ADMISSIONS FAQs

Individuals who are writing letters of recommendation on behalf of a student will receive a notification via email once the student has submitted their online application via MySchoolDC. Each applicant has to provide an email address for each of the three teachers (Math, Art/Other, School Counselor) who are submitting letters of recommendation.

Submit the DCPS online application by the deadline in order to be eligible to audition. The DCPS application can be reached from our Admissions Process page – click here to learn the details of the admission process and go to the application.

Tuition for Non-Residents

Parents or custodial caregivers are reminded that there is a tuition requirement for non-residents. ‘Resident’ denotes that the parent or the court-appointed guardian with whom the student resides is a District resident, and can verify residency by presenting the required documentation at the DCPS Student Residency Office.

Non-residents must satisfy Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) tuition requirements prior to attendance. The tuition rate at DESA for SY22-23 is $15,151. If a student receives special education (SPED) or is an English language learner, there are additional charges.

Please note that Ellington is not able to offer any scholarships or financial aid for non-resident tuition, nor do we know of any external financial support options.

Please click here for more info.

You may audition for up to two arts areas. If you pass 2 auditions, you must then choose one concentration. Please refer to each arts discipline’s audition requirements by clicking here.

Check the specific requirements for each art discipline of interest on their auditions pages. Click on any of the areas to the left to look at the items to bring.

Admission to Ellington is a five-step process. After the initial audition you will be notified the following week whether or not you have been selected to continue in the process. Selected students will be invited back for an academic placement assessment followed by a family interview. Final admissions decisions will be made some time after the Admissions Committee Review, but no later than late March.

Duke Ellington School of the Arts does not discriminate in the admissions process based on an applicant’s accommodation needs in conformance with the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. Our school is committed to ensuring that all applicants can perform their best in our admissions process. Any English Learner applicant that needs accommodations and/or has an existing 504 plan and/or IEP can reach out to admissions@ellingtonarts.org to receive additional information about supports that are available during the admissions process. All requests for accommodations will be reviewed and considered.

Applicants do not need to disclose IEP, 504, or English Learner status. Information pertaining to an applicant’s IEP, 504 plan, or EL status gathered during the admissions process cannot be considered in eligibility or ranking decisions. Duke Ellington School of the Arts may request the IEP or 504 once a match or waitlist offer occurs.

Students who attend Ellington graduate with a DCPS diploma and an Ellington arts certificate. In order to earn the credits necessary for the Ellington certificate, students must be with us for three years. Exceptions are considered for students of active-duty military families or students transferring from an arts high school, who bring along sufficient acceptable arts credits!

Still have a question? No problem – please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@ellingtonarts.org