What distinguishes a great school from a good school? A great school is a place with a deep commitment to learning, where exceptional teachers nourish the intellectual, moral, emotional, and social growth of each student. It is infused with the joy of discovery and the excitement of challenge and accomplishment. It is a community united by a common purpose. Above all, it is a place that has a distinctive and lasting impact, developing students today and shaping who they will become tomorrow.
Vision for the future
The vision for our school's future is one in which Potomac and its students always thrive, setting a standard of excellence in independent K-12 education. To realize this vision, the Board of Trustees has established priorities related to completing the modernization of the campus, growing the school's endowment, and bolstering its annual giving program. These goals serve as the basis for an ambitious multi-year comprehensive campaign initiative.
Contact Heather Pearce, Director of Advancement, for more information
Each priority is intentionally linked to Potomac's strategic road map, which is designed to empower students through excellent teaching and in a connected community to thrive. And this will be accomplished in a financially sustainable way.
One critical campus facility improvement – the first priority in this ongoing campaign – was the construction of a new center for community and athletics. Completed on time and under budget, and funded entirely through philanthropy, the Spangler Center for Athletics and Community opened in November 2019. This achievement was a powerful reflection of our community's generosity and willingness to invest in Potomac to benefit today’s students and generations of students to come.
Spangler Center for Athletics & Community
Impact: Empowering Students, Connected Community
- Creates better balance for students between academics/athletics
- Meets demands of expanded athletic program with 71 teams and 25 interscholastic sports
- Provides multi-purpose indoor and outdoor community space
- Allows space for entire K-12 community to gather comfortably
Now, we have more exciting goals to accomplish.
Renovating the Middle School
Impact: Empowering Students, Excellent Teaching, Connected Community, Financial Sustainability
- Provides larger classroom sizes for better programming
- Offers flexible breakout spaces for flexible teaching and learning
- Creates gathering places to accommodate large and small groups of students and community members
- Enhances safety and security by moving classrooms from the entranceway
- Creates a new comprehensive health services suite
Reimagining Areas in the East Building in and around Chester Gym
Impact: Empowering Students, Connected Community
- Develops life skills by supporting distinctive programming: Speech and Debate; Entrepreneurship; and Financial Literacy
- Creates a welcoming community space that houses a school bookstore, new Panther Pit, café, and visual arts gallery
- Improves spectator viewing and seating experience, and facilitates connection of the Upper School to the turf field
- Provides additional student life spaces to support well-being of the student body
Relocating and Upgrading Athletic Fields
Impact: Empowering Students, Connected Community
- Elevates practice and competition experience for students
- Contributes to the development of a spirit of integrity, good sportsmanship, and pursuit of excellence in sports
- Ensures that a superior level of quality for fields and spaces is streamlined across Potomac athletic teams
- Improves spectator viewing and seating experience for baseball, softball, and field hockey
Growing the Endowment
Impact: Empowering Students, Excellent Teaching, Connected Community, and Financial Sustainability
- Contributes additional permanent resources to maintain and improve the quality of the education that students receive
- Relieves pressure on the operating budget and rising tuitions
- Generates funding for student scholarships and faculty professional development in perpetuity
- Ensures the school's financial sustainability for generations to come
Sustained Support for Operations
Impact: Empowering Students, Excellent Teaching, Connected Community, and Financial Sustainability
- Provides immediate support for students, faculty and staff, and academic and co-curricular programs
- Relieves pressure on tuition increases
- Generates unrestricted funds to meet the school's greatest needs
- Results in sustained philanthropic engagement
across all constituencies