Our Lady Of Good Counsel High School

The child is a new student entering school in September 2024, enrolling in 10th grade. The school arranged for them to arrive a week early to register and familiarize themselves with the school and its surroundings along with all other new students. The child thinks the school's learning atmosphere is quite good.

The school teachers are very friendly, the children learn very happily, and the teaching quality is strictly controlled.

The school has strong academics, a good learning atmosphere, and teachers are very supportive of students.

The school is located in Olney, Maryland, approximately a 40-minute drive from D.C. In 2013, Fortune magazine named it one of the best places to live in the U.S., citing it as a 'city with the highest income.' Nearby universities include Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University.

School Features

1. Rich Curriculum: It is the first Catholic school in the Washington area to offer the IB curriculum, providing 19 AP courses and 29 IB courses. Students can earn both the school's diploma and an IB diploma.

2. Unique STEM Program: This program allows students to learn knowledge in the field of engineering. Selected students participate in a series of engineering courses over four years: Introduction to Engineering Design in 9th grade, Principles of Engineering in 10th grade, Aerospace Engineering in 11th grade, and Engineering Design and Development in 12th grade.

3. St. Mary's Scholars Program: This three-year program begins in the summer of 9th grade. Outstanding students are invited to participate in a variety of activities to develop their extracurricular abilities.

4. Collaboration with SAT Prep Companies: The school partners with SAT preparation companies to provide students with additional effective SAT tutoring.

5. Arts: The school highly values the arts, offering a rich curriculum including drawing, oil painting, sculpture, graphics, dance, musical instruments, drama, and music performance. Students can also learn from experts in various fields through workshops, mentorships, and other broader learning opportunities.

6. Strong International Student Outcomes: In 2020 and 2021, international students were admitted to institutions such as Carnegie Mellon (2 students), Johns Hopkins, NYU, Cornell, Emory, BU, UIUC, UCSB, and others.

GC is the abbreviation for Good Counsel High School for Girls. I am a Chinese international student parent at GC High School. My child has studied at GC for 4 years and I feel that GC is very suitable for my child, and my child is quite satisfied with their high school life. We carefully chose the school together, and facts have proven that it was the right choice.
GC has a leadership and teaching staff that genuinely cares for students, a beautiful campus environment, and a high academic standard.
To illustrate how good this school is, I will share a few points, and I invite parents considering schools for their children to use their own wisdom to judge:
1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the infection rate at GC school was very low.
2. The principal, many teachers, and staff members at GC are alumni who graduated from this high school, completed their master's and doctoral degrees, and then returned to work at their alma mater.
3. GC faculty and staff members' own children attend high school at GC.
4. Many parents of GC students graduated from this high school years ago and have now sent their own children back to attend their alma mater.
5. In recent years, many excellent Chinese international students have gone on to achieve great success after graduation, attending universities such as Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, New York University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and more.
I am only sharing these points. Parents who wish to learn more can visit the official GC website for inquiries. It also provides application methods and contact information for the school's admissions officers.
You can also find information about the school by searching for its other Chinese translation (圣母古德康索高中, which translates to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School) in your browser.

1. The school offers 22 AP courses and 19 IB courses for students to choose from. A unique STEM program allows students to learn engineering knowledge and arranges nationwide, hands-on, curriculum-based practical knowledge in mathematics and science. 2. St. Mary's Scholars Program: This three-year program begins in the summer of 9th grade. Outstanding students will be invited to participate in a variety of enriching activities to develop their abilities beyond the classroom. 3. SAT Preparation: During the academic year, the school partners with an SAT prep company to provide students with additional effective practice for the SAT exam. 4. Fine Arts: This is a key academic program at the school. The focus is on students practicing drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, drama, and musical performance to create high-quality works. 5. College Counseling: The school's college counseling department has 7 college counselors and a director of college counseling. Counselors hold advanced degrees in counseling, counseling administration, school psychology, and communication. Counseling content includes personal and academic counseling, as well as college and career planning. Services also include a spring college fair. 6. The school offers two ESL courses for international students: one in writing and grammar, and the other in English literature.

GC is located in Maryland, close to both the capital Washington D.C. and Maryland's capital Baltimore. The school offers 18 AP courses and 33 IB courses; it has 1200 enrolled students, making it Maryland's largest Catholic school, with 19 students per class and a student-to-teacher ratio slightly higher than 1:13. The school admits 12-20 international students each year. The overall proportion of international students is not high, only 4%. The school provides decent attention to international students, offering ESL courses. International students generally gain admission to top 100 universities, with some going on to prestigious institutions such as NYU, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California.