Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for this! We ended up going with Mann but we had heard a lot
of great things about Stoddert too so it was not an obvious choice. This kind of nuance in terms of what situations may be happening (and how representative it may/may not be of a larger and deeper issue) is super valuable and will hopefully help anyone else considering the schools.

Stoddert mis-handled a lot of things last year, not just random bullying incidents. I know this isn't only Stoddert where this happens. Old Principal put on a decent face for the public but internally she was lighting and fanning the flames among the staff. She was in over her head. Let parents bully her as well.

So far the new Principal is excellent. Of course we'll see if any staff members end up at the hospital again after being attacked by a student. Perhaps PP's who alluded to drama didn't know. Hopefully it will be a totally different school year now. So far so good.

OP here - thanks for this! We ended up going with Mann but we had heard a lot
of great things about Stoddert too so it was not an obvious choice. This kind of nuance in terms of what situations may be happening (and how representative it may/may not be of a larger and deeper issue) is super valuable and will hopefully help anyone else considering the schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easily Mann. Stoddert is a downward spiral right now.

Strongly disagree. I can’t speak to Mann at all but Stoddert has a really strong kindergarten team and is very international.

-long time Stoddert parent

Stoddert was an absolute shitshow this year and pretending otherwise won’t help fix things. I hope they can turn it around.

-also a long time Stoddert parent

LOL at the drama.

No, it wasn't an absolute shitshow. Jesus, get a grip. What good does it do to drive by and drop this kind of vaguery here, absent of any actual information?

Prospective parent of a Stoddert or Mann student, here's what happened. The latter half of the 2022-2023 school year saw a handful of bullying incidents that the Stoddert administration didn't handle very well. There was a series of incidents of verbal bullying - unfortunately not well addressed by the administration - that ultimately led to a few physical altercations.

Those incidents did not disrupt the entire school or turn the place upside down. Most people were blissfully unaware. Academically, Stoddert is as strong as ever, as evidenced by its PARCC scores. The administration I think was doing a better job of handling things by the end. And, for what it's worth, there is a new and experienced principal starting this year, too.

Yeah, those incidents weren't great. But they were hardly a sign of a spiraling whirlpool of inevitable destruction.

I can't speak to Mann; I hear great things. But honestly, I think Stoddert is a great school too. It's a win-win decision.

-Signed, also a longtime Stoddert parent

Stoddert is a terrific school. We have loved the community and the teachers. There were some mental health issues for a student or two last year that stressed everyone out and sucked up a ton of staff time. Plus a beloved teacher died mid-year. It was undoubtedly a tough year. But those circumstances will be different moving forward so I wouldn’t read too much into it in terms of the future. Plus Stoddert has a fantastic new principal this year!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easily Mann. Stoddert is a downward spiral right now.

Strongly disagree. I can’t speak to Mann at all but Stoddert has a really strong kindergarten team and is very international.

-long time Stoddert parent

Stoddert was an absolute shitshow this year and pretending otherwise won’t help fix things. I hope they can turn it around.

-also a long time Stoddert parent

Could you please share what happened this year?

What's this about Stoddert being a shit show? Can anyone explain?

Mann is super international. Mann has an superb science teacher. Mann has a gardening teacher.

Size may be a key differentiator.

Stoddert seems like it's more academically rigorous with math and STEM than Mann. Stoddert students have 2 separate specials for science and STEM/engineering. I'm not sure how the other subjects compare. All grades have homework every week and each student has a device that they use in class, which may or may not be something that parents like.

Stoddert is very international with students from many different countries who speak multiple languages.

Stoddert has a garden and great gardening teacher, although Mann has several nicer garden areas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easily Mann. Stoddert is a downward spiral right now.

Strongly disagree. I can’t speak to Mann at all but Stoddert has a really strong kindergarten team and is very international.

-long time Stoddert parent

Stoddert was an absolute shitshow this year and pretending otherwise won’t help fix things. I hope they can turn it around.

-also a long time Stoddert parent

Could you please share what happened this year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easily Mann. Stoddert is a downward spiral right now.

Strongly disagree. I can’t speak to Mann at all but Stoddert has a really strong kindergarten team and is very international.

-long time Stoddert parent

Stoddert was an absolute shitshow this year and pretending otherwise won’t help fix things. I hope they can turn it around.

-also a long time Stoddert parent

Anonymous wrote:Easily Mann. Stoddert is a downward spiral right now.

Strongly disagree. I can’t speak to Mann at all but Stoddert has a really strong kindergarten team and is very international.

-long time Stoddert parent

I have kids at Mann right now and we all love it. It’s extremely international (we are an international family too actually). Teachers are fantastic. Couldnt recommend more highly. Happy to answer any specific questions if you have any?

Do you need aftercare?
My children went to Stoddert and Mann. They both loved their school. I liked Stoddert a little more because I was able to stay out of the school more easily than at Mann. We had a aftercare spot and it was very cheap.
I found Stoddert much more international and much stronger at math. I also like their playground better and the gym. All that was over 5 years ago though and even then they had trailers.
Right now I would have to suggest Mann because of the 2nd person in every class and the size of the school.
Both kids had a chance to switch schools as we moved to Mann and back to Stoddert zone, but both opted to stay at their prospective schools. Both did very well academically.

Easily Mann. Stoddert is a downward spiral right now.

Mann, 100%

Any advice on which one you would pick for K? OOB for both and won the lottery for both (enrolled at one and just got an offer for the other). We’re an international family and DS is on the young side (turns 5 late summer), in case that matters!