How does Annunciation Catholic School compare with Horace Mann?
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Anonymous
| Hi all! Does anyone have thoughts on Annunciation (on Massachusetts/Idaho Ave in Cathedral Heights area) versus Horace Mann Elementary (one of the JKLM schools, also nearby)? DC has been at Mann for the past year and sadly it hasn't been a good experience. They cancelled their foreign language programming which I'd really been looking forward to. It was also a rude awakening to discover the PTA expected a $1500 contribution per child, and how oddly marginalized I've felt by the other parents. I'm a single mom working full-time for the fed govt, DC and I live in a 1-bedroom in one of the student ghetto-ish buildings, and I drive a jalopy. Most of the school families seem to have nannies and/or a parent who stays at home, they live in mansions and drive enormous SUVs. It's a weird cultural gulf between me and them, even if I think I'm pretty educated & well-travelled and doing great for a single mom. It wouldn't be a big deal obviously if DC was happy, but DC tells me every day DC hates school and doesn't want to go. DC's teacher tells me she's falling behind, and that most parents at this point would be hiring private tutors. Wow - this is Kindergarten ... and the diplomats and lobbyists that inhabit the million-dollar houses around me probably can afford private tutors, but it's not really feasible for me, especially since DC is in aftercare. Anyway, I thought it would be a great school, but DC isn't happy and it doesn't seem like a good fit for us. So I am looking at other options and wondering if Annunciation might be better. Thoughts, anyone? (I'm not Catholic, but DC's dad was raised in it.) |
Anonymous
| Annunciation is one of the worst catholic schools in DC. Don't be fooled by the location. I would rather home school my child that send them there. Worst principal, poorly trianed teachers and weak curriculum. Loads of turnover of families and what few good teachers were there have left. Mann wins hands down. In fact, run to Mann as fast as you can. |
Anonymous
| Why do you need a tutor for Kindergarten?! Seriously, don't the teachers provide extra help?! |
Anonymous
| Annunciation hasn't ever had the reputation it's neighboring Catholic schools (Victory, Trinity, Little Flower, Blessed Sacrament) have and honestly I can't figure out why since it's in such a desireable location for people headed into the city. I would aim for one of the others. |
Anonymous
| What about St. Ann's? |
Anonymous
| I'm a current parent at Annunciation and we are trying desperately to leave Annunciation! Very weak leadership and and very few good teachers. Do not waste your time! |
Anonymous
I know, it was a little bizarre to hear that! But her class has something like 26 kids and even with the second teacher that my PTA donation pays for, that's still 13 five-year-olds per teacher, which probably makes it hard to provide all of them one-on-one help. I think the issue is also partly that the atmosphere of the school is really competitive - these people are worried about getting their kids into Harvard while they're still in utero, is my impression! I don't think dc is really in such drastic shape, and one theory is that maybe the pressure makes it less fun for her to learn and so she is kind of rebelling against it a bit. |
Anonymous
| I will tell you why Annunciation does not have the reputation of the other neighboring catholic schools in Upper NW -- because they admit every and anyone to fill seats. I witnessed it first hand over a four year (wasted) period. When we first came to Annunciation, there were several diplomatic families due to its location to Embassy Row and several high level executives including the former CEO of Fannie Mae. The former principal was highly regarded and was passionate about the school and she was able to draw good families to what was then a blue ribbon school. Unfortunately, she left for a promotion in the Archdiocese schools and they brought in the most incompetent, inexperienced, tone deaf principal who had no vision and the school started to sink like the Titanic. Families started leaving in trickles at first, then in droves. Now, the school is attracting families from military bases and the farthest reaches if the city. No families from the neighborhood are enrolling their children making the school less diverse. There are still a few white and Hispanic families but mostly black now. And, I am speaking as an African American who left for the reasons stated. I feel for any families who have been hood winked into going to that school. Their children's education is at risk due the poor academic program, mediocre teachers and lack of school leadership. I echo the sentiments of the previous posters in saying --- pleeeez don't send your precious jewels to that lousy school. |
Anonymous
| 20:05 PP -- Harvard??? Are you joking? No one leaving Annunciation is going to Harvard. There is no competitive atmosphere at that school. You would be lucky if your child got into a third tier school. |
Anonymous
No, I meant the Horace Mann parents who want their kids in Harvard ASAP. I can't imagine many private schools in the area have a more competitive, hyperambitious parent demographic than Mann. And it's not an atmosphere in which dc seems to be flourishing, unfortunately. |
Anonymous
| Ok, sorry PP. Thought you were talking about that dump Annunciation. |
Anonymous
| Also, the private schoosl think little of Annunciation in terms of its reputation, so if you are looking to go that route you will be in a stronger position coming from Mann. |
Anonymous
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I visited Annunciation unannounced. Firstly, I was shown around by two students, one black and one white which I thought was rather cute. The children sat miserably in their classes. The kids were not jovial o visitors and were "just there". After seeing enough, I quickly exited the campus running to tell my husband...heck no!
The students outside were havinG PE. It all looked like a ultra deprived third world country rejected school. The language being uttered was distasteful to me...... No one speaks of that school. And I saw why, |
Anonymous
| PP, you must not have read the earlier posts on why Annunciation is such a terrible school or you would not have gone in the first place. But, it is good you went to validate what the previous posters have said. The school has declined tremendously. My kids went there for a few miserable years and after a while I began to think of it like a prison for children. I actually felt guilty dropping my children off in the morning. There is no joy in the place and the faculty is awful. It's clear they don't live their jobs as teaching professionals and don't like the children they teach. The principal has a napoleonic complex -- short, insecure but controlling and dishonest underneath and always smiling in your face. PP, you did the right thing by leaving before the end of the tour. I knew some parents, who sent their kids there after going to the open house, felt tricked or hood winked when they realized how bad the school is. |
Anonymous
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OP, I think you're either a nasty or hypersensitive person.
You seem to have a lot of animosity for others around you. |