Anyone know the acceptance rate for Bishop O'Dowd?
We're moving from Houston to Oakland this Summer 2018 and my AA DC has just applied to BOD for 9th grade admission.
DC is now in 2nd quarter of 8th grade at private Presbyterian k-8 school with all As since 5th grade (fingers crossed for this current academic quarter). Fluent in French - as we lived abroad from when DC was 3yrs to 10 years old. We're only really interested in BOD, although, St Mary's looks fine and are considering applying there as well. A bit worried about what DC's HSPT scores will be because, as a rising 5th grader, DC tested average on the ISEE. DC is interested in creative writing, computer animation, and environmental/social issues. DC is not sporty - but plays in a non-competitive soccer league outside of school and is on track team at school.
How difficult is it to get into BOD? Should we be casting a wider net?
Parent Replies
BOD had about 800 apply last year and enrolled about 350. I’ve had two kids go through O’Dowd, the second one is still there (and I am from Houston originally). Feel free to contact directly with me if you like.
in the meantime I would do HSPT practice tests, you can order the books online and see if there are specific areas to focus on, you even have time for him/her to work with a tutor if needed. Another thing that may help your chances is if you are not requesting financial aid. BOD has a large financial aid program but of course they need plenty of families that don’t have a financial aid need to help make that happen.
Your kid sounds very well rounded and will enjoy BOD’s many programs in their interest areas. There are plenty of kids who aren’t big athletes there.
My child is a freshman at O'Dowd. It is a great school and admissions is competitive. I don't have any inside information but anecdotally I remember reading something from the school that said they received over 800 applications last year for a freshman class of approximately 320 students. If you are accepted enrollment is on a first come first serve basis. Last year enrollment was full 5 hours after the acceptance emails were sent out so you need to be at your computer ready to enroll when the email arrives. Although I think that this year they are doing it differently and not opening enrollment until the day after the acceptances are emailed, so check and be sure you know what the process is. I suggest having a plan B. You know about St. Mary's in Berkeley, they have a bus that picks up and drops off in the Montclair neighborhood of Oakland. There is St. Joseph's Notre Dame in Alameda, but the commute from Oakland to Alameda is rough. I can't tell if you have a son or daughter but there is an all girls school, Holy Names, in Oakland. There are many others in the greater east bay Moreau in Hayward, Salesian in Richmond etc... Good luck and welcome to Oakland!