hard to get into Duke Ellington?

[Anonymous]

Ellington’s school day is very longThe students have no little to no time for other extra curricular activities. You need to want to pursue art for a career or for a college major. It isn’t for anyone.

And as for the OOS kids - the percentage is capped at 10%. And they take DC kids first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ellington’s school day is very longThe students have no little to no time for other extra curricular activities. You need to want to pursue art for a career or for a college major. It isn’t for anyone.

And as for the OOS kids - the percentage is capped at 10%. And they take DC kids first.

That’s the official cap. With residency fraud it could easily be another 20 to 25 percent who live quietly in Maryland but fraudulently go to Ellington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington’s school day is very longThe students have no little to no time for other extra curricular activities. You need to want to pursue art for a career or for a college major. It isn’t for anyone.

And as for the OOS kids - the percentage is capped at 10%. And they take DC kids first.

That’s the official cap. With residency fraud it could easily be another 20 to 25 percent who live quietly in Maryland but fraudulently go to Ellington.

This.

A large portion of Ellington families = con artists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington’s school day is very longThe students have no little to no time for other extra curricular activities. You need to want to pursue art for a career or for a college major. It isn’t for anyone.

And as for the OOS kids - the percentage is capped at 10%. And they take DC kids first.

That’s the official cap. With residency fraud it could easily be another 20 to 25 percent who live quietly in Maryland but fraudulently go to Ellington.

This.

A large portion of Ellington families = con artists.

You know they just had the most invasive review of any DCPS school. These are high school students. The ones most likely to have divorced parents. You don’t h e to live in DC to go to a DC school. You only need one parent or legal caregiver who lives in a DC. You have nothing to base your assertions on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's just a bit weird: I've heard many Ellington boosters argue that a) it's a stringent audition-based process where sometimes it's just not possible to fill slots with DC students who have the already developed talent to win a place; and b) many of the students who audition have no formal training at all, so there's no equity concern--"passion" is enough.

I think it's bizarre that a public magnet school funded by DC taxpayers--and which regularly turns DC students away--has any MD residents at all. If there are still open seats after every single DC kid has applied then, sure, have at it. But the status quo strikes me as nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's just a bit weird: I've heard many Ellington boosters argue that a) it's a stringent audition-based process where sometimes it's just not possible to fill slots with DC students who have the already developed talent to win a place; and b) many of the students who audition have no formal training at all, so there's no equity concern--"passion" is enough.

I think it's bizarre that a public magnet school funded by DC taxpayers--and which regularly turns DC students away--has any MD residents at all. If there are still open seats after every single DC kid has applied then, sure, have at it. But the status quo strikes me as nuts.

Is it funded by both taxpayers and a private foundation. And it operates under an MOU with DCPS and the MOU includes the 10% maximum for OOS students. If DCPS wanted to end the partnership or amend the MOU it could. They did not. It was last updated and signed in 2017.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's just a bit weird: I've heard many Ellington boosters argue that a) it's a stringent audition-based process where sometimes it's just not possible to fill slots with DC students who have the already developed talent to win a place; and b) many of the students who audition have no formal training at all, so there's no equity concern--"passion" is enough.

I think it's bizarre that a public magnet school funded by DC taxpayers--and which regularly turns DC students away--has any MD residents at all. If there are still open seats after every single DC kid has applied then, sure, have at it. But the status quo strikes me as nuts.

Because it varies by program and each statement is actually true. Each department requires different skills and different elements for the audition/portfolio. You also have to write an essay about "Why (insert program you are applying to)."

For museum studies, it's unlikely an 8th-grade student has any significant hands-on experience -- so passion and history of attending museums and show you've thought about how they are configured/marketed is key. For visual arts, formal training isn't needed but you need to have a portfolio assembled and some indication of talent. For the technical theatre program -- experience in community productions and MS plays (if possible) would demonstrate commitment and interest. For drama the pool of applicants is deeper, so students with experience in children's theatre, student productions at their current school and the audition are used. For LMC -- formal training is unlikely and not expected, but experience and/or demonstration of creative writing interest and talent, or creation of videos to tell stories will help ensure admissions.

For dance, vocal music, instrumental music more formal experience is needed.

[Anonymous]

One summer of clarinet classes and your little angel will definitely get an offer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One summer of clarinet classes and your little angel will definitely get an offer!

Probably 3-4 years of DCYOP and summer lessons....

And of course, the angel in question would have to really want to spend 3 hours a day on clarinet and music theory for 4 years of high school.

[Anonymous]

Does the private foundation pay the cost of educating the OOS students? If the amount of financial support is less, the partnership should end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the private foundation pay the cost of educating the OOS students? If the amount of financial support is less, the partnership should end.

