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

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

If you are in boundary for Mann, it's definitely worth looking into, but if you're out of boundary, it's almost impossible to get in.

[Anonymous]

I am in boundary. Any tips would be great.

[Anonymous]

I am a Mann parent and chose it over the schools you mentioned. Academically it is absolutely on par. Your child will not be missing anything in that regard. The kids who leave Mann and go on the all of the private schools are totally prepared. . .many are at the tops of their classes at GDS, StA, NCS, et. al. The community feeling, I think, beats anything you will find at the local private schools. They truly breed an environment of inclusiveness, acceptance and work very hard to combat the trend towards "cliques". People are very "low-key", there are many recognizable and very wealthy people there - but it doesn't matter, everyone is in it together.

The only thing I see missing are facilities. For me, that doesn't matter much in these lower grades. They have a great art room, science room, library (great for little kids), no gymnasium or cafeteria. Although there is a "community center" that serves some of those purposes.

I think anyone who lives in boundary would be making a big mistake not going there. AND, knowing what I know now, I'd pay twice a MAret tradition for what my child gets from his teachers and the principle, who are simply unbeatable!

[Anonymous]

That's "Maret tuition" - not "tradition". Sorry!

[Anonymous]

By the way, our soon-to-be Attorney General Eric Holder sent his kids to Mann before they went to GDS for middle and high school.

[Anonymous]

Joe Scarborough's kids are there too.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thank you for all the responses. How often do the kids get to have art class? How about PE and music? Do former or current Mann parents feel that these offerings were top quality - perhaps some were and some weren't? Someone mentioned a nice art room which sounds great. Are there options for children who get ahead of their classmates in math and reading - I wonder if there are parents reading this who can respond to this. Did you feel your child was given as much stimulation was needed? What is the teacher-student ratio typically? Thanks again to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I think they do a better job of allowing students to "get ahead" in math and reading then some private schools do in early grades. There was a very thorough assessment in the beginning of kindergarten (everyone in my DC's class knew letter sounds, some were reading) and then they quickly moved in to individualized reading/math. They bring home readers of varying levels starting in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

A lot of things are done in small groups. It is rare that the whole class (21 in my child's K) are doing the same thing. Also, the school really stresses writing and has an intense writing curriculum that starts in K with first drawing and narrating stories, then labelin the drawings, on to writing stories.

[Anonymous]

I think the class sizes are about the same as most of the private schools. Also, the class sizes get smaller as the grades so up.

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily. I went to the Mann open house this week, and the 5th and 6th grade classes were large. There was talk of assistant teachers, but I didn't see any evidence of them in 4, 5 or 6. Perhaps they're not full time? So it was essentially one on 24 or 25, at least in the upper grades. (I didn't look in on the lower grades.)

[Anonymous]

Not true, I'm a Mann parent. We have assistants all over the place, I know because the PTA pays for them on our own payroll. And the 5th and 6th grade classes are no larger than the top private schools. . .especially considering that they break in to small groups for so many things.

[Anonymous]

At GDS in 5th grade, the ratio of teachers to students is 1:16 in humanities and science and 1:8 in math. I'm not sure about specials (drama, visual arts, music, PE, foreign language) -- the classes aren't larger than the homerooms, but I don't know which are smaller (and by how much) and whether that varies (e.g. French is small, but Spanish might not be). No assistants; all teachers. And these ratios don't include resource specialists brought in for particular kids or lessons.

[Anonymous]

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.