Manning Oaks Elementary School

Our child is in second grade. We absolutely love this school! The teachers we have had ,have all been wonderful. We especially love the Talented and Gifted teacher! What a great program. There is such a wonderful diversity of people at Manning Oaks. The PTA does some great events. We recently attended the silent auction and dinner and were so impressed with the lovely evening ! This school is a gem in Alpharetta!
--Submitted by a parent

I have 3 children at MOE, and our 5th grader has attended since kindergarten. We have always been pleased with the quality of education, and the number of educational activities presented to the children. Though some things have changed with the recent staff changes, we are pleased with the way the school is run. The new Principal has instituted a fun program for encouraging positive behavior, and addresses peer issues like bullying right away. I have volunteered at the school each week for the past 6 years, and the front desk staff is always polite and welcoming. My only complaint is that due to the re-destricting process a few years ago, MOE lost many single-family home neighborhoods, and consequently, parent volunteers. Many parents still volunteer, and the programs the PTA puts on are still fun and varied, but we can feel the pinch. Overall, our experience with MOE has been very good.
--Submitted by a parent

In response to the single star rating on Feb 22nd post...first of all, not sure what school you were at, but our VP is a woman, not a man. Bullying is a very serious issue and is not taken lightly, but can only be judged by the people involved and those who witness it. Did you come in for the parent speaker on this issue that the school paid for? Did you kid participate in the bullying efforts? I did...and I learned a lot. The staff is very attentive and the front office is amazing!!! They always have control of the entire building and its security and never cease to amaze me! They are queens of multitasking. It is sad to see parents complain about a school and its staff when most of them don't bother to do anything to resolve issues with the school rather than talk bad about it - not thinking of the consequences it hold for the rest of the students and parents. I am glad you have decided to go to a private school, which is what many of the complainers should do rather than bash a great school. One bad apple does NOT spoil the entire bunch!
--Submitted by a parent

Manning Oaks is not the same school anymore! I have had children at the school for almost 7 years. Although, we loved Principal Reinig, the school has gone downhill in just 2 short years. The school has lost 2 AP's and 1 Curriculum Specialist that were the backbone of the school. The New AP does not always know what she is doing and treats teachers in a very demeaning way. Many teachers have been in tears this year! The new Curriculum Specialist has not gained the respect of the staff and it has been 2 years. She is not supportive of the teachers, doesn't appear to know what she is doing either and constantly has my child's teacher doing her job. Over half of the teachers are requesting to leave the school this year because of the CST and AP. We are hopeful the new Principal will make necessary changes so that half of the school does not try to leave next year! Please bring back the old MOE!
--Submitted by a parent

We have been MOE parents for 7 years, ever since our now-middle schooler started kindergarten. MOE has been tossed around by the school board during some nasty redestricting campaigns and has lost a lot of single-home neighborhoods--and the active parents that come with them--in the process. Parental involvement is now lower than wealthier schools, but I am always impressed by the number of people, despite their full-time jobs, that show up to volunteer. We have been consistently impressed by the dedication that individual teachers have to their professions. They are saddled by state requirements and unnecessary bureaucracy from the school board, and yet remain optimistic and enthusiastic in their profession. The current Curriculum Support Specialist is nothing short of amazing--she is as good as they come. I don't love all the teachers--who does?--but we have always felt good sending our kids to MOE every day. Our middle schooler got a great start at MOE and is top of his middle school class. We know our elementary school does a good job preparing kids.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 daughters at MOE, we have been at the school for 4 years now, and we love it. Everything about the school is a positive: excellent teachers, diverse culture, strong PTA, and a united and happy staff. We will so miss, the principal Ms. Reinig, as she is retiring this year, she has well managed the school for the past 13 years, she truly cared about the children and teachers and always strived for the best! I would say the school has a great vibe to it, and will continue to thrive with the new appointed principal. There is a lot of parent involvement and PTA support at the school. In response to the last review: I do not believe the personal touch is gone, I would say MOE has the most caring of staff's, they are so in tune with the students individual needs and willing to work with them to reach their goals. I do not find MOE to be a school that only teaches to the test, they do focus on the CRCT just as much as all the other Fulton County schools, they spend time talking to the children and prepping them for the test, the staff tells them to do their best, and not be stressed about it. We love Manning Oaks,great school spirit! A++
--Submitted by a parent

Used to be a good school. Manning Oaks has really gone downhill over the last few years. The personal touch is gone and it has become very political. Test scores are pushed to try to achieve the "School of Excellence" award and needs of students are pushed aside. A few good teachers remain, but very disappointed with the new vice principals. Waited 2 weeks to get an appointment with vp only to be seated in the lobby for 45 minutes past the appointment time. He was taking phone calls and looking over our shoulders at a student the whole time we were in his office after my husband and I both took off work to meet with him about a very serious issue. Bullying is a severe problem as teachers chat on park benches and don't supervise children at reccess. Also have witnessed bullying at lunch and on buses. Removed my child from this school mid year to put him in a private school. Apathetic attitudes from administration and very rude office staff. I volunteered at the school 3 times per week for 3 years and never could manage to get a smile or polite greeting from the front desk staff.
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my children are straight A students at MOE. Every teacher either one of my kids have had are still there. There is a teacher there (I am not allowed to say her name) who has never had either one of my children, but has initiated at least 4 wonderful extra curricular programs that my children are involved in: National Elementary Honor Society, Safety Patrol (5th graders), tutoring the younger students, and Student Council. It is so important to get the students involved. They thrive on that stuff! I love MOE!
--Submitted by a parent

Hi nice school good is is is is is is is is is is great

We have been there 6 years. Maybe it's how the educational system works (or Fulton County) but both I and my child feel the teachers have to teach to the slowest learners in the class. The advanced students are the ones suffering. Seems they would rather work on the slower learners and get them up to speed because there are more of them than advanced kids. Great for them, bad for us. It is a struggle to get 'help' for the advanced kids. TAG is one day a week - in middle school it's TAG math, TAG science, etc. I guess I'm just disappointed with the entire system, not just MOE. My kids were not challenged here at all. Their hardest subject was music. The PTA however, does have some neat activities for everyone.
--Submitted by a parent