This is my alma mater. What to say about my high-school experience at MND? Well, first off, I'll…read moreadmit to being slightly negatively biased against the school because I was forced (thanks, mom and dad!) into attending the private, single-sex Catholic high-school after spending eight lovely years in the Lakota Public School system. There are just a few points I'd like to make about the school, faculty, and my own personal experiences as a "Cougar". First, MND is an all-girls school. For those not in the Cincy mindset, this is not at all rare. In fact, all but a few (two? three?) of the city's Catholic high-schools are single-sex, either male or female entirely. Supposedly many studies have shown that teaching high-school in a single-sex environment eliminates romantic distractions and stresses academic success instead of social success or popularity. I can't speak to the experience of all students, but personally, I found the female dominated environment at Mount Notre Dame to be both catty (what do you expect in a school full of emotionally unbalanced teenage girls?) and not at all conducive to my development as a normal, well-adjusted teenager. Honestly, girls are going to have to socialize with men for the rest of their lives...why not show them how in high-school instead of eliminating the boys entirely? Gender issue aside, the school building is mostly rundown...in a way that the administration would like you to believe is historically accurate and charming. I thought it was decrepit and full of asbestos (and it fact, it was, a major construction project went into place to eliminate the mold during my senior year). The one exception to this is the gymnasium, which was renovated the year before I started at the school. The cafeteria menu, at least as it stood when I graduated in 2005, was in need of a serious over-haul...I brown-bagged everyday for four years, it just looked that unappetizing and overly caloric. I know that cafeteria food doesn't speak volumes about education, but c'mon, look at my other reviews. I'm all about the food, baby. Faculty: basically awful with a (very) few outstanding exceptions. I got a lot of laughs from comparing my high school teacher's curriculums and credits to those of the teachers at the local public school. In my freshmen year "Honors English" class I was instructed to read Out of the Dust, a novel I had read in the fourth grade. I don't want to criticize the whole English department, though, as two of my favorite and most academically decorated high-school instructors (Mr. Tom Geier and Mrs. Julie Haggerty) call this department home. At MND the general rule is that there is one great teacher in each department, so if you send your daughter there, be sure to request them. History: Magnus, Foreign Language: Ortega, Religion: Grote, Science: Peppercorn. MND offers very few AP classes; I had little opportunity to earn college credits. One more note about MND-as with any other Catholic high-school, this place is after your wallet. The tuition is not as high as some comparable schools (UA) but those in charge of soliciting donations from fundraisers and alumni parties get an A + for their ability to guilt. Moral of the story: Save your money, go public. More AP's, better teachers (due to the drastic pay difference), and a better environment for kids to grow socially.

As an alumna of MND, I certainly come with a distinct perspective on the school. Of all the schools…read morein Cincinnati, and certainly of the private, all-girls school, I strongly believe that MND makes its mark as the most welcoming, open-armed school in the city. With diverse academic options, ranging from college prep to AP courses (and some offering college credit - I left MND with six college credits), every girl can personalize an academic career that is challenging and enjoyable. MND also has a great reputation as a sports powerhouse, but it doesn't limit its scope of extra-curriculars to athletics only. There is a very robust theater program, Model UN, academic teams, language clubs, volunteer groups, art classes...the list goes on. I can't speak highly enough of my educators at MND, and I made lifelong friends within the walls of the school. I would gladly recommend this high school to a young woman looking for a personalized education with room to grow and expand her education, interests and friendships.