Reply to hard to get into Duke Ellington?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Very.  There's an audition, exam, and family interview.  [/quote]

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?![/quote]

Go to an open house and ask. [/quote]

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?[/quote]

If no bass players from DC apply, and a talented bass player from Silver Spring wants to pay tuition and attend, why not?[/quote]

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. [/quote]

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.

[/quote]

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.[/quote]

So much truth here. Especially about what most parents want. [/quote]

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