hard to get into Duke Ellington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

It would be infuriating if Ellington were discriminating in favor of PG kids over District residents, based on some probably unconstitutional legacy "mission statement."

Ward 9 is part of DC right?

A lot of folks apparently believe that is so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington is horribly under utilized. They should be made to take students until they're at capacity. DC parents paid for it DC students should be able to use it.

No, if you don't have talent or passion no need for them to accept you! =_=

They should blind audition kids in the music and fine arts program before kids get to the interview stage. This approach has been shown to benefit females who are often discriminated against in orchestras. They should also offer a stream where the student takes one arts focus rather then two and then the other time they do advanced math or something else academic. This will attract a lot of interest from families who do not want the double arts focus but like the idea of a strong arts program that does not sacrifice academics. And with this approach the school can make better use of the space that they have, much of which sits empty for half the day.

1) They do audition students for all programs prior to interviews (dates below were for 2019 fall admissions).

Important admissions dates:

Open Houses – Open Houses will be held in November 2018 and January 2019. Please see our Open Houses page for dates and to RSVP.

Applications – Applications are submitted via the MySchoolDC.org website. Applications are open from December 10, 2018 through February 1, 2019. Please see MySchoolDC.org for the application dates and guidelines.

Auditions – Audition Week Saturday, February 2 – Friday, February 8, 2019 Start preparing for your audition today – click here to review the audition procedures.

And for students who have passed an audition: Academic Assessment Test, Mandatory Arts Presentation, Night Family Interviews

2) No one at Ellington takes 2 arts streams. From the admissions page of the website You’re welcome to audition for one or two artistic fields. However, while attending Ellington, you will major in a single art

Thanks! I have only looked at the music program and thought that kids had to choose two instruments.

It seems to me that the school does have the potential to add more seats, but only if those seats where not taking the full arts program. So I thought that adding a academic focus option, advanced math or chemistry, would be a way to do that.

I don't think so.

Ellington take 6 academic classes from 8:30-2:30, then arts block from 2:45-4:55. The 'academic' parts of the building are fully utilized until 2:30. I suppose you could have students in the 'academic focus option' in school from 2:45-8:45 pm??

The arts section of the building is not at all configured for regular classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Entitled parents lead to entitled kids. Now, a performing arts school should provide affirmative action for Ward 3 Caucasian students, essentially, but to hell with that for others in college admissions.

Not affirmative action but not affirmative discrimination, either. Yet based on the experience reported in some previous posts, that seems to be exactly what is going on. It is especially maddening when Ellington is intentionally admitting or otherwise looking the other way at residency fraud. Either way, there seems to be a substantial cohort of kids from PG, MD who attend the school while a lot of DC students can’t get in.

Based on evidence from DCUM . Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington is horribly under utilized. They should be made to take students until they're at capacity. DC parents paid for it DC students should be able to use it.

No, if you don't have talent or passion no need for them to accept you! =_=

They should blind audition kids in the music and fine arts program before kids get to the interview stage. This approach has been shown to benefit females who are often discriminated against in orchestras. They should also offer a stream where the student takes one arts focus rather then two and then the other time they do advanced math or something else academic. This will attract a lot of interest from families who do not want the double arts focus but like the idea of a strong arts program that does not sacrifice academics. And with this approach the school can make better use of the space that they have, much of which sits empty for half the day.

1) They do audition students for all programs prior to interviews (dates below were for 2019 fall admissions).

Important admissions dates:

Open Houses – Open Houses will be held in November 2018 and January 2019. Please see our Open Houses page for dates and to RSVP.

Applications – Applications are submitted via the MySchoolDC.org website. Applications are open from December 10, 2018 through February 1, 2019. Please see MySchoolDC.org for the application dates and guidelines.

Auditions – Audition Week Saturday, February 2 – Friday, February 8, 2019 Start preparing for your audition today – click here to review the audition procedures.

And for students who have passed an audition: Academic Assessment Test, Mandatory Arts Presentation, Night Family Interviews

2) No one at Ellington takes 2 arts streams. From the admissions page of the website You’re welcome to audition for one or two artistic fields. However, while attending Ellington, you will major in a single art

Thanks! I have only looked at the music program and thought that kids had to choose two instruments.

