Bishop O'Connell High School

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.

Inquiry Form
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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Weekly Message

September 10, 2026

Dear Bishop O’Connell Parents and Guardians,

It was a joy hosting Bishop Burbidge at O’Connell yesterday. Ten years ago, on the day his appointment as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington was announced, he made DJO his first school visit. There was excitement then, and our students gave him a warm welcome yesterday.

Celebrating Mass with the entire school in our auditorium, Bishop Burbidge delivered a message of hope and encouragement: God’s love for all of us is unconditional and unearned. Both in his homily and in meetings with smaller groups of students throughout the day, he expanded on this fundamental tenet of our Catholic faith by encouraging us to prioritize our relationship with God and with others in the real everyday routine of our lives.

It was a message that reinforces our mission to foster the pursuit of excellence in the whole person, and all of us who spent time with Bishop Burbidge experienced firsthand a shepherd who deeply cares about all aspects – intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual – of the people with whom he has been entrusted.

Go Knights!

In Christ,

Jonathan Brand

Head of School