRE UDENTS L, SERVE, VE.

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COME BELONG — Rooted in the Xaverian values of Simplicity, Humility, Compassion, Zeal, and Trust, Good Counsel offers students a supportive environment to grow academically, spiritually, and socially. Good Counsel is a place where students can be who they are and become who they want to be. We welcome students of all faiths and diverse backgrounds and promote a culture of excellence and achievement in Catholic education.

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“

There is always something happening at Good Counsel, and it keeps everybody involved.

— Jacob Class of 2022

”

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

become a member of our community EXCEL

SERVE

LOVE

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F R E SHM AN

Becoming a Falcon As the newest members of our school, freshmen are paired with faculty advisors to help acclimate and find their place in our community. Students remain paired with their faculty advisors during their four years at Good Counsel to ensure personalized, individualized mentoring and support.

JUN IO R

S OP H OMORE

Learning as a Falcon Building off the supportive foundation established during freshman year, sophomores immerse themselves in the Xaverian values and learn how they can help shape their decision making skills and understanding of their community.

S E NI OR

Leaving as a Falcon Leading as a Falcon

Having nearly completed our

Junior year is a time for

rigorous college preparatory

students to hone both their

program, and with the Xaverian

leadership skills and their

values as a solid foundation,

individual talents as they

seniors are prepared for their

prepare for the college

next chapter after high school.

application process and

Students graduate ready

beyond.

to excel, serve, and love in whatever path they choose.

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL  |  OLGCHS.ORG/APPLY

PARTIAL LIST OF COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ADMITTANCE FOR THE CLASS OF 2020:

Boston College Boston University Brown University University of California-Davis University of California-Los Angeles University of California, San Diego Carnegie Mellon University University of Chicago Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University University of Florida Georgetown University Johns Hopkins University Massachusetts Institute of Technology New York University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame Pennsylvania State University

CLASS OF 2020 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

$34.5M IN TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

—

62%

OF GRADUATES RECEIVED ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

—

47% —

OF GRADUATES WERE ACCEPTED INTO HONORS PROGRAMS ­

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37%

GRADUATES ARE ATTENDING ONE OF THE US NEWS TOP 100 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

University of Southern California Stanford University University of Virginia-Main Campus Wake Forest University Washington University in St Louis Yale University

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become inspired by what we offer EXCEL

SERVE

LOVE

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

COME EXPERIENCE —

Good Counsel’s diverse community thrives when our students are challenged to truly understand and experience our Xaverian values. These values are emphasized in all aspects of the school, but especially through religious studies, retreats, community worship, and various service projects. Students are given the chance to grow in the generosity and self-sacrifice that have always been the hallmark of the Xaverian tradition.

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“

Now that I've started doing community service, I really enjoy it. It makes me feel like a better person.

— Sophia Class of 2021

”

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XAVERIAN TRADITION AND THE RYKEN PHILOSOPHY — Our Lady of Good Counsel High School was founded by the Xaverian Brothers as a college-preparatory school for boys in 1958. Thirty years later, we opened our doors to young women.

Today, we educate more than 1,200 students each year in the Xaverian tradition of academic excellence and caring. The Xaverian Brothers are a lay religious congregation founded in Belgium by Theodore James Ryken. In the spirit of their patron, Saint Francis Xavier, the Xaverian Brothers undertake missionary work throughout the world to spread the ideals of Christian brotherhood. Their sponsorship of Good Counsel is perhaps best embodied by the congregation’s motto: “In harmony small things grow.”

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OUR VALUES AND TRADITIONS

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XAVERIAN VALUES: SIMPLICITY, HUMILITY, COMPASSION, ZEAL, AND TRUST

— 5 — 6+ — 1 — 30K RETREATS

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE TRIP OPPORTUNITIES

OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND MASS, DAILY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR ­

HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE CLASS OF 2020

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Academic excellence is the norm at Good Counsel.

13:1

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STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO ­

ACADEMICS — Good Counsel’s curriculum provides each student with a challenging and rewarding academic experience.

Our academic model offers a foundation with which our students can explore their interests and grow intellectually in preparation for college and beyond.

Our curriculum is defined, yet flexible; students can choose a path that allows them to focus on a certain field of study or explore a host of subjects, all while benefiting from a college preparatory program. Our highly skilled and caring faculty are educators who invest in the advancement of every student.

