Anonymous
06/08/2026 15:45
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No. There is nothing audition/criteria based for the arts in MCPS other than the visual arts program at Einstein.
People talking about Northwood or Einstein or Loiederman are describing interest-based programs within a standard curriculum.
So, maybe you get 4 different levels of dance class rather than 3, but it's not an arts curriculum or facilities the way a school like DE or LaGuardia would be.
It may not be the level of Ellington, but Loiederman is the only MCPS middle school that is close and it is NOT the standard MCPS middle school curriculum. Students at Loiederman have access to high school level fine arts classes and get high school credit for them, have a new (built in 2020) professional-grade black box theater with the ability to hang advanced lighting and sound equipment (no other MCPS middle school has a standalone theater - they are all part of the cafeteria), have audition based dance companies, audition-based acapella groups that compete, and multiple classes in film production, digital music (level 1 & 2), digital art (including digital art high school level classes), high school credit theater classes including technical theater. All dance classes beyond beginner require auditions.
Here is the course offerings:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1SiVXKNANxnIKVu9Z1ziLgLnF2cBu_bxx&authuser=0&acrobatPromotionSource=gdrive_chrome-list
I would be very curious to know from the PP what other MCPS middle school comes close to this level of arts offerings at the middle school level.
Again, not the same level as Ellington, but MUCH more than just the "standard" MCPS curriculum.
Except they don't put on shows that provide evidence of this. I've been to much better plays/dance shows held in cafeteriums at other MCPS schools than anything I've seen at Loiederman. Not sure they retain quality teachers.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 15:27
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
One thing you might not know, OP, is that MCPS does not really do whole-school magnets outside of the middle school consortium (which, again, is not criteria-based).
Even the "flagship" magnets at the high level are always a small proportion of the overall student population. So, even if you had an audition-based program (the initial model for Woodward, by the way), you would still never have the whole-school commitment to the arts of the schools mentioned in the first post.
Even the "flagship" magnets at the high level are always a small proportion of the overall student population. So, even if you had an audition-based program (the initial model for Woodward, by the way), you would still never have the whole-school commitment to the arts of the schools mentioned in the first post.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 14:47
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
None of the things discussed are remotely similar.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 14:20
Subject: Re:Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
This is what is proposed for dance for the high school regional programs launching in fall 2027 (applications starting in fall 2026), although there may still be further revisions to the details: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/regional-programs-and-themes/dance/
Anonymous
06/08/2026 13:38
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
Anonymous wrote:No. There is nothing audition/criteria based for the arts in MCPS other than the visual arts program at Einstein.
People talking about Northwood or Einstein or Loiederman are describing interest-based programs within a standard curriculum.
So, maybe you get 4 different levels of dance class rather than 3, but it's not an arts curriculum or facilities the way a school like DE or LaGuardia would be.
It may not be the level of Ellington, but Loiederman is the only MCPS middle school that is close and it is NOT the standard MCPS middle school curriculum. Students at Loiederman have access to high school level fine arts classes and get high school credit for them, have a new (built in 2020) professional-grade black box theater with the ability to hang advanced lighting and sound equipment (no other MCPS middle school has a standalone theater - they are all part of the cafeteria), have audition based dance companies, audition-based acapella groups that compete, and multiple classes in film production, digital music (level 1 & 2), digital art (including digital art high school level classes), high school credit theater classes including technical theater. All dance classes beyond beginner require auditions.
Here is the course offerings:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1SiVXKNANxnIKVu9Z1ziLgLnF2cBu_bxx&authuser=0&acrobatPromotionSource=gdrive_chrome-list
I would be very curious to know from the PP what other MCPS middle school comes close to this level of arts offerings at the middle school level.
Again, not the same level as Ellington, but MUCH more than just the "standard" MCPS curriculum.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 12:21
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
No. There is nothing audition/criteria based for the arts in MCPS other than the visual arts program at Einstein.
People talking about Northwood or Einstein or Loiederman are describing interest-based programs within a standard curriculum.
So, maybe you get 4 different levels of dance class rather than 3, but it's not an arts curriculum or facilities the way a school like DE or LaGuardia would be.
People talking about Northwood or Einstein or Loiederman are describing interest-based programs within a standard curriculum.
So, maybe you get 4 different levels of dance class rather than 3, but it's not an arts curriculum or facilities the way a school like DE or LaGuardia would be.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 12:20
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
No, but your kid can apply to Duke Ellington and could be accepted as an out of District resident. You’d have to pay tuition though, or move to DC.
Nothing MCPS has compares with that. But I also know from parents at Duke Ellington that the academics aren’t great, so you’d be giving up quite a bit to have your kid attend it.
