How are the academics at Duke Ellington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not rocket science, simply check PARCC scores.

They are beyond dismal, especially in math.

Come on, a lot of HS kids in this city blow off the 10th grade PARCC. They don't necessarily try to answer questions correctly, or don't try very hard anyway. They and their families care about AP scores and SAT scores. Why should they care about PARCC scores? What's in it for them? I say this without defending DE's standardized test scores or academics!

Fair point and interesting theory.

Now go and look up AP and SAT scores.

Ellington's average SAT scores is higher than the DCPS average (which is 913).


Why are we comparing Ellington scores with three schools that are selective based on academic achievement, when Ellington is selective based on artistic merit as a priority? And by the way Ellington routinely waitlists kids on the academic border until they get grades up, but it assumes that when kids get in they will they will thrive and do better. And to the OP's basic question on academics, could Ellington do better? Yes. But what parents love about Duke is that kids thrive in a socially and culturally safe, supportive and comfortable environment and thus tend to achieve in academics later because of the intangibles.

This was a few years ago but dd went to Ellington for a year. Don't know if things have changed. This pp is correct - the focus of Duke Ellington is preprofessional training for the arts. It's a different kind of school from Banneker and Walls. As a matter of fact, that was probably the drawback for dd. If you go there for a specific area, you are siloed into that area. Dd was in the literary media program and as I understood it she wouldn't have been able to try out for a part in the school play because that would have been reserved for the theater students. But she got lots of support for writing and got the opportunity to meet professionals in this field. I was aware of the weakness in math and science but I thought that the preprofessional training in writing nevertheless would be invaluable for her. Anyway, dd wanted to follow some of her friends to private school so we made that happen for her. At at that school, she was able to participate in all different kinds of arts, which worked better for her - but she was no longer treated like a preprofessional in writing - that is, with an emphasis on writing every day and networking with professional writers. That was a huge loss. She also lost the the warm and supportive atmosphere that I noticed at Ellington. It was like a family where the kids are loved and supported.

Yeah, so folks on this thread are unhappy about the test scores for Ellington. So, don't send your kids there. It's not the school for your kids. But if your child is devoted to their art and wants a shot at getting professional training and access to professional networks - consider the school. The rest of you - go somewhere else and feel superior. That's fine.

Thank you for this, it is very helpful. I am not so much worried about the school's test scores as wanting to know whether an already strong student can continue to have his/her academic needs met along with the arts. I want my academically strong student to be pushed in something and the something she would like to be pushed in is the arts (that is where all her outside of school energy goes now) so I would much rather have her at Ellington and happy and voluntarily working very hard at her art (along with doing her academic work - which she has always done) than at Walls or Banneker or Wilson. My other concern is the one you voice, that the kids are siloed into a single art and cannot participate in the others to any significant degree.

I graduated from Banneker. We had a few kids who definitely should have gone to Ellington. We had a lot of assemblies at 'BAB', and they'd always be chosen to play piano, sing, or showcase their talents. That was the only time they seemed alive. The rest of the time they just looked miserable doing work all day with the rest of us. A very small percentage went on to pursue their artistic dreams. Banneker has a tendency to beat that part out of you. You spend so much time doing work that you don't really have time for anything else. They also shame you into going to the best possible school you can get into. Art schools aren't even discussed. I loved my experience at Banneker, but I'd have a hard time sending my child there just because it's a good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful things about Ellington, but academics are not a strong selling point. They want everyone to succeed/graduate, and even in the honors and AP classes the standards are very low. Most, though not all, of the students are not there for the academics and are just enduring the academic block. Having said that, there are some excellent teachers. I also think that the administration is aware that they need to do more for the cohort that is academically motivated, but they have had their hands full the past couple of years with the move and putting out fires.

The silos of the arts departments are very real. Occasionally, a couple of departments will collaborate on a performance or event, but it would be great if it happened more. Some of the departments are better funded and managed than others. It is far from perfect (and some would argue that it is extremely dysfunctional), but for kids who are passionate about their art and in one of the high functioning departments, it is a special place.

Which departments are “high functioning”?