It seems to me that the school does have the potential to add more seats, but only if those seats where not taking the full arts program. So I thought that adding a academic focus option, advanced math or chemistry, would be a way to do that.

I don't think so.

Ellington take 6 academic classes from 8:30-2:30, then arts block from 2:45-4:55. The 'academic' parts of the building are fully utilized until 2:30. I suppose you could have students in the 'academic focus option' in school from 2:45-8:45 pm??

The arts section of the building is not at all configured for regular classes.

Wow that is a long school day.

If kids taking a minor in arts had a shorter day and started later then schedules could feasibly be staggered. The kids doing the minor program do arts in the special music rooms the morning. Somehow something could be figured. Just brainstorm g how to make that school offer more seats to DC families. How many more seats could they offer?

[Anonymous]

Even without the change you are suggesting, the school has been steadily growing since the building was renovated.

2016-17 - 537
2017-18 - 559
2018-19 - 571

The plan is to continue to grow up to 600 students when it reaches capacity.

Another issue with offering a 'minor' in arts to additional students is that the arts block teachers are part-time and are not paid for a full day. So it would cost more money if they were to add significantly more students to the building. The arts teachers have been paid with the private dollars that the Ellington Foundation raises (DCPS pays for the core teachers).

[Anonymous]

Let's answer the basic question. It is not "hard" to get into Ellington. It is, however, a very selective process that is also subjective because it's based on audition-based, but there are fundamentals.
(1) The first is to do the pre-work. Each discipline requires you to come in with a set of things done/rehearsed/read etc.. You'd be stunned at the number of kids of all kinds who don't follow the basic ask of the school. That is an immediate "no".

(2) Want to be there. It also seems basic but many kids audition and openly admit that Ellington is one of several choices, or just a second option if a first choice does not work out. Again, no reason to say yes to someone who doesn't want to be there

(3) Love the work. So much more important than "talent". A spark plus passion counts for more than just a good voice or the ability to write well. It's a pre-professional program. Ambition to do the thing goes a long way toward judging whether someone is going to spend 5-6 hours AFTER regular classes focusing on a discipline.

[Anonymous]

Forgive a couple typos above

[Anonymous]

Arts minor? Shorter days?

Stop this now.

Provide better arts training in middle school. Make your kids write. Take them to more museums. Encourage them to develop their passions. It's a pre-professional school. If arts is not your thing, that school is not your place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arts minor? Shorter days?

Stop this now.

Provide better arts training in middle school. Make your kids write. Take them to more museums. Encourage them to develop their passions. It's a pre-professional school. If arts is not your thing, that school is not your place.

True, DCPS needs to raise its game on the arts. But that school does seem to be operating at well below full utilization.

Also, arts should not just be treated as job training! So the pre professional approach while useful is also restrictive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arts minor? Shorter days?

Stop this now.

Provide better arts training in middle school. Make your kids write. Take them to more museums. Encourage them to develop their passions. It's a pre-professional school. If arts is not your thing, that school is not your place.

True, DCPS needs to raise its game on the arts. But that school does seem to be operating at well below full utilization.

Also, arts should not just be treated as job training! So the pre professional approach while useful is also restrictive.

Every day here someone says that DCPS needs to offer more paths for kids NOT heading to college. Most DESA graduates do go on to college, but what is wrong with giving them skills to go into the workforce.

Also "seems to be" below full utilization ... based on what, your gut feeling? Have you visited the classrooms? Seen the headcount per class? Gone through the building counting empty academic classrooms?

The enrollment for Ellington is far higher than Banneker, and just below SWW and McKinley.

571 DESA
610 SWW
629 McKinley Tech
486 Banneker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arts minor? Shorter days?

Stop this now.

Provide better arts training in middle school. Make your kids write. Take them to more museums. Encourage them to develop their passions. It's a pre-professional school. If arts is not your thing, that school is not your place.

True, DCPS needs to raise its game on the arts. But that school does seem to be operating at well below full utilization.

Also, arts should not just be treated as job training! So the pre professional approach while useful is also restrictive.

Every day here someone says that DCPS needs to offer more paths for kids NOT heading to college. Most DESA graduates do go on to college, but what is wrong with giving them skills to go into the workforce.