Nothing MCPS has compares with that. But I also know from parents at Duke Ellington that the academics aren’t great, so you’d be giving up quite a bit to have your kid attend it.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 11:39
Subject: Re:Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
No, but Loiederman is a great middle school for dance - they have leveled dance classes and choreography as fine arts electives
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/loiedermanms/magnet/dance/
They also have a junior and senior dance company by audition
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/loiedermanms/magnet/dance/
They also have a junior and senior dance company by audition
Anonymous
06/08/2026 11:29
Subject: Re:Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
No, there's nothing on the level of Duke Ellington in MCPS.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 11:17
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
No,but Einstein has an AMAZING dance program.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 11:14
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's to the level you're describing/hoping for but from what I gathered, Northwood HS was the Arts option for the Downcounty Consortium (DCC):
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/downcounty/northwood/
The Academy of Music, Theater and Dance (AMTAD)
This academy is geared toward students interested in pursuing college and professional careers in the areas of theater, dance, vocal music, and instrumental music. In either solo or group performances, students will produce, act, and perform in a variety of onstage productions. Coursework within the academy is designed to develop the student through the dance and performing arts pathways with focus on technical production, vocal and instrumental music, dance, and dramatics. Students in all academy strands will be integrally involved in all aspects of production, giving students a solid foundation for advanced preparation within the field. The Dance Pathway gives students a strong background in multiple dance styles such as Jazz, Modern, and Ballet. This pathway also provides opportunities for master classes, field trips and choreographic development. The Performing Arts Pathway gives students a strong background in multiple disciplines. Students in this pathway have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in the performing arts field, such as band, chorus, dance and theatre. Students also have the opportunity to focus solely on one discipline.
This is all changing beginning in 2027-28 with the new regional programs rolling out. Northwood is one of the schools proposed to have a criteria-based performing arts program then, but the details aren't at all clear.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 11:04
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but your kids won’t can do early release if they are passionate about their dance. They can leave high school 3 hours (I think or maybe it’s 2) hours early to dance if their dance school has an early release program.
Tell me more-- I tried googling and "early release" that I find refers to when schools close early for teacher work sessions. Is this an actual policy in place to modify student schedules?
Anonymous
06/08/2026 10:55
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
I don't think it's to the level you're describing/hoping for but from what I gathered, Northwood HS was the Arts option for the Downcounty Consortium (DCC):
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/downcounty/northwood/
The Academy of Music, Theater and Dance (AMTAD)
This academy is geared toward students interested in pursuing college and professional careers in the areas of theater, dance, vocal music, and instrumental music. In either solo or group performances, students will produce, act, and perform in a variety of onstage productions. Coursework within the academy is designed to develop the student through the dance and performing arts pathways with focus on technical production, vocal and instrumental music, dance, and dramatics. Students in all academy strands will be integrally involved in all aspects of production, giving students a solid foundation for advanced preparation within the field. The Dance Pathway gives students a strong background in multiple dance styles such as Jazz, Modern, and Ballet. This pathway also provides opportunities for master classes, field trips and choreographic development. The Performing Arts Pathway gives students a strong background in multiple disciplines. Students in this pathway have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in the performing arts field, such as band, chorus, dance and theatre. Students also have the opportunity to focus solely on one discipline.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/downcounty/northwood/
The Academy of Music, Theater and Dance (AMTAD)
This academy is geared toward students interested in pursuing college and professional careers in the areas of theater, dance, vocal music, and instrumental music. In either solo or group performances, students will produce, act, and perform in a variety of onstage productions. Coursework within the academy is designed to develop the student through the dance and performing arts pathways with focus on technical production, vocal and instrumental music, dance, and dramatics. Students in all academy strands will be integrally involved in all aspects of production, giving students a solid foundation for advanced preparation within the field. The Dance Pathway gives students a strong background in multiple dance styles such as Jazz, Modern, and Ballet. This pathway also provides opportunities for master classes, field trips and choreographic development. The Performing Arts Pathway gives students a strong background in multiple disciplines. Students in this pathway have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in the performing arts field, such as band, chorus, dance and theatre. Students also have the opportunity to focus solely on one discipline.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 10:44
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
I don’t know, but your kids won’t can do early release if they are passionate about their dance. They can leave high school 3 hours (I think or maybe it’s 2) hours early to dance if their dance school has an early release program.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 10:41
Subject: Is there a MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington School for the Arts?
New to MoCo, parent of a pre-pro dancer, and I'm wondering if there was ever a push to have an arts magnet school in MoCo equivalent to Duke Ellington in DC, LACHSA and OCSA in CA, etc?