Duke Ellington School of the Arts Update

Duke Ellington School of the Arts students are going to school in two temporary locations this year while the school is modernized. The $177.3-million project is expected to be complete in time for students to return for the 2017-18 school year.

According to Janae Hinson, a DC Public Schools spokesperson, “The existing school building was taken down to the building shell, and a new building addition is currently being constructed. So far progress has been made on the building shell, which is to be completed by December 2016.” After that, the focus will be on the interior and infrastructure, which will continue until the summer of 2017.

In the meantime, classes are taking place at 2501 11th St. NW and 2001 10th St. NW. “Students and staff obviously look forward to a new modernized building. Swing space accommodations, a temporary space is never going to be the building that they envision, but they are certainly looking forward to the newly modernized building, and they’re making do with the temporary accommodations for now,” said Hinson.

Established in 1974, Duke Ellington is the only D.C. public school dedicated to both professional arts training and academic enrichment.