A commitment to diversity lies at the heart of who we are. Since the beginning of The Northwest School in 1980, our Mission has embraced the belief that "ethnic, racial, religious, and economic diversity are essential for the highest quality secondary education." We believe that the "education of responsible citizens" happens best when a "diverse group of students" studies a variety of perspectives - "historical, scientific, artistic, and global" - in an "atmosphere of respect."

For us, our dedication to diversity manifests itself in specific ways:

• An inclusive definition that encompasses race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic class, gender, sexual orientation, learning differences, physical abilities, and religion
• A community, including students, parents, board, faculty and alumni, that represents a wide diversity of backgrounds
• A welcoming school atmosphere marked by respect for differences, mutual trust, celebration of diverse cultures, and thoughtful engagement in open dialogue
• A belief in the intelligence and good will of all people that allows us to act with personal integrity and consideration for others, what we call "courtesy and common sense"
• A curriculum that is cross-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and globally-oriented and that explores historic and current issues of social justice
• An international program that draws approximately 16% of our students from around the world
• A commitment to enrollment, hiring and personnel policies and practices that are free from bias and discrimination
• A substantial financial aid program that devotes over $1 million of our annual budget for need-based assistance
• International and national travel opportunities through which our students explore other cultures and places

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In 2002, we concluded a two-year process of collectively examining ways to translate our commitment to diversity into more specific actions and goals. The result of our work, the Diversity Strategic Plan, updated in 2006, reflects input from parents, students, and faculty members and sets the course for our efforts to become a more inclusive and diverse school community.