When I moved to Cincinnati five years ago, locals gave a brief overview of what to expect. For instance, there is a distinct difference between East-Siders and West-Siders, you don’t speak ill of Cincinnati chili, and goetta is delicious and needs to be sampled often.

But perhaps, the most prominent display of Cincinnati pride I see and hear most frequently is the discerning question: “Where did you go to school?” And the expected answer is not a college. This leading question aims to suss out one’s high school alma mater. Within the walls of the Pastoral Center, “purple Fridays” are a real thing for Elder High School alum, and my in-office co-worker often speaks highly of his fellow LaSalle grads.

Now, I find myself a first-time mother of an eighth grader in Cincinnati. Confronted with the importance of the “placement test,” I feel overwhelmed by the need to schedule shadow days for my high-schooler-to-be. When I even mention that I have a child entering eighth grade, friends first ask where I live then immediately outline our high school options.

While it all feels very big for my oldest child (who I still half-see as a third grader), it also inspires confidence. Everyone around me is so passionate about their own Catholic high school experience that they want to share that with future generations. Sure, some of it is school pride, but as I dig deeper into why people feel as they do, a trend emerged: all of these people had great all-around experiences at their high schools. They felt safe and valued. They felt encouraged to learn and thrive in their academic environments and to grow in their faith. I think it’s pretty amazing that no matter which school someone is gushing about, every single person has wonderful things to say about their Catholic school experiences.

From the perspective of the archdiocesan magazine editor, I have the privilege of working with Catholic high schools across the archdiocese and sharing the wonderful things they do every year. In this issue alone, I learned about international faith-filled pilgrimages, how schools honor military families and how students plug directly into Mass and faith-sharing.

All of that to say, when the time comes in the next few months for my daughter to take the placement test and participate in shadow days and for our family to attend open houses, I know that, no matter our decision, she will be led by those who want the best for her in mind, body and soul.