[Anonymous]

Silos are beginning to drop slowly. But that's a common problem at even colleges now as media, tech and arts become intertwined at a faster rate than education (or law) can adjust to and students' multi-platform talents fit less well into defined discipline boxes. On the other hand, "Be excellent at one thing" remains good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful things about Ellington, but academics are not a strong selling point. They want everyone to succeed/graduate, and even in the honors and AP classes the standards are very low. Most, though not all, of the students are not there for the academics and are just enduring the academic block. Having said that, there are some excellent teachers. I also think that the administration is aware that they need to do more for the cohort that is academically motivated, but they have had their hands full the past couple of years with the move and putting out fires.

The silos of the arts departments are very real. Occasionally, a couple of departments will collaborate on a performance or event, but it would be great if it happened more. Some of the departments are better funded and managed than others. It is far from perfect (and some would argue that it is extremely dysfunctional), but for kids who are passionate about their art and in one of the high functioning departments, it is a special place.

Sure it's an special place.

Where else can you waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer money while pursuing your hobbies and NOT getting an education?

+100. Completely agree. Well said, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful things about Ellington, but academics are not a strong selling point. They want everyone to succeed/graduate, and even in the honors and AP classes the standards are very low. Most, though not all, of the students are not there for the academics and are just enduring the academic block. Having said that, there are some excellent teachers. I also think that the administration is aware that they need to do more for the cohort that is academically motivated, but they have had their hands full the past couple of years with the move and putting out fires.

The silos of the arts departments are very real. Occasionally, a couple of departments will collaborate on a performance or event, but it would be great if it happened more. Some of the departments are better funded and managed than others. It is far from perfect (and some would argue that it is extremely dysfunctional), but for kids who are passionate about their art and in one of the high functioning departments, it is a special place.

Sure it's an special place.

Where else can you waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer money while pursuing your hobbies and NOT getting an education?

When you look at the chronic mismanagement, lack of oversight and shocking expenditure of funds, Ellington is basically a RICO scheme masquerading as a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful things about Ellington, but academics are not a strong selling point. They want everyone to succeed/graduate, and even in the honors and AP classes the standards are very low. Most, though not all, of the students are not there for the academics and are just enduring the academic block. Having said that, there are some excellent teachers. I also think that the administration is aware that they need to do more for the cohort that is academically motivated, but they have had their hands full the past couple of years with the move and putting out fires.

The silos of the arts departments are very real. Occasionally, a couple of departments will collaborate on a performance or event, but it would be great if it happened more. Some of the departments are better funded and managed than others. It is far from perfect (and some would argue that it is extremely dysfunctional), but for kids who are passionate about their art and in one of the high functioning departments, it is a special place.

Sure it's an special place.

Where else can you waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer money while pursuing your hobbies and NOT getting an education?

When you look at the chronic mismanagement, lack of oversight and shocking expenditure of funds, Ellington is basically a RICO scheme masquerading as a school.

"Shocking expenditure of funds"? You mean the renovation done by the city that Ellington had nothing to do with?

[Anonymous]

"Nothing to do with?" Oh please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Nothing to do with?" Oh please.

The Ellington community and leadership had no more to do with the expenditure of funds for its than the Lafayette community did for theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Nothing to do with?" Oh please.

The Ellington community and leadership had no more to do with the expenditure of funds for its than the Lafayette community did for theirs.

People need to understand that Ellington is by no means a normal DC Public School. It is essentially run by a non-DCPS/private outside board and has very significant sources of outside/private funds. How money is spent there on everything from construction to programming works differently. (Lafayette, by contrast, is just a huge, overcrowded, rich-family DCPS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Nothing to do with?" Oh please.

The Ellington community and leadership had no more to do with the expenditure of funds for its than the Lafayette community did for theirs.

People need to understand that Ellington is by no means a normal DC Public School. It is essentially run by a non-DCPS/private outside board and has very significant sources of outside/private funds. How money is spent there on everything from construction to programming works differently. (Lafayette, by contrast, is just a huge, overcrowded, rich-family DCPS)

Construction money spent at Ellington was done the same way as for all DGS school renovations (basically not well). DCPS owns that building, the foundation does not. DCPS was the customer/client as it always is, not Ellington's board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Nothing to do with?" Oh please.

The Ellington community and leadership had no more to do with the expenditure of funds for its than the Lafayette community did for theirs.

