Horace Mann: How does it compare to GDS/Maret/Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

PP poster wrote "Any of the mentioned private schools have more racial and economical diversity that Mann will ever have."

Is that really true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP poster wrote "Any of the mentioned private schools have more racial and economical diversity that Mann will ever have."

Is that really true?

At some of them, it is. Mann is very economically homogeneous. It has about 15% Asian students, but very few African American or Latino, and only about 1% economically disadvantaged. So several private schools are more diverse than Mann.

Several NWDC public schools that are similarly academically excellent are more diverse: Oyster, Janney, and Murch are all more diverse than Mann.

Still, if I were in bounds at Mann there's no way I'd pay for private school. Mann has a good academic program and a solid parents'/community network. It's a very good school, which is why so many people in boundaries who could afford private send their kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may be a silly question, i.e., the answer is that it does not compare. I am just starting to look into schools and am very interested in Mann. I would appreciate Mann parents - present or past - in particular responding to this. How are the academics, the homework situation, arts, music, physical education, teacher quality and ratios, class sizes, community, diversity? If anyone has appropriate comparisons to make with private schools that would be very helpful as we are also looking at these. I am looking for the parental nitty gritty; not what one can get from the websites. What is the feel of the place like? Thank you!

It doesn't. If you can afford any of the private schools you mentioned do not hesitate and send your kids there - assuming they get in. Horace Mann is one of the best public schools (Key and Oyster are others) but it is nowhere near Sidwell, GDS, or Maret. Just take a tour of the schools and you will see the diference. Facilities are only one element, the other is diversity. Any of the mentioned private schools have more racial and economical diversity that Mann will ever have. In the private schools you have an amazing caliber of teachers at all levels, at Horace Mann it is hit or miss.

Can't speak to Horace Mann but dd has been at both private and public in the District. While she loves her private school, it is also true that some of her teachers in public were better than their private counterparts. I like dd's private school but not all of her teachers are "amazing," by any means.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is absolutely true that almost all of the private schools (maybe NPS is an exception) are much more racially diverse than Mann. All of the public schools are more racially diverse.

But, academically, Mann is as good as any of the private schools. Facilities don't compare. But, academically and teaching quality are as good. Period. You do not, on a whole, get better teachers in more expensive private schools. They are, after all, paid less there.