Founded in 1958 Our Lady of Good Counsel High School has a compelling story. Originally, it was an all-boys school in Wheaton Maryland. The Xaverian Brothers founded it as a Catholic high school for boys. Cardinal Patrick OBoyle requested their presence.
Fast forward to 1988. Our Lady of Good Counsel became coeducational. The growing student body stayed at the Wheaton location for a while. By 2007, it was time for a change. Our Lady of Good Counsel relocated to a new 51-acre campus in Olney.
Today Our Lady of Good Counsel stands as the largest coeducational Catholic high school in Maryland. The Olney campus offers modern amenities. These enhance the schools mission to inspire students. Students excel serve and love. The school remains true to its Xaverian Brother founders. It gives all students the support they need. They become their best selves here.
Our Lady of Good Counsel boasts impressive academics. They include Advanced Placement courses. There is also a STEM program and the International Baccalaureate Program. The Ryken Program supports students with learning differences. It is named after Theodore Ryken. He founded the Xaverian Brothers.
The faculty includes 200 teachers counselors and administrators. Our Lady of Good Counsel won the Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in Secondary Education twice. The Middle States Association fully accredits the school.
Religious life is important here. Students take four years of religious studies. They also participate in religious retreats. Daily Mass is offered. All-school Masses happen on major holy days. Students complete community service hours each year.
The fine arts thrive. The school offers theater band chorus dance and visual arts classes. Musical ensembles abound. They include wind ensemble symphonic band and string ensemble. Percussion ensembles jazz ensemble and a marching band are also available.
The theater program puts on two mainstage productions a year. A 650-seat performing arts center opened in 2016. A production of Les Misérables received a five-star rating.
Our Lady of Good Counsel competes in the WCAC. Many athletic teams are highly ranked. Student-athletes have received athletic scholarships. Some have made it to the NFL.
The college acceptance rate is nearly 100% every year. The Class of 2023 received over 40 million dollars in college scholarships. Our Lady of Good Counsel stands out for its global programs. Fewer than 4% of the students are international.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program lets students earn two diplomas. One from Good Counsel and one IB diploma. The STEM program lets students focus on engineering. Aerospace Civil Engineering and Engineering Design are all areas of study.
The facilities are top-notch. There is a performing arts center. The campus spans 51 acres with athletic fields. There are more than 12 science and technology labs. Youll also find a dance studio and a chapel. Not to mention two weight rooms and two gyms. There is also a football stadium with a turf field.
Distinguished alumni include Rev Robert B. Lawton and Al Checchi. Marty Hurney and John Berry are also alumni. Kevin Blackistone and Joseph Curl attended too. Christopher Jarzynski and Mark Povinelli walked these halls. Rick Yune and Elizabeth Scott are Good Counsel graduates. Stefon Diggs and Kyle Snyder are notable alumni. Midge Purce and Imani Dorsey called this school home. Many graduates have achieved great things.
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School inspires students. It helps them excel serve and love.