People need to understand that Ellington is by no means a normal DC Public School. It is essentially run by a non-DCPS/private outside board and has very significant sources of outside/private funds. How money is spent there on everything from construction to programming works differently. (Lafayette, by contrast, is just a huge, overcrowded, rich-family DCPS)

Construction money spent at Ellington was done the same way as for all DGS school renovations (basically not well). DCPS owns that building, the foundation does not. DCPS was the customer/client as it always is, not Ellington's board.

I'm sorry, you're willfully ignoring the influence of the Ellington board. No one in DC politics dares stand up to them. Their wish was DGS' command, costs be damned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful things about Ellington, but academics are not a strong selling point. They want everyone to succeed/graduate, and even in the honors and AP classes the standards are very low. Most, though not all, of the students are not there for the academics and are just enduring the academic block. Having said that, there are some excellent teachers. I also think that the administration is aware that they need to do more for the cohort that is academically motivated, but they have had their hands full the past couple of years with the move and putting out fires.

The silos of the arts departments are very real. Occasionally, a couple of departments will collaborate on a performance or event, but it would be great if it happened more. Some of the departments are better funded and managed than others. It is far from perfect (and some would argue that it is extremely dysfunctional), but for kids who are passionate about their art and in one of the high functioning departments, it is a special place.

Sure it's an special place.

Where else can you waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer money while pursuing your hobbies and NOT getting an education?

When you look at the chronic mismanagement, lack of oversight and shocking expenditure of funds, Ellington is basically a RICO scheme masquerading as a school.

"Shocking expenditure of funds"? You mean the renovation done by the city that Ellington had nothing to do with?

Spoken like a corrupt crony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful things about Ellington, but academics are not a strong selling point. They want everyone to succeed/graduate, and even in the honors and AP classes the standards are very low. Most, though not all, of the students are not there for the academics and are just enduring the academic block. Having said that, there are some excellent teachers. I also think that the administration is aware that they need to do more for the cohort that is academically motivated, but they have had their hands full the past couple of years with the move and putting out fires.

The silos of the arts departments are very real. Occasionally, a couple of departments will collaborate on a performance or event, but it would be great if it happened more. Some of the departments are better funded and managed than others. It is far from perfect (and some would argue that it is extremely dysfunctional), but for kids who are passionate about their art and in one of the high functioning departments, it is a special place.

Sure it's an special place.

Where else can you waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer money while pursuing your hobbies and NOT getting an education?

+100. Completely agree. Well said, PP.

You clearly don't know any graduates. This is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Nothing to do with?" Oh please.

The Ellington community and leadership had no more to do with the expenditure of funds for its than the Lafayette community did for theirs.

People need to understand that Ellington is by no means a normal DC Public School. It is essentially run by a non-DCPS/private outside board and has very significant sources of outside/private funds. How money is spent there on everything from construction to programming works differently. (Lafayette, by contrast, is just a huge, overcrowded, rich-family DCPS)

Construction money spent at Ellington was done the same way as for all DGS school renovations (basically not well). DCPS owns that building, the foundation does not. DCPS was the customer/client as it always is, not Ellington's board.

I'm sorry, you're willfully ignoring the influence of the Ellington board. No one in DC politics dares stand up to them. Their wish was DGS' command, costs be damned.

The Ellington Board does not raise funds, not does it have resources and it is under contract with DCPS, so there goes your "influence" argument. A separate board raises funds, and only about $1 million and that mostly pays arts teachers --period. And not enough at that. It is a DCPS building, the school is a tenant. And much of that cost was not in Ellington at all but in the renovation of two other schools for swing space. So DC got three schools in that deal

[Anonymous]

Do a little research, please. Nearly every arts high school works in America in the same sort of private/public partnership agreement as Ellington for a couple of reasons. (1) There is no such thing as a formal arts curriculum in American education so school systems don't know how to run them and (2) teachers at that level of instruction by default tend to be professionals in their fields, not necessarily professional teachers so their hiring cannot work within the normal public school structure and they are almost always non-union and get paid much less than union teachers.

That days everything about how far American has gotten away from public support of arts and culture. People talk about STEM this, STEM that, then binge on Netflix all night and listen to music all day but want to shut down a school that teaches people to makes films and music. Really WTF people?