
OPEN HOUSE & WORKSHOPS
ADMISSIONS
Come Experience Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington is the only high school in the District of Columbia that accepts students based on a potential for the arts and not prior academic standing. The ability to excel in one of the school’s eight arts majors is given more weight than prior academic achievement - allowing the admissions process to identify both talent and commitment. Ellington is committed to admitting talented students who may be academically challenged or several years behind grade-level and providing them with the academic tools to succeed. Success in the arts awakens students’ self-esteem and their desire to succeed in academic as well as creative disciplines..
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Duke Ellington students receive a pre-professional Arts Endorsement in addition to a traditional HS Diploma
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99% of Ellington students graduate (avg of the last 3 years) compared to the overall 65% graduation rate across the district
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Duke Ellington had 98.5% College Acceptance Rate in 2022
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Over $11 million in college scholarships earned by the 2022 graduating class
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US News & World Report has consistently ranked Duke Ellington in the Top 14% of public high schools nationwide.
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Alumni include world- renowned performers such as opera singer Denyce G, Grammy-winning bassist Ben Williams, Comedian Dave Chapelle, and many more.

OPEN HOUSES AT DUKE ELLINGTON
Wondering if Ellington is right for you? Pay us a visit during one of our scheduled Open Houses – learn more about our extraordinary program and see us in action. We will have amazing content to share with you, behind-the-scenes access, live Q&A and breakout sessions to all of our Arts Departments. We look forward to seeing you!
Open houses run from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM and we recommend you join us for the entire program so you don’t miss anything! We will show you images of our newly renovated Ellington Theatre with a general presentation, and then go on to visit our arts departments. See and hear what life at Ellington is really like!
Audition Workshop Week
January 23 - January 27 at 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Audition Week
February 6 - February 10 at 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
PRE-AUDTITION WORKSHOPS AT DUKE ELLINGTON
Need a vocal coach? Want to review your portfolio? Want to observe a monologue? Interested in rehearsing?
Duke Ellington School of the Arts will be hosting PRE-AUDITION WORKSHOPS (dates TBD). The Art departments at Ellington are offering pre-audition workshops to help you prepare for your audition next year. These auditions will allow you to rehearse, observe, practice, review and get feedback from our teachers before your audition!! Students who participate will be able to learn what to bring, review the audition procedures, learn how to build a portfolio, present their work with confidence and prepare their work for the audition.
LOCATION: 3500 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
COST: $10 per session*. Click below for payment portal to appropriate arts department, and select “Purchase or Payment”, then “Audition Workshop Fee”.
*This fee can be waived for special circumstances, please email admissions@ellingtonarts.org if you would like to request one.
IMPORTANT NOTE: These audition workshops are solely to help you prepare for your audition and they are by no means a part of your application and admission into Ellington!
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!