About Us
About Us
The mission of Bishop O'Connell High School is to provide students an education rooted in the life of Christ and to foster the pursuit of excellence in the whole person.
Admissions
O'Connell Admissions
Find all the information about applying to Bishop O'Connell here, including how and when to visit, deadlines and much more.

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Academics
Academics
Bishop O'Connell offers a challenging college-prep curriculum that includes 28 AP subjects and 36 honors courses. Our faculty is committed to helping students see their potential and to continue reaching to fulfill God’s plan for them.
Student Life
Student Life
It's always a great day to be a KNIGHT! We yell "D-J-O" which is the full name of our school: Denis J. O'Connell. Our student body of 1,100 is spirited and involved--from our 40+ year tradition of Superdance to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, to our Tuckahoe Elementary School tutors--there's something for everyone.
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry provides opportunities for our students to experience the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist, to experience His healing power in the sacrament of Reconciliation, and to enter into a relationship with Him in personal prayer.
The Arts
The Arts
Bishop O'Connell has a vibrant and award-winning arts program. Our belief is that the Arts belong to everyone and that our school community will be enriched if every student has the opportunity for self-expression.
Athletics
Sports as a Ministry
The athletics program seeks to use the virtues of fortitude, teamwork, and athletic excellence as a means of drawing students to a personal relationship with Christ, a spirit of service to others, and to develop the habits of mind and body which lead to continued success.
Support DJO
Support O'Connell
The generosity of the Bishop O'Connell community is the difference between a "good" Catholic education and the exceptional experience our students receive during their time here.

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About Us

Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School is a faith-filled community of learning, rooted in a tradition of service and excellence.

Founded by six local parishes in 1957, our school was built to serve the rapidly growing suburban Catholic population in the Washington, D.C. area. Today, our student body of approximately 1,200 students reflects the diversity of this community.

The spiritual atmosphere at O'Connell is enriched by the presence of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who have served the school population since its doors opened in 1957.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Bishop O'Connell offers expanded services to provide an inclusive Catholic high school experience for students with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, enriching the learning environment for all students.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR INCLUSIVE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

Bishop O'Connell is one of four diocesan high schools in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, accredited by the Virginia Catholic Education Association and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

In 1992-1993, Bishop O'Connell High School was named as a Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education, and was named to the 2018-2023 Catholic Education Honor Roll by the Cardinal Newman Society.