Duke Ellington Closed Doors

[Anonymous]

I have some friends who are thinking of moving to DC so their daughter can attend Duke Ellington. They wanted to meet with the admissions counselor and take a quick tour of the school. They tried for a month to set something up and either they didn't get return calls, got the wrong information, were told to make the request over email--which they did and then didn't get a response. So they went over to the school today--only to be turned away. After spending $178 million of our DC tax money on their renovation, you would think that they would be just a little more responsive. They also went over to Walls just to see that school as well. Very nice and professional, and they received a wonderful and very brief quick tour of the school by Walls' students.

[Anonymous]

Cool story.

But it doesn’t ring true. You can’t just move to DC and attend either SWW or Ellington and it would be dumb to buy a home and hope you get in.

You must apply - NEXT fall. There are open houses and such in the fall.

[Anonymous]

There is a season and process for open houses. Tell your friend to check her/his entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends who are thinking of moving to DC so their daughter can attend Duke Ellington. They wanted to meet with the admissions counselor and take a quick tour of the school. They tried for a month to set something up and either they didn't get return calls, got the wrong information, were told to make the request over email--which they did and then didn't get a response. So they went over to the school today--only to be turned away. After spending $178 million of our DC tax money on their renovation, you would think that they would be just a little more responsive. They also went over to Walls just to see that school as well. Very nice and professional, and they received a wonderful and very brief quick tour of the school by Walls' students.

Well, the difference is clear.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but I don't want my child spending their time giving tours to random people who don't even live in DC and may never get in and may never attend if they do. Nor would I think it important for school staff to provide it. You can wait for the group tour.

[Anonymous]

Really surprised that Walls allowed a tour.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the school handled it exactly like you’d want them to. Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

Why would your friends think that they could get into a school with a lengthy and rigorous application and lottery process that is already OVER? Where were they during the multiple open houses and individual info sessions for each major? Do they also show up at private schools and expect to be dealt with outside the normal process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would your friends think that they could get into a school with a lengthy and rigorous application and lottery process that is already OVER? Where were they during the multiple open houses and individual info sessions for each major? Do they also show up at private schools and expect to be dealt with outside the normal process?

My guess is that their kid is in like 2nd grade and they're planning ahead.

[Anonymous]

They randomly showed up at the school and got turned away? Sounds like the school did the right thing. Schools are not tourist attractions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They randomly showed up at the school and got turned away? Sounds like the school did the right thing. Schools are not tourist attractions.

Ellington should have told this family to come to an open house next year and made a mistake in not returning the call. If the parents wanted a sense of the school -- including a peek inside the building -- there are other ways to do it, such as going to the school's production of about Matthew Shephard which was widely promoted and really good.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/im-a-queer-black-woman-in-american-and-im-awesome-these-high-school-students-consider-what-it-means-to-own-it/2019/04/10/1f1c6e76-5b9e-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?fbclid=IwAR1n6K5A17EDgfFFVoEXjNW3xsP4qiDvNy0M4Brzidgz3d0mLPPqiyrkHbQ&utm_term=.56f70daadb0f

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They randomly showed up at the school and got turned away? Sounds like the school did the right thing. Schools are not tourist attractions.

Ellington should have told this family to come to an open house next year and made a mistake in not returning the call. If the parents wanted a sense of the school -- including a peek inside the building -- there are other ways to do it, such as going to the school's production of about Matthew Shephard which was widely promoted and really good.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/im-a-queer-black-woman-in-american-and-im-awesome-these-high-school-students-consider-what-it-means-to-own-it/2019/04/10/1f1c6e76-5b9e-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?fbclid=IwAR1n6K5A17EDgfFFVoEXjNW3xsP4qiDvNy0M4Brzidgz3d0mLPPqiyrkHbQ&utm_term=.56f70daadb0f

It's really not that hard to go online and figure out that schools have specific open house times, and other ways to see inside the school like you suggest going to the play. It may have been nice for the school to call them back, but I don't think they did anything wrong by ignoring them when the information is easily available elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They randomly showed up at the school and got turned away? Sounds like the school did the right thing. Schools are not tourist attractions.

Ellington should have told this family to come to an open house next year and made a mistake in not returning the call. If the parents wanted a sense of the school -- including a peek inside the building -- there are other ways to do it, such as going to the school's production of about Matthew Shephard which was widely promoted and really good.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/im-a-queer-black-woman-in-american-and-im-awesome-these-high-school-students-consider-what-it-means-to-own-it/2019/04/10/1f1c6e76-5b9e-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?fbclid=IwAR1n6K5A17EDgfFFVoEXjNW3xsP4qiDvNy0M4Brzidgz3d0mLPPqiyrkHbQ&utm_term=.56f70daadb0f

It's really not that hard to go online and figure out that schools have specific open house times, and other ways to see inside the school like you suggest going to the play. It may have been nice for the school to call them back, but I don't think they did anything wrong by ignoring them when the information is easily available elsewhere.

Totally agree.

[Anonymous]

I did this in a one-step google search.

http://www.ellingtonschool.org/about/community-services/tours/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have some friends who are thinking of moving to DC so their daughter can attend Duke Ellington. They wanted to meet with the admissions counselor and take a quick tour of the school. They tried for a month to set something up and either they didn't get return calls, got the wrong information, were told to make the request over email--which they did and then didn't get a response. So they went over to the school today--only to be turned away. After spending $178 million of our DC tax money on their renovation, you would think that they would be just a little more responsive. They also went over to Walls just to see that school as well. Very nice and professional, and they received a wonderful and very brief quick tour of the school by Walls' students.

Looks like there was a tour on April 10 and another scheduled for May 22. Your friends need to do better research.