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AVERAGE CLASS SIZE ­

1436

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TOP 25% AVERAGE SAT SCORE ­

89%

OF FACULTY HOLD MASTER’S OR DOCTORAL DEGREES ­

— 1:1

IPAD PROGRAM

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

College Preparatory Program

Xaverian Honors Program

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—

Our college preparatory program is

Our Xaverian Honors program challenges

designed to expose students to the

qualified high-achieving students to

essential content and skill development

think critically and engage deeply in a

needed to succeed in college. Through this

given subject. With more than 50 course

comprehensive and challenging curriculum,

offerings, this program prepares students in

each student will meet all graduation

later years for AP and/or IB courses.

requirements and be prepared for college.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

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Religious Studies (4 years)

Social Studies (3 years)

English (4 years)

Fine Arts (1 year)

Mathematics (4 years)

Technology (1 year)

Foreign Language (3 years)

Physical Education (1.5 years)

Science (3 years)

General Electives (3–7 credits)

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Academic excellence is the norm at Good Counsel.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program — Our IB Program, recognized by top colleges and universities as one of the best available for high-achieving, highly motivated students, is a two-year college preparatory course of study that requires students to take examinations in six subject areas. Students are admitted to the comprehensive IB Program at the end of the sophomore year for study during junior and senior years.

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/IB

1995 —

29 —

308 —

$7.1M —

YEAR IB PROGRAM WAS

IB COURSES OFFERED

IB EXAMS ADMINISTERED IN

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS

MAY 2020

OFFERED TO THE CLASS OF

IMPLEMENTED, FIRST AND LARGEST AMONG ALL

2020 IB STUDENTS

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE AREA

Ryken Studies Program — Ryken Studies is a college preparatory program designed for highly motivated students who have been diagnosed with mild learning differences. This program assists students in their core courses using varied teaching styles and strategies that focus on skill development in smaller group settings. By junior year, most students move into the College Prep, Honors, AP, and IB Programs as they prepare for college.

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/RYKEN

40 — STUDENTS ACCEPTED INTO THE RYKEN PROGRAM EACH YEAR

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

Advanced Placement Program — For students seeking rigorous, college-level coursework, our Advanced Placement Program offers 19 courses across all academic disciplines.

The AP program allows students to pursue advanced work in one or several subjects and earn college credit or advanced standing in the subject, depending on their AP exam score.

“

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/AP

If you have an idea, you can find a faculty or staff member to help you make it a reality.

95% —

— Tyler

OF OUR AP COURSE

Class of 2023

”

OFFERINGS HAVE AN AVERAGE EXAM SCORE OF 3 OR HIGHER

STEM Program — Our STEM program introduces students to engineering through a nationally recognized, hands-on, project-based curriculum called Project Lead the Way. For the third consecutive year, Good Counsel has been recognized as a Distinguished Project Lead the Way School—a distinction given to only 3% of qualified schools nationally. Students are admitted into the STEM Program prior to freshman year.

40 — STUDENTS ACCEPTED INTO THE STEM PROGRAM EACH YEAR

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/STEM

MIT, CAL TECH, RIT, PURDUE, AND UMD ENGINEERING PROGRAMS ACCEPTED GOOD COUNSEL STEM GRADUATES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS

DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL 2019-20

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Academic excellence is the norm at Good Counsel.

GLOBAL PROGRAMS — Launched in 2015, the Global Program at Good Counsel promotes international-mindedness and enriches our school community in many ways. We welcome international students from around the world to learn through our rigorous curriculum, and we provide support by coordinating Homestay arrangements, offering ELL classes, and managing the Global Buddies Program in which American students are paired with international students. Both international and American students are invited to participate in Model UN activities and to compile comprehensive portfolios through the Global Scholars Program.

Lastly, our Global Program includes many opportunities for American students to participate in international exchanges, both as hosts and visitors.

At a Glance — Ranked as the top co-educational Catholic High School in Maryland (NICHE 2019) International Student Population I Capped at 5% Representation I 19+ countries Housing Type I Homestay managed by CSIET certified agencies Historically, Good Counsel has consistently sent students to Ivy League colleges and has been named a Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education twice.

99% of our international graduates have been accepted by the top 100 universities as ranked by US News & World Report 2019

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LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/GLOBALPROGRAMS

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

LOCATION 45 minutes from Washington, D.C.

LEISURE Atlantic Ocean beaches

Close to 3 major international airports

The world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution

Olney, MD, ranked one of the safest places to live in Maryland (NICHE 2019)

Major political and cultural epicenters in nearby Baltimore and Washington, D.C

Climate | Four distinct seasons Top colleges including Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University

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An outlet for every artist to emerge

ARTS — Good Counsel students are encouraged to express and create the extraordinary in their everyday lives. Our dynamic arts programs give students an opportunity to read, interpret, and create what cannot be experienced through any other means.

With programs in choral music, instrumental music, visual arts, dance, and theatre, Good Counsel has an outlet for all students to discover their artistic side.

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/ARTS

Performing Arts Center — A home for musicians, dancers, actors, speakers, debaters, singers, and students interested in the technical and behindthe-scenes aspects of performance, our Performing Arts Center is the perfect space for our robust arts programs. Recently opened in 2016, the three-story, 26,000 square-foot, stateof-the-art space includes a 650+ seat theatre, set design and construction shop, dressing rooms, fully equipped orchestra pit, costume and properties shops, black box theatre, dance studio, and arts education classroom.

