The visual arts program is one of the most diverse (meaning a little of everything). The kids learn real techniques using professional materials. In my DC's art history class the kids not only learned all the facts but then went on to reproduce art pieces using the themes, materials, etc from the era. Really interesting and they produced amazing work.

The senior show was at the Corcoran and really impressed me with the techniques and perspectives.

Anonymous wrote:How is it, getting into the visual arts program? There is one, correct? My dd is several years off still, but this looks like a perfect fit for her.

http://www.ellingtonschool.org/admissions/auditions-procedures/visual-arts/

Anonymous wrote:How is it, getting into the visual arts program? There is one, correct? My dd is several years off still, but this looks like a perfect fit for her.

My friend's DC (who lives in DC) is in the visual arts program. A basic portfolio was required - the details are on the school website. Maybe go to an info session once your daughter is in middle school to learn the details. If she is in DCPS I would hope a middle school art teacher would be familiar with the process as well.

How is it, getting into the visual arts program? There is one, correct? My dd is several years off still, but this looks like a perfect fit for her.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that the OSSE website says that tuition is only an option at schools that have no DC residents on their waitlist. I guess that rule doesn't apply at Ellington. Like a lot of rules.

I think it does apply. If there are no tuba players from DC who have the grades/interest to attend, Duke Ellington can take a tuition playing tuba player so that they have a full orchestra. Check my school DC - you are applying to a particular arts discipline, not just the school in general.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that the OSSE website says that tuition is only an option at schools that have no DC residents on their waitlist. I guess that rule doesn't apply at Ellington. Like a lot of rules.

You are right that normal rules don't seem to apply to Ellington. DC elected officials seem afraid of DE's biggest booster, Peggy Cooper Cafritz. Her famous art collection must also include some compromising photos on a lot of DC politicos!

Interesting that the OSSE website says that tuition is only an option at schools that have no DC residents on their waitlist. I guess that rule doesn't apply at Ellington. Like a lot of rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of Ellington seats are allocated to tuition paying kids from VA and MD?

Depends on your definition of "paying." In a typical year 15-20% of kids are from outside of DC who have signed up to pay tuition. How many of them actually pay is unclear, DCPS overall does a very poor job of collecting tuition.

In a recent audit, the number of "paying" students at Ellington was greater than the number of "paying" students in the entire DCPS system who had actually paid.

Which is why OSSE has now taken over the tuition collection function. http://osse.dc.gov/publication/tuition-collection

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of Ellington seats are allocated to tuition paying kids from VA and MD?

Depends on your definition of "paying." In a typical year 15-20% of kids are from outside of DC who have signed up to pay tuition. How many of them actually pay is unclear, DCPS overall does a very poor job of collecting tuition.

In a recent audit, the number of "paying" students at Ellington was greater than the number of "paying" students in the entire DCPS system who had actually paid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She scored over 1900 but that's nothing new her brother ranked 5th with a perfect SAT score and received a full ride to Harvard...she's destined for Yale and was just offered a full ride to UCLA. Her brother loved Duke, she hates it at the moment because of all the recent fights and disruptions at the school.

Wow. So Duke Ellington is where all the really smart kids go instead of SWW and Banneker? Are they siphoning off StA/NCS and Sidwell students, too?

Duke students = smart kids + visual or performing arts skills and talent. Not every really smart kid would be able to get past the audition/portfolio part of the Duke Ellington admissions process.

Anonymous wrote:She scored over 1900 but that's nothing new her brother ranked 5th with a perfect SAT score and received a full ride to Harvard...she's destined for Yale and was just offered a full ride to UCLA. Her brother loved Duke, she hates it at the moment because of all the recent fights and disruptions at the school.

Wow. So Duke Ellington is where all the really smart kids go instead of SWW and Banneker? Are they siphoning off StA/NCS and Sidwell students, too?

What percentage of Ellington seats are allocated to tuition paying kids from VA and MD?

She scored over 1900 but that's nothing new her brother ranked 5th with a perfect SAT score and received a full ride to Harvard...she's destined for Yale and was just offered a full ride to UCLA. Her brother loved Duke, she hates it at the moment because of all the recent fights and disruptions at the school.

A 4.3 GPA not in the top percentile sounds like grade inflation to me. How are the SAT scores?

My experiences as follows...the current Miss DC Teenage reigns from Duke Ellington. Bill Gates Scholarship winner hails from Ellington. Some would say it's diverse but does it matter, in the scheme of things? Currently my neighbor child attends their with a GPA of 4.30 and is not in the Top Percentile of her class...that says an awful lot.