Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

Actually, it's BIG news if it can be proven that girls as a class are discriminated against in admissions to DCPS application high schools, including Walls, Banneker, and Ellington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

Actually, it's BIG news if it can be proven that girls as a class are discriminated against in admissions to DCPS application high schools, including Walls, Banneker, and Ellington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Admission to an arts magnet school involves subjectivity. Not news.

There's a new Head of School and principal at Ellington this year. They've had interim leadership for the last 3 years.

Hopefully admissions will be more transparent and the graduates will be more successful academically going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

You are probably barking up the wrong tree here. It's far more likely that she wasn't accepted because she's a girl. It's quite likely that the vast majority of applicants were female, and that despite her talents, your daughter didn't quite make the cut. If she had been male, she'd have faced much less competition. BTW, her academic record is not relevant, since it's not considered in the Duke Ellington application process except for class placement.

Between Ellington, Walls, and Banneker, the denial of qualified girls in order to admit less qualified boys is a class action suit waiting to happen. Not saying that this is done with bad intentions, but it's been an open secret for years.

For the record, my daughter (white) was admitted to Ellington but chose a different school. The competition that year in her field was about 80% female, based on what she saw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

It would be infuriating if Ellington were discriminating in favor of PG kids over District residents, based on some probably unconstitutional legacy "mission statement."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Np. It's discriminatory to your child, as well as to the other children who should attend a school with true diversity which include white kids from ward 3. If this 'mission' is embedded in some old paperwork/Mayoral fiat it needs to be changed, and the audition process needs to be scrutinized. You should report this discrepancy. There is going to be a LOT of interest in Ellington now that the city has poured 200 million dollars into (rightful interest) and your words could be part of the process of making it a school for all talented DC youngsters, not ideologically chosen ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

My Ward 3 snowflake applied to the drama program at Ellington in recent years. DC had a few stage and film credits, great letters of recommendation, a well-prepared monologue, and a stellar academic record. DC was called back after the first audition.

During the first callback audition, DC and a few other applicants were handed new monologues and given a couple of minutes to prepare before performing them before the committee. DC noticed that none of the AA applicants in the group were were given new monologues. Instead, they performed prepared monologues. DC did not receive a second callback audition.

It's certainly possible that all of the applicants in DC's group who received second callbacks were much more talented than DC. However, the lack of transparency and consistency in the audition process for Ellington creates opportunities to skew it in favor of AA students, who are presumably disadvantaged.

Based on our experience, I believe that you are correct, PP. The staff at Ellington sees its mission as providing an arts education primarily to students of color. Is that a legitimate mission for a school funded by taxpayers? There are probably arguments for and against.

However, I fear that DC's takeaway was that students of color are incapable of competing on a level playing field.

Anonymous wrote:Surprised to see that there are still spaces available at Duke Ellington from the email sent by my school dc yesterday. Are they in a specific area?

http://www.myschooldc.org/find-schools/available-spaces

Anonymous wrote:I recall reading once that Ellington wasn't chartered for the students in DC. It was formed to provide an arts education principally to students of color. That's its mission and culture. So that would mean that kids from PG might have a stronger moral right to an Ellington education than snowflakes from Ward 3.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very. There's an audition, exam, and family interview.

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?!

Go to an open house and ask.

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?

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

So you're telling us that zero D.C. kids are turned away in favor of MD kids?

No, simply that it's not as simple as you make it out to be. A DC kid who has no talent, or an empty slot, will go to an out of state kid. They decide yes/no on all the DC kids before they consider any from out of state.

In addition, the percentage of tuition paying students is capped at 10%. The out of state enrollment is below that limit now (42 out of 575).

But instead of essentially having 10 percent of sears thst are officially for out of district students (ignoring the fraudsers), why doesn't Ellington do more outreach to recruit a greater number of talented D.C. Kids?

They are in every high school, they are at Ed Fest, they recruit at DCYO, and community based arts group.

Applications have been down while they were in swing space for 3 years. THey've also had interim heads of school for 3 years, which isn't ideal.

I would imagine the building will spur new interest now -- especially as SWW gets more competitive and Wilson gets more crowded. And there is now permanent leadership in place.

Perhaps, but then Ellington will have to enhance its academic quality. It may be good in arts, but no way is comparable academically to SWW or even Wilson.

Ellington wasn't intended to compete with Banneker and SWW, no more than Julliard was intended to compete with Stanford. By your foolish logic, Harvard has a better music program than Peabody Conservatory.

The analogy of Ellington to Juilliard and Peabody and Bannker and SWW to Stanford and Harvard seems a tad overblown, no?!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very. There's an audition, exam, and family interview.

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?!

Go to an open house and ask.

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?

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

So you're telling us that zero D.C. kids are turned away in favor of MD kids?

No, simply that it's not as simple as you make it out to be. A DC kid who has no talent, or an empty slot, will go to an out of state kid. They decide yes/no on all the DC kids before they consider any from out of state.

In addition, the percentage of tuition paying students is capped at 10%. The out of state enrollment is below that limit now (42 out of 575).

But instead of essentially having 10 percent of sears thst are officially for out of district students (ignoring the fraudsers), why doesn't Ellington do more outreach to recruit a greater number of talented D.C. Kids?

They are in every high school, they are at Ed Fest, they recruit at DCYO, and community based arts group.

Applications have been down while they were in swing space for 3 years. THey've also had interim heads of school for 3 years, which isn't ideal.

I would imagine the building will spur new interest now -- especially as SWW gets more competitive and Wilson gets more crowded. And there is now permanent leadership in place.

Perhaps, but then Ellington will have to enhance its academic quality. It may be good in arts, but no way is comparable academically to SWW or even Wilson.

Ellington wasn't intended to compete with Banneker and SWW, no more than Julliard was intended to compete with Stanford. By your foolish logic, Harvard has a better music program than Peabody Conservatory.