At St. Albans School, diversity means valuing an individual's race, color, gender, creed, ethnicity, cultural background, economic circumstance, human capacity, expression of thought, and sexual orientation to create an educational environment that fosters understanding and cooperation. Such diversity is essential to a vital community of learning and growth. In nurturing the hearts, minds, and bodies of its students, St. Albans prepares young men for lives of responsibility, leadership, and service. St. Albans does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, cultural background, economic circumstance, human capacity, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid and loan programs, athletic or other School-administered programs.

St. Albans School, an Episcopal day and boarding college-preparatory school affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation and the Washington National Cathedral, has long been committed to building a caring community from a diverse group of students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff. Through its intellectual, spiritual, artistic, and athletic life, St. Albans endeavors to nurture in each student a moral and social conscience, which will be carried into the greater community and world in service to all people. In this mission, the School benefits from the guidance and direction of the St. Albans Governing Board's Diversity Committee, the Faculty Diversity Committee, the Student Cultural Awareness Organization, as well as the collective efforts of the entire School family.

St. Albans is proud of its history of diversity and commitment to a well-rounded student enrollment. The School's Long Range Plan emphasizes that the School persist in taking advantage of its location in a diverse, international urban center by broadening its applicant pool, expanding its efforts at outreach, and maintaining its strong boarding program, to continue to attract and retain a socially, economically, ethnically, and racially diverse student body. Students of color constitute roughly a quarter of the student body, a significant number of students hail from other countries, and students represent numerous faiths and religions. Student-run organizations, such as the Cultural Awareness Organization and Gay-Straight Alliance, increase consciousness of diversity by arranging for speakers, organizing social service events, and helping at admissions events.

For more than 40 years, St. Albans has offered the Skip Grant Program, which provides support and guidance for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The Program works with the Admissions office to identify talented young men from different walks of life. The Program provides counseling, tutoring, monitoring, and financial assistance to approximately 25 students annually, including African American, Caucasian, Latino, multi-racial, and international students. Director Malcolm Lester says, "St. Albans is a better, more complete school for having these young men in its community. Yes, the students benefit from being at St. Albans, but the School also benefits from them."

The Outreach Program, established in 1992, builds on the success of the Skip Grant Program by holding an annual Outreach Day designed to attract a diverse pool of applicants. Through organizations such as the Black Student Fund, the Latino Student Fund, and the Union of Black Episcopalians, among other resources, the School seeks to broaden the cultural, racial, religious, and economic composition of the student body. The Parents' Club supports this Program by organizing Outreach Days/ Open Houses and representing the School at student recruitment fairs.

The St. Albans dormitory plays a significant role in the School's ongoing efforts to attract and support students from diverse backgrounds. The dormitory serves as a home away from home for international students, students from outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and students with varied economic circumstances.

In support of the School's commitment to recruiting, hiring, and retaining teachers from diverse backgrounds, St, Albans offers competitive salaries and benefits, including housing and mortgage supplements.

The Faculty Diversity Committee meets monthly to discuss the following:

• Faculty recruitment and hiring
• Support systems for students and faculty
• Curriculum
• Admissions, scholarships, financial aid, and the School's need-blind admissions policy
• Tone and atmosphere of School life
• School publications
• Professional development opportunities

Through its comprehensive curriculum, St. Albans exposes students to a wide range of intellectually stimulating experiences. The School regularly evaluates its curriculum with regard to diversity.

Instruction has included, often in conjunction with the National Cathedral School for Girls and Sidwell Friends School: (1) courses focusing on African, African-American, Eastern, and Latin American literature, (2) Japanese, French, Spanish, Russian, Latin, German, and Chinese foreign language courses and English as a Second Language; (3) history courses in Latin American studies, African-American history, Asian studies, Russian history, and Middle Eastern studies; (4) world religion courses; (5) visual and performing arts programs reflecting varied cultures and traditions and (6) international exchange programs.
 

The school community offers diversity-related events such as chapels, drama productions, and professional development days, throughout the year. The coordinated efforts of student organizations, faculty, alumni, staff, and parents have produced various activities including discussion forums featuring alumni from diverse backgrounds, all-day student events with guest speakers followed by student led workshops, and dramatic productions that address issues of diversity. Topics have included the following:

• Artistic expression
• Cultural awareness
• Gender issues
• Homosexuality and homophobia
• Race relations
• Racial identity
• Religious diversity
• Social class divisions

Alumni have enriched the School's consideration of topics pertaining to diversity. Some of those who have engaged St. Albans students directly or contributed statements for the St. Albans family on topics concerning diversity have included the following: Yale History professor Frank Snowden ('64); Harvard Law professor Randall Kennedy '73; Washington Post Director of community affairs and contributions Eric Grant '75; Investment Portfolio manager Rob Kinsey '76; Investment banker Ramon Ruiz '81; Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. '84; Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. '88; Founder and director of the New Heights program Nick Blatchford '90; Cisco Systems software engineer Jed Lau '95; AGIP Tunisia's office manager Hazem Abu-Ghazaleh '96; Belfast native and Queens University student Chris Mulgrew '03; and Middlebury College student Eli Berman '03. Their contributions have included discussions about race, law, and American society; sexual orientation; religion, class and economic status; and national origin, ethnicity, and culture.
 

St. Albans is committed to educating students about the issues and challenges of both the metropolitan community and the world. The Upper School has a social service requirement to be fulfilled prior to the senior year, which has the boys complete 60 hours of person-person service before their senior year, many students exceed the requirement by a wide margin. The Lower School has programs such as in-school service drives and extramural community outreach.

In addition, each year, fifteen rising tenth-graders from D.C. public schools are enrolled in a Cathedral Scholars Program. This summer program serves approximately 45 students, who represent every D.C. public high-school and sped three consecutive summers on the Cathedral Close engaged in extensive academic and personal enrichment. St. Albans and National Cathedral School teachers serve as the Program's faculty.

The St. Albans School of Public Service, founded in 2002, is a co-educational summer experience for rising seniors from across the country and throughout the world who are interested in learning first hand about the nature of public service and the role of government in society.

The School is committed to building a community in which the worth of every member is affirmed and the diverse talents of each are nurtured. Such appreciation is the focal point of a St. Albans education.

As a progressive community, we must continue to push ahead. The challenges of diversity will never be easy, but I view the dynamic as a two-way street - St. Albans offers and it receives. Pursuing diversity brings unquantifiable rewards to all, measured in ways that only an alumnus can see as he peers back at his well-rounded experience on the Close with a satisfied smile on his face. St. Albans must never rest in its quest to diversify. I was brought in on my potential, not necessarily my past. The gift of diversity comes with a cost, [but] it is one we must all share, together.  -- Ramon Ruiz '81