Any student whose parents both live out of state should be paying tuition, just like at every other DCPS school. Several dozen are according to the audit which surfaced the irregularities and fraud a year ago.

That tuition pays for the 6.5 hour academic part of the day. The private funds pay for the 3-hour arts block for every student in the school. The amount of tuition is set by OSSE.

But you probably aren’t that interested in the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's just a bit weird: I've heard many Ellington boosters argue that a) it's a stringent audition-based process where sometimes it's just not possible to fill slots with DC students who have the already developed talent to win a place; and b) many of the students who audition have no formal training at all, so there's no equity concern--"passion" is enough.

I think it's bizarre that a public magnet school funded by DC taxpayers--and which regularly turns DC students away--has any MD residents at all. If there are still open seats after every single DC kid has applied then, sure, have at it. But the status quo strikes me as nuts.


Ellington does not "turn away DC students". It turns away kids who do not get through the audition. Auditions are super busy and the people who do the auditions generally have no idea where students come from before they audition. Nobody looks at the paperwork. You perform, or in the non-performing arts you display your work or answer questions and you to the next phase or you don't. Nobody --really nobody -- is looking at anything but your name, certainly not where you are from, until the interview session. After that point, MD or VA people will absolutely be turned down if they are above the cap, but nobody's going into the "no" list to fill in people. You just take fewer people if that's the case.
And let's be clear, it's a school of the arts, so don't act as if there are thousands upon thousands of kids clamoring to get in. Most parents do not value the arts enough to put their child in a pre-professional program. They really want a good academic school and a cool play or two every spring, not arts school level work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's just a bit weird: I've heard many Ellington boosters argue that a) it's a stringent audition-based process where sometimes it's just not possible to fill slots with DC students who have the already developed talent to win a place; and b) many of the students who audition have no formal training at all, so there's no equity concern--"passion" is enough.

I think it's bizarre that a public magnet school funded by DC taxpayers--and which regularly turns DC students away--has any MD residents at all. If there are still open seats after every single DC kid has applied then, sure, have at it. But the status quo strikes me as nuts.


Ellington does not "turn away DC students". It turns away kids who do not get through the audition. Auditions are super busy and the people who do the auditions generally have no idea where students come from before they audition. Nobody looks at the paperwork. You perform, or in the non-performing arts you display your work or answer questions and you to the next phase or you don't. Nobody --really nobody -- is looking at anything but your name, certainly not where you are from, until the interview session. After that point, MD or VA people will absolutely be turned down if they are above the cap, but nobody's going into the "no" list to fill in people. You just take fewer people if that's the case.
And let's be clear, it's a school of the arts, so don't act as if there are thousands upon thousands of kids clamoring to get in. Most parents do not value the arts enough to put their child in a pre-professional program. They really want a good academic school and a cool play or two every spring, not arts school level work.

So much truth here. Especially about what most parents want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington’s school day is very longThe students have no little to no time for other extra curricular activities. You need to want to pursue art for a career or for a college major. It isn’t for anyone.

And as for the OOS kids - the percentage is capped at 10%. And they take DC kids first.

That’s the official cap. With residency fraud it could easily be another 20 to 25 percent who live quietly in Maryland but fraudulently go to Ellington.

This.

A large portion of Ellington families = con artists.

You know they just had the most invasive review of any DCPS school. These are high school students. The ones most likely to have divorced parents. You don’t h e to live in DC to go to a DC school. You only need one parent or legal caregiver who lives in a DC. You have nothing to base your assertions on.

There may be some of that, but there are outright fraudster families at Ellington, as well. DC and the school need to stop making excuses and offering possible rationalizations, and instead ferret out the residency fraud, promptly expel the students, sue the parents for back tuition, fees and interest and refer the parents for criminal prosecution. If the parents are employed with the DC government, they should lose their jobs for not being suitable to hold positions of public trust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the private foundation pay the cost of educating the OOS students? If the amount of financial support is less, the partnership should end.

Any student whose parents both live out of state should be paying tuition, just like at every other DCPS school. Several dozen are according to the audit which surfaced the irregularities and fraud a year ago.

That tuition pays for the 6.5 hour academic part of the day. The private funds pay for the 3-hour arts block for every student in the school. The amount of tuition is set by OSSE.

But you probably aren’t that interested in the facts.

As we're citing facts, the fact is that DC taxpayers pay for 100 percent of Ellington's capital expenditures (i.e., the renovation and expansion) and about 90 percent of Ellington's annual operating costs. Your breakdown of who pays for what doesn't reflect the true 90-10 reality.