The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, offers aspiring and talented artists an unusual and rewarding high school experience. The school accepts grades 9 through 12, and requires 34 percent more credits than standard high schools. The requirement seems steep, but what the student gains from The Duke Ellington School of the Arts lasts a lifetime and prepares them for a career most students only dream of. Ellington is ranked as a top high school in the Washington area, and boasts a 99 percent graduation rate. Students must uphold a minimum grade point average to be able to perform in their chosen artistic field.

The school fundraising and charity fundraising ideas in place at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts are the basis for many of the fine arts classes and activities offered. In addition to state funding, the arts programs rely heavily on school fundraising for their continued success. The school's goal is to provide an academic education coupled with pre-professional artistic training, focusing on college enrollment.

The school enrolls about 500 students each year on an acceptance basis, teaching core academic studies and specific disciplines including literary media, dance, museum studies, theater, technical theater, instrument or vocal training, and visual arts. The non-profit high school relies on many charity fundraising ideas to support its programs.