We have one kid who started in PK3 at a charter and one who started at grade 1. The kids who started in PK3 is much better integrated with the other kids, socially.

Starting as early as possible at the school you want your kid to attend is definitely the best choice.

I think your chances are pretty strong IB at Mann for pk4. As someone said they have great teachers in pk so for sure worth it. Mann community is really great so hope it works out!

RSS wrote:Hello all, OP here. Our IB is Mann and the plan is for us to do elementary there. So eventually we will be moving there. Thank you all for your insights. I will apply and see, if we get in, great. If not then next year we move for Kindergarten. My child does not do very well with change. It will happen either next year or the year after.

In my experience, moving to K, even in the same school, is a huge change. Combining that change with changing schools would be harder than changing from preschool to preschool. For that reason alone, I would probably switch in PK4 if offered, but I agree 100% that if you don’t get a spot another year at JLES is also fine.

FWIW, both my kids absolutely loved pk4 at Mann. There are long-tenured teachers who are great.

This one is easy. Do the lottery, no harm there (you can always turn down a lottery match and reenroll where you are). But if you land a spot in preK4 at your IB, you should switch. For the walkable commute and opportunity to meet classmates who live nearby. Switching will not ever get substantially easier.

If your IB is Mann, definitely lottery. The earlier the better for a switch. Either way, many Mann kids start in K and the administration is very welcoming and there are lots of school activities to help build community.

Hello all, OP here. Our IB is Mann and the plan is for us to do elementary there. So eventually we will be moving there. Thank you all for your insights. I will apply and see, if we get in, great. If not then next year we move for Kindergarten. My child does not do very well with change. It will happen either next year or the year after.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look here: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61 You can see that 7 kids got into Mann for PK4 with no preference in the initial lottery.

Then use this: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
You can see that there were 29 lottery offers to a waitlist of 117. So, your chances are not very good but it could happen.

If any kids with no preference got in, doesn't that mean that every kid with in bounds preference, like OP's kid seems to have, got in?

If OP is in walking distance, but not in bounds, then they have in bounds preference at Janney or Eaton or Stoddert or Hearst (correct me if my geography is off) which are also all good enough school that driving across the park isn't justified.

I would just spend PK4 and JLES and then go in bounds. But if you get into your IB for PK4, great. I would not do JLES--Mann--IB. Only go to Mann if you're planning to stay.

I am the poster you are replying to. I hadn't really thought about the possibility that OP was planning a double transfer. If OP has an IB they like better than Mann, then I would apply there for PK4, and if the kid doesn't get in, spend another year at JLES. If they like Mann better than their IB school, and both are walking distance, then I could see applying to Mann and then staying.

I would just not choose to drive across the park for 7 more years.

Agree. The difference between JLES and another good school for PK4 is likely not very significant, and the move is disruptive. Not worth it. Hold out for your first choice, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look here: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61 You can see that 7 kids got into Mann for PK4 with no preference in the initial lottery.

Then use this: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
You can see that there were 29 lottery offers to a waitlist of 117. So, your chances are not very good but it could happen.

If any kids with no preference got in, doesn't that mean that every kid with in bounds preference, like OP's kid seems to have, got in?

If OP is in walking distance, but not in bounds, then they have in bounds preference at Janney or Eaton or Stoddert or Hearst (correct me if my geography is off) which are also all good enough school that driving across the park isn't justified.

I would just spend PK4 and JLES and then go in bounds. But if you get into your IB for PK4, great. I would not do JLES--Mann--IB. Only go to Mann if you're planning to stay.

I am the poster you are replying to. I hadn't really thought about the possibility that OP was planning a double transfer. If OP has an IB they like better than Mann, then I would apply there for PK4, and if the kid doesn't get in, spend another year at JLES. If they like Mann better than their IB school, and both are walking distance, then I could see applying to Mann and then staying.

I would just not choose to drive across the park for 7 more years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look here: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61 You can see that 7 kids got into Mann for PK4 with no preference in the initial lottery.

Then use this: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
You can see that there were 29 lottery offers to a waitlist of 117. So, your chances are not very good but it could happen.

If any kids with no preference got in, doesn't that mean that every kid with in bounds preference, like OP's kid seems to have, got in?

If OP is in walking distance, but not in bounds, then they have in bounds preference at Janney or Eaton or Stoddert or Hearst (correct me if my geography is off) which are also all good enough school that driving across the park isn't justified.

I would just spend PK4 and JLES and then go in bounds. But if you get into your IB for PK4, great. I would not do JLES--Mann--IB. Only go to Mann if you're planning to stay.

Anonymous wrote:Look here: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61 You can see that 7 kids got into Mann for PK4 with no preference in the initial lottery.

Then use this: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
You can see that there were 29 lottery offers to a waitlist of 117. So, your chances are not very good but it could happen.

If any kids with no preference got in, doesn't that mean that every kid with in bounds preference, like OP's kid seems to have, got in?

If OP is in walking distance, but not in bounds, then they have in bounds preference at Janney or Eaton or Stoddert or Hearst (correct me if my geography is off) which are also all good enough school that driving across the park isn't justified.

Look here: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/61 You can see that 7 kids got into Mann for PK4 with no preference in the initial lottery.

Then use this: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
You can see that there were 29 lottery offers to a waitlist of 117. So, your chances are not very good but it could happen.

I think there is a big value to having neighborhood friends, a walking commute, etc . . . I think that value grows during elementary school.

I don’t know much about Mann and John Lewis in particular, but Mann would have to be significantly worse to justify that commute to me, and that’s not my impression.

Having said that, I think the value of walking etc . . . Comes later and I can maybe see value in keeping a kid in the same place for two years and transitioning in K. Especially if John Lewis is along your commuting route.

Do you live in the boundary or have proximity preference?

I don't think it's much different for preschool. The difference is in what middle and high school you get.

We live walking distance to Mann, but my child is currently in PK3 at John Lewis. I’m wondering what the odds really are of getting into Mann for PK4, and whether it’s worth applying anyway.

For those who know both schools, what are the key differences or advantages of Mann compared to John Lewis? Other than the commute, is it worth switching?

Would love to hear others’ experiences or perspectives. thank you!