Ellington currently serves approximately 500 students in grades 9–12. Most students commute in from outside of Ward 2, where the school is situated.[7] The academic faculty is fully credentialed and includes seven Fulbright scholars, various PhDs, and DCPS's only national board certified teacher (NBCT) in young adulthood English/language arts. Many of the arts faculty are alumni of the school.
Academicsedit
Ranked as one of D.C. Public Schools' top high schools, Ellington's curriculum requires students earn 34% more credits than those at other D.C. public high schools.[8] Students must maintain a minimum grade point average in both academics and the arts to be permitted to perform and, ultimately, to stay enrolled at Ellington. The school has a 99% on-time graduation rate.
Artsedit
Ellington's mission is to emphasize the arts as much as academics.[9] It offers training in eight disciplines: Dance, Literary Media and Communications, Museum Studies, Instrumental or Vocal Music, Theater, Technical Design and Production, and Visual Arts.[10]
The school is recognized for, among other things, its award-winning Duke Ellington Show Choir. Founded by Samuel L. E. Bonds Sr. in 1986, the Choir performs all types of music including Broadway, Gospel, Spirituals, Opera, Jazz, and R&B. Samuel L. E. Bonds Sr., who retired from the school in 2018,[11][12] studied with Todd Duncan and still teaches private lessons. Students in the Choir are required to continue performing academically, maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0. As well as performing as part of an ensemble, they are also allowed to focus on solo work. It performs a holiday show of Amahl and the Night Visitors yearly.[citation needed]
Application processedit
In order to be admitted into Ellington, students must complete an admissions application and audition before a panel. Upon passing the audition students take an academic assessment test, and complete a family interview.[13]
Relocation controversyedit
In January 2010, The Washington Post reported that the D.C. government was studying a plan to relocate the school to a new site near Union Station. Jack Evans, the D.C. Council member for the school's host ward, advocated the plan as a way to move the school to a more "central" location relative to its student body, as well to allow the current Ellington site to revert to a standard neighborhood school.[7] Opposition from students, parents, alumni, and others has been strong, including online petitions and a Facebook group with over 1,700 members.[6] Shortly after The Washington Post report, D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced that the school will not be moved in the near future.[14]
Renovationedit
In 2017, a three-year renovation of the school was completed. The improvements cost $178.5 million, more than $100 million more than projected. The project became an example of the district's failure to prevent cost overruns.[15]
^ abPorter, Norma (4 February 2010). "Ellington Community Fights to Keep School in Georgetown". The Washington Informer. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
^ abcTurque, Bill (17 January 2010). "Ellington arts school might be moved out of D.C.'s Ward 2". The Washington Post. Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
^ abcKennedy, Randy (12 April 2006). "Dave Chappelle Spotlights Duke Ellington School of the Arts". The New York Times. KEYT-TV. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
^"Duke Ellington School of the Arts | Equitable Access to Life at a Performing Arts School" (PDF). www.ellingtonschool.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2010.
^"Duke Ellington School of the Arts - Facts". www.ellingtonschool.org. Archived from the original on December 27, 2009.
^"Duke Ellington Show Choir prepares to take their talent overseas - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
^"Duke Ellington School of the Arts Show Choir – New Frontiers 2016". Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
^"Admissions Process & Application". Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
^Turque, Bill (22 January 2010). "Ellington arts school staying put for now, Rhee says". The Washington Post. Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
^Michelle Goldchain (18 August 2017). "Duke Ellington School of the Arts finishes modernization $100M over budget". Curbed. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^"About the Author". Ruth Chew. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
^Fields, Barbara Jeanne (3 November 1991). "SO YOU WANT TO BE A HISTORIAN". The Washington Post.
^Thomas, Richard C. (1969). Vermont Legislative Directory, 1969. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 640.
^Barnes, Bart (October 30, 2015). "Nellie Hertz: Writer on theology whose husband was kidnapped in Vietnam". The Independent.