Community and Equity

Our Commitment to Diversity

St. Mark’s strives to create a School community where everyone feels fully admitted, understood, and accepted for all aspects of who they are. The School provides an exemplary education in an intentionally small residential setting defined and enriched by our Episcopal identity. This identity includes an emphasis on self-reflection, continual communal examination, and respect for all. If we are to embody these values, we must empower our students to embrace and express their individual identities fully and without fear of bias—because it’s the best way to prepare students to succeed in our global world, because it enhances students’ social and critical thinking skills, and because it’s the right thing to do. St. Mark’s School seeks to reflect the increasingly diverse world in which our students presently live and will live in the future. We intend to provide our students with a superior education in a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff that represents a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds.

We strive to ensure respect for all regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, family structure, or economic background.

In support of our objective, St. Mark’s School:

Will continue to prioritize the inclusion of people from all groups within our society—particularly those who have experienced prejudice or disadvantage—within our student body, faculty, and staff.
Will provide all members of the school community with meaningful opportunities to develop the skills needed to live and thrive in a diverse community, integrating diversity initiatives throughout the school program.
Will empower all members of the St. Mark’s community to share both their differences and their common experiences to enrich the educational experience for all.

St. Mark's promotes awareness around cultural difference and provides affinity opportunities for students whose social or identity needs are not reflected in the dominant culture at St. Mark’s through Community and Equity Affairs.

Pathways

Our Pathways groups are essential in supporting every member of our community.

Events and Programs

St. Mark's provides students with a superior education in a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff that represents a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds

Reports & Updates

Over the past several years, St. Mark’s has made meaningful strides toward its C&E goals. This work spans hiring practices, curriculum development, professional learning, and community engagement.

Recruitment and Hiring

Fellows Program – In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, our Fellows Program helps us intentionally recruit, mentor, and retain promising early-career educators.
Bias-Reduced Hiring – We implemented a new anonymized applicant tracking system to minimize bias and strengthen equitable hiring practices across all departments.

Professional Development

High Engagement in Growth – More than 85% of faculty and staff participated in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), giving us data-driven insights to guide future learning and professional development. Ongoing workshops, reflection sessions, and department-specific trainings continue to expand cultural competence and inclusive teaching practices.

Student Support and Belonging

Strong Start Program – A multi-day summer orientation program that helps new students, particularly those new to boarding life, find connection and confidence before the school year begins.
Bias-Based Incident Reporting System – A confidential, responsive system that empowers students and adults to share concerns and ensures accountability and care in follow-up.

Curricular Innovation

Advanced African American Studies – A new elective course deepens understanding of U.S. history and the African American experience. Faculty continue to refine curricula across disciplines to reflect diverse voices and global perspectives.

Our Ongoing Priorities

While much has been achieved, we recognize the importance of building structures that sustain and measure our progress.

Measurement and Impact

We are developing clear metrics to track the progress of C&E initiatives, ensuring that goals translate into lasting institutional change.

Leadership and Accountability

We continue to evaluate and strengthen leadership roles that support community and equity work across academic, residential, and administrative areas.

Alignment of Resources

To achieve meaningful, lasting impact, we are aligning time, funding, and professional development resources with our community and equity goals, supporting both our people and our programs.

Looking Ahead

Our progress is the result of many hands and hearts. Faculty, staff, students, families, and alumni are working together to make St. Mark’s stronger and more connected. This collective effort reflects our belief that equity and belonging are not initiatives but ongoing commitments that shape every aspect of school life.

As we look ahead, we remain grounded in our Episcopal values and inspired by the promise of a community where every person belongs, contributes, and flourishes.