Anonymous wrote:Mann will be a more well rounded education, but O-A is the strongest Spanish program in a DC public school. If commute isn’t a factor, it’s really just what you value more highly. Though if you would consider private in the future, Mann is really a feeder school for the most competitive privates (which speaks to the quality of education).

Run way from Oyster-Adams if you're looking for a well-rounded education. I'm a parent at OA, and here are few insights to consider: (1) Misleading language program success: Nearly 50% of the students already Spanish at home or were exposed to it early in life. So yes, students may perform relatively well, but that's not a fair comparison if you are measuring them against school with completely different demographic. It's like comparing orange to potatoes. (2) Uneven teaching staff: Be prepared for a wide range in teacher quality. Some are well prepared while others you wonder how they were hired. Parent teacher conferences are especially frustrating when communication is difficult or ineffective with this later group. No all teachers are bilingual. (3) Weak ESOL support: ironically, if your child is an ESOL student, this may be one of the worst environments. There is a lot of "they'll catch-up eventually" attitude, but very little formal intervention. They are passed from grade to grade, falling behind in English at a time when academic content becomes more complex. (4) Leadership issues: the new principal (Carolina Brito) appears more focused on appearances and public relations than cultivating critical thinking or a truly balanced education. Her version of "equity" seems performative and geared toward marketing than substance. My children have observed teachers are now more concerned with classroom decor than meaningful instruction. They are given "templates" to fill in blanks, and without the template, many students don't know how to write independently. They are training copyist. Critical thinking and independent learning are not being prioritized. There's a growing emphasis on looking good and boosting standardized test scores (I counted that a whole month of instruction is loss in testing based on chats with my kids) less so on meaningful learning. (5) Final thought: some well motivated kinds do succeed at Oyster-Adams but often because families are investing in enrichment outside of school. If your kid is average and you do not have the means to supplement her/his education outside school, I'd recommend exploring other options.

Mann parent here and can’t say enough good things - teachers we have had are incredible. Both kids doing very well. But also sounds like you can’t make a bad decision either!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mann will be a more well rounded education, but O-A is the strongest Spanish program in a DC public school. If commute isn’t a factor, it’s really just what you value more highly. Though if you would consider private in the future, Mann is really a feeder school for the most competitive privates (which speaks to the quality of education).

Is this still true?

Absolutely.

I don’t know if Mann kids going to private speaks to the quality of the education or just the demographics of the kids who go there…

It speaks to both.

Anonymous wrote:Not OP and not Spanish speaking, but weighing OA and kind of at a loss about how the Spanish-centric culture is going to work for us. All things equal, wouldn’t seek it out but it’s our IB and well-regarded so trying to keep an open perspective.

We’re an OA family where none of us speak Spanish (except now of course our kid is fluent). It’s a very welcoming environment, and you won’t feel like you’re on the outside. Parent groups, teachers, and admin have been great. And it was clear that DS was thriving early on in kinder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mann will be a more well rounded education, but O-A is the strongest Spanish program in a DC public school. If commute isn’t a factor, it’s really just what you value more highly. Though if you would consider private in the future, Mann is really a feeder school for the most competitive privates (which speaks to the quality of education).

Is this still true?

Absolutely.

I don’t know if Mann kids going to private speaks to the quality of the education or just the demographics of the kids who go there…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mann will be a more well rounded education, but O-A is the strongest Spanish program in a DC public school. If commute isn’t a factor, it’s really just what you value more highly. Though if you would consider private in the future, Mann is really a feeder school for the most competitive privates (which speaks to the quality of education).

Is this still true?

Absolutely.

What do you mean by “Spanish-centric culture working out” for you? Most families are bilingual and all are welcoming. That being said, if you don’t value the Spanish, it’s not a good fit, even if it’s in-bound. Give that spot to someone who sees the value of a bilingual education.

Not OP and not Spanish speaking, but weighing OA and kind of at a loss about how the Spanish-centric culture is going to work for us. All things equal, wouldn’t seek it out but it’s our IB and well-regarded so trying to keep an open perspective.

Anonymous wrote:Mann will be a more well rounded education, but O-A is the strongest Spanish program in a DC public school. If commute isn’t a factor, it’s really just what you value more highly. Though if you would consider private in the future, Mann is really a feeder school for the most competitive privates (which speaks to the quality of education).

Is this still true?

Mann will be a more well rounded education, but O-A is the strongest Spanish program in a DC public school. If commute isn’t a factor, it’s really just what you value more highly. Though if you would consider private in the future, Mann is really a feeder school for the most competitive privates (which speaks to the quality of education).

Full disclosure - we're a Spanish-speaking family that started at OA in PK4. I also debated our great inbound v. OA, and ultimately decided that Spanish tipped the scales. It's a great problem to have and your kid will likely do great at either. It just comes down to how much you value Spanish in school. For our family, we knew we wanted our kid to be educated in Spanish and have a Spanish-speaking community.

Can't speak to OA v. Mann, but we're an OA family and have been extremely happy with the school culture, teachers, rigor, etc. Happy to answer any specific questions.

Sorry - read too quickly. OA is not your inbound.

Don't underestimate walkable commute to school - our 3rd grade in Adams Morgan now walks to school with his friends. Neighborhood friends and short commute would be a draw to me. OA is a good school, plus you get Spanish for free.

Our IB school placed us on the waitlist for PK4, resulting in a match with Mann. We had placed Oyster Adams higher on the list than Mann, since we are Spanish speaking at home. Our waitlist number for OA is pretty low (below 5) and it looks like for the past three years at least 10 people have gotten off the waitlist there.

Mann looks like a wonderful school, and we are excited about the match, but if we were to get off the waitlist at OA we aren't sure which decision we would make. The Spanish and PK-8th track are compelling. Is OA worth the hype or should we stick with Mann?