As Catholic high schools throughout the Archdiocese of Washington started the 2020-2021 school year in a variety of different ways, one priority remains the same – providing a Catholic education in the safest way possible for students.

Of the 18 Catholic high schools in the archdiocese, the majority are starting out the year in a virtual or distance learning mode, while others have established a hybrid method or in-person classes with safety modifications.

The Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Maryland began the year in distance learning and will continue until Oct. 1, when the school will reevaluate and work with their hybrid in-person and virtual plan if the school determines that it is safe to move forward with that plan.

Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., returned to school virtually in accordance with the Archdiocese of Washington’s reopening plan.

The Avalon School in Wheaton, Maryland opened for in-person classes on Sept. 3, with full safety precautions and is prepared to return to remote instruction if the situation requires.

Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland began the school year in a virtual mode which will continue until the school finds it safe for students to return in a manner complying with their reopening plan.

Brookewood School in Kensington, Maryland also opened for in-person classes on Sept. 3 with a safety model to reduce the risks to all faculty, staff and students.

Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland started their first day on Sept. 1 in an e-learning model. For the time being, the school will use a 10-day rotation schedule and will reassess its learning model moving forward.

DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland will resume virtual classes for the first academic quarter, and the school will reassess its learning model moving forward.

Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, Maryland began the school year fully online with virtual instruction and will consider a hybrid model when safety precautions allow.  

Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland started the year using a distance learning method.

Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland began virtual classes on Sept. 8 and will continue until Oct. 2. The school will allow in-person instruction for those who choose to do so after completing a mandatory SARS-CoV-2 screening via antigen testing. The testing is offered free-of-charge to students and faculty through the school’s partnership with PMA Health.

Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., began the year in with distance learning through Oct. 2, when the school hopes to begin a hybrid method pending the health landscape.

Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., will conduct classes virtually for the first quarter. Outside of class, small groups of students are participating in on-campus activities through Campus Ministry, clubs and student activities, as well as outdoor socially-distanced physical activity.

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland started the academic year in distance learning.

St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Washington, D.C., began with a virtual start to the school year, but has intentions to go hybrid as soon as possible.

St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., will resume a virtual learning instructional model during the month of September, with weekly on-campus extra-curricular activity meetings and faculty office hours to enhance instruction.

St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Maryland opened to hybrid learning on Aug. 25 with alternations between in-person and virtual learning environments. “Enrichment Fridays” will allow students to participate in virtual retreats and spiritual direction as well as other extra-curricular activities.

St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland established a hybrid plan for a phased return to in-school education. Freshman students attend classes in-person two days a week and will continue until the end of September. In October, sophomore students will follow a similar model, and at the end of October, all students will have the option to return to school 2 days a week.

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda will begin the school year with virtual learning until Oct. 1.