CELEBRATING ART & EXCELLENCE
Dedicated to Class of 1996, ”The Classiest Class!”
CELEBRATING ART & EXCELLENCE
Dedicated to Class of 1996, ”The Classiest Class!”
history
About Duke Ellington School of The Arts
Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) was established in 1974 by two trailblazing African-American artists and activists, Peggy Cooper-Cafritz and Mike Malone.
Their vision was to provide equitable access to a life-changing arts education for the District's talented youth, regardless of background or ability to pay.
To this day, DESA is the only public high school in DC to offer a dual curriculum integrating college-preparatory academics with pre-professional arts training in Dance, Instrumental Music, Cinematic Arts & Media Production, Museum Studies, Technical, Design & Production, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music.
Nearly 50 years later, Ellington continues to nurture the next generation of scholar-artists and changemakers.