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DC Public and Public Charter Schools
Horrace Mann V. Lafayette
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Anonymous
| We have narrowed our search to a house in zone for one of these schools. I would love feedback about and comparisons of Mann and Lafayette. Thanks! |
Anonymous
They're both great schools. The two things that would give me pause w/r/t Lafayette are (1) it's huge and (2) its current principal is such a superstar that it could founder if she left (especially considering how big the school is). Mann doesn't have a gym and its neighborhood isn't nearly as "neighborhood-y" as Lafayette's, but the school is small and excellent (and its after-care is probably somewhat stronger than Lafayette's, to the extent that matters to you). It's a tough choice, and one that's likely to turn out great either way. (I'd personally rather have DC attend Mann, but I'd rather DC live in the Lafayette district; I'm honestly not sure how that would balance out for me were I picking between those two school districts.) |
Anonymous
Do not love the Mann culture. After-care is great though. If you are a two parent working family, it truly is good, structured after-care with a heart. One of the main providers Chris is outstanding, like family. |
Anonymous
That's very useful feedback, thanks! Do you mind saying what it is about the Mann culture that you don't love? TIA! |
Anonymous
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Lafayette is overcrowded (2 portable classrooms in back) although the building itself is sprawling. Its a great community - kids and parents. The neighborhood is great for families - you cannot go wrong there. My major complaint with lafayette is the open classroom (left over from the 70s). Mann is so small a school and the neighborhood is more rich than family oriented (just an impression from spending alot of time at the playground there). The school/playground/fields seems very well maintainted and the test scores are usually the top in the city. I think they ask for more money per family than lafayette (? $2000? vs lafayette $350).
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Anonymous
| Rich and family-oriented are not mutually exclusive. |
Anonymous
New poster here. I agree with your statement. But I think the other poster meant them separately. I'm amazed by the Lafayette neighborhood/community - it's very family-oriented. There are lots of great families in Wesley Heights too, but I don't think of it as the same sort of family neighborhood - where the kids are running around the streets together and where there are tons of family events, etc. etc. I'm sure people are going to contradict me and point out lots of Wesley Heights family events now, but it's just not the same kind of neighborhood as Chevy Chase DC. DH and I joke that we want to find a house like those in Wesley Heights - with CC DC neighbors. |
Anonymous
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They are both good schools, but I'd choose the community around Lafayette over Mann. It is walkable, the park around Lafayette (with sprayground) functions as an organic gathering place for the whole neighborhood wherever the weather allows, there is a bit more diversity, the commercial strip with library also attracts friendly faces, and you get a lot more house for your money too. For a family-oriented, down to Earth (for NWDC), community feel the CCDC neighborhood around Lafayette has it all over Spring Valley/Wesley Heights.
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Anonymous
Yes, Mann was very 'cold'. Lots of lessons in school about values (respect, love etc.) but not so much on the follow-through on the playground. I just never had a warm feeling waiting after school for my child. If he had been there since pre-K you (and by extension your child) were automatically in the 'clique', but beyond that lots of air kisses and cold stares at the labels on clothes. Just did not align with our family's values, which are more, let's get real. Frustratingly though, the Wonders aftercare (a not for profit based out of MD). was amaaaazing. As a working mom, that's why I would probably choose Mann again. They had really positive values and follow-through, structure and support. They have a few programs around. Would Lafeyette maybe have one? |
Anonymous
And to add to this, Mann is over the top fund-raising oriented. To the point where I picked my child up in tears from aftercare one day--he was about 7. Some volunteers at the school had not let him crawl through the maze at the Halloween Fest as he did not have a dollar on him to pay. I mean, I am grateful to ALL volunteers and I understand raising money for the school is not an either/or proposition in DC--schools need that fundraising to go above and beyond. But what adult would refuse a costumed kid a trip through the cardboard maze at an after-school party? This was not a fair where you buy tickets and go on the moon bounce. It was basically the Halloween party offered for free at every other school. At Mann, bring your dollars. |
Anonymous
| Well, I'm biased because we're in the Lafayette neighborhood, but it's hard to imagine a better, family-oriented neighborhood or a better neighborhood school. It is a large school - the biggest in DC right now - but it does not feel like one when you walk in. Although it's "open," the kids honestly rarely notice and the school's test scores bear this out. In fact, I always fee weird when I walk into a "regular" school because it does not have the homey feeling that Lafayette does. It has a great cafeteria, gym and library, and it will be less crowded next year when the 6th grade leaves. This is all not to say that the school does not have some problems; not all the teachers are great and some grades are better than others. OTOH, I don't think you can find across-the-board great teaching at *any* schools, including private ones. |