hard to get into Duke Ellington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So you're telling us that zero D.C. kids are turned away in favor of MD kids?

No, simply that it's not as simple as you make it out to be. A DC kid who has no talent, or an empty slot, will go to an out of state kid. They decide yes/no on all the DC kids before they consider any from out of state.

In addition, the percentage of tuition paying students is capped at 10%. The out of state enrollment is below that limit now (42 out of 575).

But instead of essentially having 10 percent of sears thst are officially for out of district students (ignoring the fraudsers), why doesn't Ellington do more outreach to recruit a greater number of talented D.C. Kids?

They are in every high school, they are at Ed Fest, they recruit at DCYO, and community based arts group.

Applications have been down while they were in swing space for 3 years. THey've also had interim heads of school for 3 years, which isn't ideal.

I would imagine the building will spur new interest now -- especially as SWW gets more competitive and Wilson gets more crowded. And there is now permanent leadership in place.

Perhaps, but then Ellington will have to enhance its academic quality. It may be good in arts, but no way is comparable academically to SWW or even Wilson.

Ellington wasn't intended to compete with Banneker and SWW, no more than Julliard was intended to compete with Stanford. By your foolish logic, Harvard has a better music program than Peabody Conservatory.

The analogy of Ellington to Juilliard and Peabody and Bannker and SWW to Stanford and Harvard seems a tad overblown, no?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So you're telling us that zero D.C. kids are turned away in favor of MD kids?

No, simply that it's not as simple as you make it out to be. A DC kid who has no talent, or an empty slot, will go to an out of state kid. They decide yes/no on all the DC kids before they consider any from out of state.

In addition, the percentage of tuition paying students is capped at 10%. The out of state enrollment is below that limit now (42 out of 575).

But instead of essentially having 10 percent of sears thst are officially for out of district students (ignoring the fraudsers), why doesn't Ellington do more outreach to recruit a greater number of talented D.C. Kids?

They are in every high school, they are at Ed Fest, they recruit at DCYO, and community based arts group.

Applications have been down while they were in swing space for 3 years. THey've also had interim heads of school for 3 years, which isn't ideal.

I would imagine the building will spur new interest now -- especially as SWW gets more competitive and Wilson gets more crowded. And there is now permanent leadership in place.

Perhaps, but then Ellington will have to enhance its academic quality. It may be good in arts, but no way is comparable academically to SWW or even Wilson.

Ellington wasn't intended to compete with Banneker and SWW, no more than Julliard was intended to compete with Stanford. By your foolish logic, Harvard has a better music program than Peabody Conservatory.

The analogy of Ellington to Juilliard and Peabody and Bannker and SWW to Stanford and Harvard seems a tad overblown, no?!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Surprised to see that there are still spaces available at Duke Ellington from the email sent by my school dc yesterday. Are they in a specific area?

http://www.myschooldc.org/find-schools/available-spaces

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised to see that there are still spaces available at Duke Ellington from the email sent by my school dc yesterday. Are they in a specific area?

http://www.myschooldc.org/find-schools/available-spaces

Why don't you call and ask?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

[Anonymous]

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."

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

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.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

[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.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

Actually, it's BIG news if it can be proven that girls as a class are discriminated against in admissions to DCPS application high schools, including Walls, Banneker, and Ellington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

Actually, it's BIG news if it can be proven that girls as a class are discriminated against in admissions to DCPS application high schools, including Walls, Banneker, and Ellington.

Well this year at least Banneker still has openings, so no one was discriminated against. Banneker, Walls and Ellington ALL have more girls than boys enrolled.

Finally the application schools are allowed to have selective admissions. Consider a different protected class: Banneker and Walls have fewer than 1% students with IEPs, and there are students who passed the admissions tests and did fine on the interview who fall into this group. Because DCPS 'serves' them in the by-right neighborhood high school, the system is not required to admit any student to the selective admission schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

Actually, it's BIG news if it can be proven that girls as a class are discriminated against in admissions to DCPS application high schools, including Walls, Banneker, and Ellington.

That and the blatant discrimination of her daughter being given a different monologue. If other students were given an audition advantage that she did not receive, that would be discriminatory. Your daughter was discriminated against. File a complaint. Nothing will come of it but it will put them on notice.

[Anonymous]

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.

I studied art at an Ivy League university at the graduate level. Evaluation of work was absolutely subjective. Since I was the only AA, I could chalk up any negative experiences to my classmates' not being able to compete on a level playing field. But honestly, I never did. What would be the point?

All of what happened was observed/reported by your daughter, a single individual. Let's say that it's accurate to every detail. Maybe the Ellington faculty figured that, given your DC's substantial professional experience, it would make sense to see what she could do without having prepared/extensively a piece. Maybe they wanted to test her, stretch her. Maybe they wanted to...level the playing field. If your DC was focused on what other students were asked to do, rather than on her own improvisation, maybe she wasn't "in the moment" and didn't seem fully engaged in the challenge.

Not fair, but based on my experience in the arts -- and that of my DD in ballet -- art teachers tend to operate in "surprising" ways. It's not necessarily racial, though who knows. If your DD is focused on what's "fair" -- as I tend to be -- she's going to have a hard slog in the arts. I know I did.

[Anonymous]

you all do realize that bitching on DCUM may make you feel better but it does nothing to address PG kids getting preference over white kids in DC. Unless you are willing to take this fight to the chancellor then nothing will change. My kid is at a title 1 school and its clear that huge number of the kids are coming from MD. Preference for OOB latinos over IB english dominant kids. the block is full of MD plates at drop off. And no, not all these kid are dropped of by nannies and grandparents...