Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
The Downtown School’s mission articulates our commitment to sustain a school in which “individuals representing diverse cultures and experiences instruct one another in the meaning and value of community.”
We recognize diversity alone does not lead to inclusion, and we take active steps to create an environment in which the identities and cultural backgrounds of our families, students, faculty, and staff are valued and respected. We believe that each and every member of our community plays a role in creating a culture of inclusion.
We believe that diversity is essential to achieving educational and academic excellence, and that students’ learning experiences are enriched by the diversity of the curriculum, student body, and adult community. The Downtown School is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable community in which all individuals can participate in and contribute to the life of the school, regardless of race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation, or any other aspect of their identity. We actively work to gain a deeper understanding of difference and how we honor it in our daily lives at school.
The Downtown School works to create equitable classrooms in which students have equal access and opportunities to learn and achieve to their fullest potential. We promote cross-cultural understanding and engagement by teaching our students to learn about and from others who differ from themselves.
At The Downtown School, teachers participate in ongoing education and training in the areas of diversity and equity in curriculum and teaching practices. We strive to foster inclusive and equitable classrooms in the following ways:
Develop relevant curricula that incorporate diverse perspectives, materials, and texts and that support the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students.
Address biases, stereotypes, inaccuracies, and absent perspectives in curricular content.
Utilize a wide range of instructional and assessment strategies to enhance student learning and understanding.
Provide learning opportunities for students to develop an understanding of themselves and others who are culturally different.
Foster critical thinking and reflective analysis from various perspectives.
Give equal access and opportunities to all students to fully participate and contribute regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, or any other identity.
Curriculum & Instruction
In addition to their work in the classroom, students learn about, engage with, and lead work in diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Downtown School in the following ways:
Affinity and alliance groups: Research shows that students who feel they are able to fully be themselves and have a strong sense of self perform better academically. The Downtown School supports students’ positive identity development by offering student affinity and alliance groups to learn about themselves and others.
Community Conversations: The Downtown School values cross-cultural communication and engagement. Students regularly participate in developmentally appropriate, structured dialogues with their peers and faculty regarding aspects of diversity and inclusion.