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

2

THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

— 4

CHORAL CONCERTS

— 5

INSTRUMENTAL CONCERTS

— 1

MARCHING BAND— THE ONLY ONE IN THE WCAC ­

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100%

OF THE FINE ARTS FACULTY PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED IN THEIR FIELD

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Discover your passion

CLUBS — We offer a wide range of extracurricular activities that allow young men and women to grow intellectually, spiritually, creatively and physically. Our students become part of a dynamic community when they attend Good Counsel—each club fosters exploration while building social and leadership skills. Particular focus is given to teaching students how to use their gifts and talents to serve others. Some clubs participate in interscholastic competitions, such as the Robotics and Speech and Debate clubs.

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/CLUBS

60+ CULTURAL, ACADEMIC, AND SOCIAL CLUBS

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CONSECUTIVE DC/MD/VA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES FOR THE SPEECH & DEBATE TEAM

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

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COME PLAY — We believe that a truly comprehensive education challenges the whole person.

Through our top-ranked athletics program, our student-athletes learn self-respect, self-discipline and self-esteem. They learn how to win with dignity, handle defeat and acknowledge their mistakes. But most importantly, they understand themselves better as they strive to live the Xaverian values both on and off the field.

Our graduates have won at the Penn Relays, played at the highest level of Division I athletics and traveled throughout the country to compete.

They’ve even gone on to win gold in the Olympics, play in the NFL and compete on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Their efforts bring honor to our school and earn respect and admiration from their opponents. Our strong athletic program promotes enthusiasm, loyalty and school spirit among our students, faculty, alumni and community.

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LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/ATHLETICS

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

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FALCON ATHLETICS

54 — 775+ — 71 — 35

VARSITY, JUNIOR VARSITY, AND FRESHMAN-LEVEL ATHLETIC TEAMS

STUDENTS PLAY AT LEAST ONE SPORT

WCAC CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN THE PAST DECADE

NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES IN THE CLASS OF 2020

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

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ADMISSIONS CRITERIA — Applicants to Good Counsel are evaluated for admission based on the following criteria: • Submission of the online application form along with a $60 nonrefundable application fee. The online application can be found at olgchs.org/apply.

• Appropriate ability as demonstrated on the High School Placement Test. All applicants must take the placement test.

• High level of academic achievement in the seventh grade and first quarter of the eighth grade.

• A demonstrated, sincere desire to attend Good Counsel.

• Recommendations from principals and/or teachers.

• Satisfactory disciplinary and attendance history.

• In-person interview with a member of the Good Counsel community.

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational and admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic or other school administered programs. Our Lady of Good Counsel High School reserves the right to revoke acceptance at any time.

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OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

FINANCIAL INFORMATION — TUITION:

$25,400 REGISTRATION DEPOSIT:

$1,000 non-refundable deposit is due at registration.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

Good Counsel offers financial aid to qualified families to help reduce the total cost of tuition. We encourage all students to complete the online tuition assistance forms each year. This form, called FACTS, provides a need-based financial analysis.

The application is available in mid-October at olgchs.org/ admissions under the “Tuition and Fees” tab. All applications must be submitted by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020.

LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/ADMISSIONS

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SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION — Good Counsel is proud to offer a number of scholarship opportunities to our students. For the full list of scholarships available for incoming freshmen, please visit olgchs.org/ scholarships.

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LEARN MORE AT OLGCHS.ORG/SCHOLARSHIPS

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL

Diversity Statement — We believe diversity is a blessing that enriches our community.

We respect, value and celebrate the unique, God given gifts of each member of our community. We strive for excellence in promoting equity and justice for our entire community. We love and serve our students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors of any age, race, religion, ethnicity, ability, appearance, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, neighborhood, sexual orientation, national origin, or political affiliation. We seek to identify and challenge all forms of prejudice, discrimination and injustice.

Important Deadlines

Contact Us

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OCTOBER 2

Legacy Breakfast

OCTOBER 6

Virtual Parent Information Night

OCTOBER 14

Become a Falcon Virtual Shadow Visits Begin

OCTOBER 25

8th Grade Become A Falcon Day

NOVEMBER 1

8th Grade Lunch with a Falcon Begins

8th Grade Parent Coffee and

Conversations Begin

240.283.3230 admissions@olgchs.org

Getting to Good Counsel

DECEMBER 5

— olgchs.org/transportation

HSPT Exam

DECEMBER 11

Application and Financial Aid Deadline

DECEMBER 12

HSPT Exam

JANUARY 9

Applicant Interviews

FEBRUARY 18

Admissions Decisions Mailed

FEBRUARY 19

Admissions Decisions Emailed

MARCH 9

Accepted Student Event

MARCH 12

Freshman Registration

MARCH 19

Transfer Application Deadline

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WE INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS TO EXCEL, SERVE, AND LOVE.

240.283.3230 I ADMISSIONS@OLGCHS.ORG OLGCHS.ORG/APPLY 4

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL HIGH SCHOOL