Anonymous wrote:I doubt there is anyone who can give you a comparison of the two schools based on first-hand experience.

Mann is the most crowded school in DCPS, they must be doing something right.

Mann is a great DCPS, but a few other schools actually score better. Check out Janney, it's the next closest school to Mann. Academically it is just a small step up, but the social atmosphere has a better reputation - greater sense of community and warmth. Plus, Janney feeds Deal MS which is very good (Mann feeds Hardy MS which is NOT).

I am neither a Mann nor Janney parent, no personal bias. Search this forum for insight into the character of Mann vs. Janney.

Mann is a great school; they seem to deal with the large class sizes just fine. It's actually a pretty small school, relatively speaking, so I don't think any kids with special needs get neglected. It's the principal, teachers, and kids that make it good. The parents, many of whom are IMF or World Bank employees, are very friendly. The renovations next year will be inconvenient, but I'm sure they'll just turn it into a learning experience. The catch with Mann is just that it's an expensive area to live in boundary for.

If your child does or will need special ed services, the MoCo system is far superior in terms of evaluation of need and delivery of services than is DC's.

Mann is overcrowded.... Teaching completely inconsistent. Some great teachers and some....terrible. Reno. Will take some time.

worked at Bradley Hills--great school, great community, and excellent MS and HS feeders

Not familiar with Bradley Hill at all, but we sent our children to Mann for 5 years. It is an excellent school and an excellent community, headed by a simply outstanding principal. It's a cosmopolitan student body but with limited socio-economic diversity. We found the community to be friendly and supportive. A search of this forum will turn up many well-deserved, positive comments about Mann. We bought a house in the n'hood because of the school (considered Montgomery County, Arlington and Falls Church City). Our children have moved on and we were sad to see them leave Mann, but we still make use of the Mann grounds. See the recent Washington Post article about the Wesley Heights community, and its repeated mention of Mann. If you are just worrying about elementary schooling, and not beyond, I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Mann. If you are looking ahead to public middle schools and high schools, Mongomery County has stronger offerings than DC.

I don't know about Mann but we went from Murch to Bradley Hills. My 4th grader was definitely ahead of peers at BH. My 2nd grader was on the same level. I found parents at BH a bit more standoffish but I think that is more because it is a very tightknit community. Definitely lack of diversity at BH but that may be similar to Mann. Since we were dealing with a soon to be middle schooler we looked at Deal and Pyle. I think that is my regret. Deal was very impressive to me. Pyle is great, and my kids love it, but I found Deal pretty amazing-- but at Mann Dealbisnt an option so thatch be something to think about.

Good luck with your decision. We are happy in Bethesda and kids are doing great.

Anonymous wrote:DCPS is and has been a disaster on all levels for years and years. Montgomery is excellent.

Yes. All schools in Montgomery are great and everything is perfect there. All things about DCPS are disastrous. It's really this simple.

DCPS is and has been a disaster on all levels for years and years. Montgomery is excellent.

Mann is getting renovated and expanding this year so the facilities will be fantastic starting in the fall.
My child is in Pre-K there now so can't speak to K teachers but haven't heard anything negative about any of them.

I doubt there is anyone who can give you a comparison of the two schools based on first-hand experience.

Mann is the most crowded school in DCPS, they must be doing something right.

Bradley Hills is excellent. Terrific teachers, community, and resources.

Can any Mann parents share their impressions about their experience?

Maryland schools are much better than DC schools. Bradley Hills is your option.

We will be moving to the DC area from overseas. My son will start k-5 and we are trying to decide between Mann and Bradley Hills in Md. We would prefer to live in the Mann area, but were more impressed by Bradley Hills in terms of resources and felt our kid would be more contained and protected there. In Mann we felt kids were left a bit to themselves and teachers not too involved, but that was just an impression from a short visit. Also, any information in terms differences in special ed? my son could need some minor help (nothing severe), but we are concerned he may fall through the cracks in Mann. Any ideas from parents sending their kids to Mann in terms of their experience? Thanks!