Mayor Richard M. Daley joined Barbara Eason-Watkins, CPS Chief Education Officer students, parents and teachers for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 5, 2005.
The new $18 million Ellington School, has 28 classrooms and a capacity of about 1,050 students, also includes a separate computer lab, science lab, art room, and music room; a state-of-the-art computer network; an environmentally friendly roof that features a garden area over the gymnasium; an elevator and full accessibility to people with disabilities. It also includes special features that pay homage to legendary musician who is its namesake: a keyboard design on the hallway floors, musical notes on the tree grates outside the building, and a full performance stage in the gymnasium.