if you could choose any elementary school in the district...

[Anonymous]

which one would you choose?

[Anonymous]

including Charters? or just based on boundaries?

[Anonymous]

Based on the DCPS curriculum and the current testing focus -- none of them.

[Anonymous]

not the charters. just based on boundaries. i am a renter and am thinking about just moving to the best district because my local school is so so.

[Anonymous]

I would move to Mann.
There are Condos / Apartments on Mass Ave that are in bounds for Mann.

Be careful because if you buy /rent on the wrong side of the street along certain streets near Mann, you will wind up in Stoddert - which is not bad - but it is not the same as landing in Mann.

[Anonymous]

We moved to Oyster. There are several nice apartment buildings in boundaries.

[Anonymous]

We also moved to Adams Morgan/ Kalorama Triangle for Oyster.

[Anonymous]

Moved to Oyster

[Anonymous]

Horace Mann.

[Anonymous]

Eaton. For the diversity, excellent principal, and brand new playground.

[Anonymous]

Something to consider, Mann was able to petition and keep the school at PreK through grade 6. Most other DC elementaries are moving to a PreK- 5 model. If you are thinking about total costs of education, having 1 less year of private school costs might make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something to consider, Mann was able to petition and keep the school at PreK through grade 6. Most other DC elementaries are moving to a PreK- 5 model. If you are thinking about total costs of education, having 1 less year of private school costs might make a difference.

Oyster is PK-8.

If we're investing new playgrounds with such significance, then it is worth pointing out that Oyster's Adams campus also has a new playground.

[Anonymous]

Careful! Mann has good education, good principal, great playground... social climate? Unreal. Such a SUV/second wife in tennis outfit kind of place. If it gives you a hint, this is where they are supposedly trolling for candidates for Real Housewives, DC. Again, yes, a "good education" on paper--though everything they do they do to death (Responsive classroom, Reader's Workshop....can be inflexible about your child not reading the 'right' book etc. to the point of removing it from their hands). If your child is a high performer will do fine; if they need any kind of reading/math support the school goes into a tailspin, freaking out about the effect on their test scores but offering very little knowledgeable intervention that pinpoints the issue--we addressed all of our child's extremely minor learning differences on our own. Because it is so popular in the neighborhood they have managed to keep most out-of-boundaries out--hence lots of diversity in the sense of internationals / Embassy folk, but little American economic or racial diversity. I guess you do OK there if you are there from pre-K. My child came late to the school --lots of chilly handshakes from perplexed looking parents (a newcomer?) -- and child was not invited to a b-day party for two years. He did OK, but eventually we moved him at his own request. Have heard other tales of misery/outright bullying... I have seen firsthand much "happier" upper NW elementaries including the other one he attended. Mann is just a totally different story from ALL the rest. I am so happy we left; he is so happy we left!

[Anonymous]

Can I ask where your son ended up after Mann?

[Anonymous]

I did not mean to offend the non tennis white wearing moms at Mann, or the sport of tennis itself--I just found Mann very questionable. Great aftercare though, if that is a consideration for you? Wonders has polar opposite values/approach from the school. ( We thought of it at the time as a sort of antidote ).
The elementary schools in this city that I know with strong education and fun communities (literally, other schools child attended have been tons of fun, great education, lasting friendships) are the upper NW ones left of Connecticut, some charters in Capitol Hill and Mount Pleasant. I apologize if I leave great swaths off--these are the ones I am familiar with professionally, geographically and from our child's direct experience. Unfortunately, MANY, including Oyster which I see mentioned multiple times above are in serious 'transition' (think principals, teachers coming and going, general spectrum of unease to hopefulness...) so once narrowing down talk to people whose children are there NOW. You also might want to check out the 2009 test scores to be released August 8th. Though overplayed (ignore AYP which can hinge on stupid outlier things)--it is interesting to look at how math or reading trends over time historically at the school. Just one more piece of info. Any school over 80% in the District is doing great.
Good luck! Overall, our child had a great education in this city (and continues to). We plan to do it all over again with another, just smarter this time.

Vibrant schools with good reps (there are more--just what pop to mind):
Hyde
Stoddert
Janney
Key
Murch
Hearst (?)
EL Haynes (?)
Capitol City (?)
Lafayette
Washington Latin (5th and up)
Deal (6th and up)
Yu Ying (?)