DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a high school with 500 students. 500 students.

If you think Ellington is going to remain at 500 students is a unrealistic. Build it and they will come...best believe that one for sure. Did they not say Eastern would only have 500 -700 at the most after renovations. Here they are at over 1,000 and definitely need staggered arrival times. You must realize is the lure of bring back those from the charter-school system back into Ellington, there's no comparable performing arts school at the Charter school level with a facility of the prominence. Pied piper effect will happen once the door is open.

What is Ellington's enrollment model? They turn DC kids away right now (even as they take kids from MD).

It's an application school. The requirements are explained on the Ellington website.

http://www.ellingtonschool.org/admissions/application-process/

Involves recommendation letters, a short essay, an audition/portfolion review (varies depending on the student's discipline), an academic assessment and a family interview.

In other words, it is a completely subjective process, so that the school and the board, under no supervision at all, can continue admitting whoever they want and for whatever reasons to their own taxpayer-funded private school.

How you would objectively evaluate a students dance, music, or drawing or sculpture skills?

Ellington is no different than any other application high schools in the city. All are subjective (otherwise they'd be called 'test in schools').

Even Walls and Banneker do not just accept the students who score highest on the test or have the highest GPA. They do interviews to judge "fit", whatever that means.

[Anonymous]

In other words, it is a completely subjective process, so that the school and the board, under no supervision at all, can continue admitting whoever they want and for whatever reasons to their own taxpayer-funded private school.

Aww, did ickle Aspen and Willow not get in?

It is a school for the arts. Therefore, it requires that students have some interest and skill in the arts. Have you never seen FAME? Probably not.

No one is making you send your kids to an art school, but for those of us whose kids talents clearly skew that way, we're glad it is there. And I am as disgusted by the renovation expense as you are... but it's not the only school with a bloated renovation budget. And I am assuming the enrollment numbers will grow.

[Anonymous]

There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

[Anonymous]

OSSE released the numbers when they did the enrollment audit report but I can't find them online now -- IIRC was about 10% out of state for Ellington.

Walls and Wilson each had a few out of state students, Sela had 1, Basis had 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OSSE released the numbers when they did the enrollment audit report but I can't find them online now -- IIRC was about 10% out of state for Ellington.

Walls and Wilson each had a few out of state students, Sela had 1, Basis had 1.

These are "official' non resident numbers. The questions are whether Ellington is invoicing and actually collecting tuition from all of the non-resident student families. Also, it may be the tip of the iceberg for non-District residents, as other schools have problems with kids who claim DC addresses but actually reside in MD (sometimes VA) -- in other words, residency fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

And if no 9th grade cello players apply next year (and the 3 they have now are graduating) how are they supposed to have an orchestra? Those are the places and circumstances where out of state students are accepted and pay tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

What are the huge subsidies? How much and where are they from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

What are the huge subsidies? How much and where are they from?

Same per pupil allocations and payments as any other DCPS school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

And if no 9th grade cello players apply next year (and the 3 they have now are graduating) how are they supposed to have an orchestra? Those are the places and circumstances where out of state students are accepted and pay tuition.

Easy. With the kind of budgets we are talking about, you just bring in the best cello prodigy from Russia or China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

And if no 9th grade cello players apply next year (and the 3 they have now are graduating) how are they supposed to have an orchestra? Those are the places and circumstances where out of state students are accepted and pay tuition.

Well, at my old magnet, we'd pretty much take some violinists and make them switch. They only have 3 cello players though? That seems remarkably depressing and a sign that DCPS needs to get a damn music program back in place.

Of course, after my experience with DCPS, I see why that isn't happening. It's because people suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

What are the huge subsidies? How much and where are they from?

$178M / (500 students x 30 years) = $11,800 per year just for the renovation. Add the normal per pupil operating funds, and it's costing DC about $24,000 per year. Even if the families do pay tuition, it's nowhere near that. Hence, subsidy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be one or two posters who have an ax to grind with Ellington. There's plenty to gripe about regarding renovation cost. Why the hate toward the Board and students? The Board doesn't admit students, the faculty does through an audition process. Would love to know if you're the same angry guy that complained about the former principal's salary.

People have been asking this several times, perhaps you know the answer. What is the proportion of students who come from outside DC?

No one 'hates' anyone. But the Ellington board is responsible here, as they have oversight responsibility for the school. It's not just the train wreck of shocking cost overruns, it's the fact that the board's governance and accountability processes seem totally dysfunctional.

With the huge subsidies by DC's taxpayers and the fact that Ellington turns away students, no one who lives outside DC should attend Ellington.

What are the huge subsidies? How much and where are they from?

$178M / (500 students x 30 years) = $11,800 per year just for the renovation. Add the normal per pupil operating funds, and it's costing DC about $24,000 per year. Even if the families do pay tuition, it's nowhere near that. Hence, subsidy.

Not sure that $178M is the final amount. Someone earlier said $210M, and it's clear the project is not finished yet.