A strong community
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are critical lenses that help us understand the complexity of our community’s experiences, celebrate the potential of each individual, and strengthen our ability to fulfill our mission so all students can succeed.
Charlotte Preparatory School and the OnePrep community aim to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for learning and living. We seek to ensure that all aspects of school life—including curriculum, admission, retention, hiring practices, and support for students, families, and employees—reflect our commitment to DEIB, and will be diligently assessed and actively supported.
We are proud that nearly 40% of our student body represents diverse nationalities and ethnicities. We are equally proud that DEIB at Charlotte Prep will carve a path far beyond statistics. We recognize that our school exists in an ever-changing world and that our understanding of, and support for, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging must expand and evolve. We will innovate, adapt, and reflect on our current systems and practices to support a richer, more open, and authentic community culture.
Diversity
is the representation of all our varied identities and differences collectively and as individuals. Charlotte Preparatory School seeks to actively engage, understand, include, and draw on a variety of perspectives.
Equity
seeks to ensure fair treatment, equality of opportunity, and fairness in access to information and resources for all. We believe this is only possible in an environment built on respect, empathy, and dignity.
Inclusion
builds a culture of belonging by actively inviting the contribution and participation of all people. The voice of every student, teacher, administrator, and parent adds value, and we will build and maintain an environment that is responsive, representative, and balanced.
belonging
is the deep sense of acceptance, connection, and value that individuals feel within a community. At Prep, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels safe, seen, respected, and integral to the shared purpose and success of our school.
Learning at Charlotte Preparatory School involves listening to and working with others, considering and embracing different lived experiences, and empathizing with and understanding multiple perspectives.
In our classrooms and school community, we continually work to build a truly inclusive learning environment where each member is accepted and valued for who he or she is and can bring his or her “whole self” to school each day. Through open, honest dialogue and purposeful, ongoing inquiry, all members of our community gain awareness, wisdom, and the capacity to act as responsible, engaged citizens. The Prep Community and all stakeholders are critical to this process.
DEIB Strategic Plan
As we uphold a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture, we will enable all voices to be heard and strengthen decision-making in the best interest of our students. The work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is the responsibility of every member of the community; the benefits of that work are a thriving society and a brighter future for each individual. See the results of our most recent Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism.
“Prep is a rich tapestry of cultures, identities, and perspectives. Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole, authentic selves; this creates a learning environment where diversity is valued and celebrated.”
-Danielle S. Ferguson, Director of Equity, Belonging, & Engagement
You Belong at Prep!
Today’s students live in a world that is both shrinking and linking. On a daily basis, we work and interact with others of very different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Thriving in such a world requires openness, acceptance, and cultural dexterity.
At Charlotte Prep, we value diversity as an inherently positive attribute and seek to create a richly diverse community.
The values of diversity and inclusiveness are embedded firmly within our educational programs and within our community and culture, with clear and apparent results:
- 40 percent students of color, making Charlotte Prep one of the most diverse independent schools in the Southeast.
- Our student body contains many international students; 77 different countries are represented by the flags that hang proudly in our gymnasium.
- Diverse perspectives and experiences are intentionally integrated throughout the academic curriculum, character education, and advisory programs.
- Charlotte Prep regularly highlights and celebrates cultures and faiths from around the world in special school-wide programs.
DEIB in Action
Jan30Our Commitment to DiversityThe news is filled with accounts of universities, corporations, and other organizations scaling back or eliminating their diversity programs. While the implementation of these programs and policies can be challenging, I find this retreat from DEIB work to be short-sighted and reactive. Let me be clear: our school’s commitment to diversity is unwavering.
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Nov9Honoring All Those Who ServedThis Veterans Day, in recognition of Native American Heritage Month, we broadened our lens to teach students about heroes who often go uncelebrated: Native American veterans.
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Mar22Second Graders Host an Outside-the-Box Lesson in Black HistoryOur second graders recently served lunch to Charlotte community members along with sides of information about the lives of more than 40 remarkable African Americans for Black History Month.
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Nov1Vestido de JaliscoOne of our teachers, Laura Torres, generously shared her culture with students in her early school classroom during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
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