Also "seems to be" below full utilization ... based on what, your gut feeling? Have you visited the classrooms? Seen the headcount per class? Gone through the building counting empty academic classrooms?

The enrollment for Ellington is far higher than Banneker, and just below SWW and McKinley.

571 DESA
610 SWW
629 McKinley Tech
486 Banneker

dME data shows 94% utilization with enrollment of 566. So a bit of room to grow but not much.

Official capacity is 600. Weird they are not filling the spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arts minor? Shorter days?

Stop this now.

Provide better arts training in middle school. Make your kids write. Take them to more museums. Encourage them to develop their passions. It's a pre-professional school. If arts is not your thing, that school is not your place.

True, DCPS needs to raise its game on the arts. But that school does seem to be operating at well below full utilization.

Also, arts should not just be treated as job training! So the pre professional approach while useful is also restrictive.

Every day here someone says that DCPS needs to offer more paths for kids NOT heading to college. Most DESA graduates do go on to college, but what is wrong with giving them skills to go into the workforce.

Also "seems to be" below full utilization ... based on what, your gut feeling? Have you visited the classrooms? Seen the headcount per class? Gone through the building counting empty academic classrooms?

The enrollment for Ellington is far higher than Banneker, and just below SWW and McKinley.

571 DESA
610 SWW
629 McKinley Tech
486 Banneker

dME data shows 94% utilization with enrollment of 566. So a bit of room to grow but not much.

Official capacity is 600. Weird they are not filling the spots.

They've grown by about 20-25 students a year since 2016-17 (see numbers cited this am in this thread). To fill the remaining gap of 34 (566-600) they need to grow by ~10-12 students a year (assuming some attrition).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arts minor? Shorter days?

Stop this now.

Provide better arts training in middle school. Make your kids write. Take them to more museums. Encourage them to develop their passions. It's a pre-professional school. If arts is not your thing, that school is not your place.

True, DCPS needs to raise its game on the arts. But that school does seem to be operating at well below full utilization.

Also, arts should not just be treated as job training! So the pre professional approach while useful is also restrictive.

Pre-professional is the specific difference between a "school of the arts" and a school with an arts program. To manage the demands of advanced arts instruction you must have the ambition to pursue it professionally. The decision to do so is your own, of course, but Ellington routinely loses students who just thought they were taking art class only to realize rehearsal that three-plus intense hours of actual work doing the art was not at all what they bargained for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very. There's an audition, exam, and family interview.

So why, with the latest $200 million subsidy from D.C. Taxpayers, does Ellington take kids from Maryland while it turns away kids from Washington?!

Go to an open house and ask.

Why don't you tell us taxpayers. We'd love to know why we're subsidizing MoCo and PG kids when DC kids are being rejected. How is educating Maryland students part of Ellington's mission?

If no bass players from DC apply, and a talented bass player from Silver Spring wants to pay tuition and attend, why not?

In a city where *most* elementary and middle-schools don't even have a music program, isn't an arts-focused school like Ellington where students have to audition incredibly unfair, and a massive equity issue? My kid's ES had a music teacher, but the kids got very little instruction. No music teacher at their MS at all. Very little arts education at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very. There's an audition, exam, and family interview.

So why, with the latest $200 million subsidy from D.C. Taxpayers, does Ellington take kids from Maryland while it turns away kids from Washington?!

Go to an open house and ask.

Why don't you tell us taxpayers. We'd love to know why we're subsidizing MoCo and PG kids when DC kids are being rejected. How is educating Maryland students part of Ellington's mission?

If no bass players from DC apply, and a talented bass player from Silver Spring wants to pay tuition and attend, why not?

In a city where *most* elementary and middle-schools don't even have a music program, isn't an arts-focused school like Ellington where students have to audition incredibly unfair, and a massive equity issue? My kid's ES had a music teacher, but the kids got very little instruction. No music teacher at their MS at all. Very little arts education at all.

There are 6 or 7 different arts disciplines. Many of which don’t require instrumental music in elementary school. But for those who want to pursue an instrument DCYOP accepts kids at all levels, and teaches many disadvantaged students.

Many in the vocal track learned at their churches or their EA and MS.

Hardy pre-“flip” has an arts program that sent many to Ellington.