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]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.

[/quote]

Because it varies by program and each statement is actually true. Each department requires different skills and different elements for the audition/portfolio. You also have to write an essay about "Why (insert program you are applying to)."

For museum studies, it's unlikely an 8th-grade student has any significant hands-on experience -- so passion and history of attending museums and show you've thought about how they are configured/marketed is key. For visual arts, formal training isn't needed but you need to have a portfolio assembled and some indication of talent. For the technical theatre program -- experience in community productions and MS plays (if possible) would demonstrate commitment and interest. For drama the pool of applicants is deeper, so students with experience in children's theatre, student productions at their current school and the audition are used. For LMC -- formal training is unlikely and not expected, but experience and/or demonstration of creative writing interest and talent, or creation of videos to tell stories will help ensure admissions.

For dance, vocal music, instrumental music more formal experience is needed.[/quote]

+1  My neighbors' two kids go to Ellington (OOS - and pay tuition).  One is a dancer and trained intensively since an early age. It was a tough audition process.  The other got in for technical theatre, she's worked on school plays in ES and MS but hardly the intense requirements that her dancer sister needed to meet.[/quote]

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