Ellington currently serves approximately 500 students in grades 9-12. Most students commute in from outside of Ward 2, where the school is situated.The academic faculty is fully credentialed and includes seven Fulbright Scholars, various Ph.D's, and DCPS's only National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Young Adulthood English/Language Arts.
The school is recognized for, among other things, its award-winning Duke Ellington Show Choir. Established in 1986, the Choir performs all types of music including Broadway, Gospel, Spirituals, Opera, Jazz, and R&B. The creator, Samuel L. E. Bonds, studied with Todd Duncan. 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.
The Show Choir has traveled to Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States and territories. It has performed at the White House for Presidents Barack Obama Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and in both Mayor Adrian Fenty and President Barack Obama's inauguration. The Show Choir has shared the stage with Earth Wind and Fire Clay Aiken, Patti LaBelle, Jasmine Guy, Patti Austin, Beyoncé Knowles, Boyz II Men, and Denyce Graves. The Choir has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and sang The Star Spangled Banner for the opening of the Washington Nationals first baseball game.
Over 95% of Ellington graduates are accepted into universities and conservatories each year. Ellington alum have studied at Washington Adventist University, Howard University, Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, Manhattan School of Music, The Juilliard School, Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Berklee College of Music, The Oberlin Conservatory and among other institutions.
In order to be admitted into Ellington, students must complete an admissions application, audition before a panel, provide academic and attendance records, two letters of recommendations and complete an interview.