Diversity

Guiding Principles

Educating the whole child demands as wide a vision as possible of not only the present, but, crucially, of the future. Diversity, in all of its multiplicity, is a priority at The Potomac School because we believe that we are strengthened intellectually and morally when many different voices, viewpoints, and backgrounds are present. In every aspect of school life, diversity informs and engages us in the serious work of preparing leaders for a complex and global world.

Today, we view diversity in a much wider sense. It includes not just race, but also ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, nationality, age, health, intellectual and physical ability, and cultural perspective. We truly believe that this expanded notion of diversity enlivens our education program by providing a wider range of opportunities in which to explore and learn about the complex world in which we live.

Being respectful of and valuing the many facets of diversity is our goal for our students. The strong, principled, and creative leadership we expect our students to model for each other is possible only in a climate that encourages each one to challenge assumptions. In every classroom, as well as during weekly assemblies, community service opportunities, and special events, students consider a variety of ways to solve problems, reflect on different points of view, and immerse themselves in context.