The private schools I went to were the ones my grandparents and great grandparents attended. My mom and her siblings went to them as well. My high school wasn't built until my great uncle was in school so my grandma didn't attend that one, but it was built by nuns in the 40s. Catholic schools are kind of their own category though.
Not wanting your child to be the "only" is certainly understandable. It seems like such a self-perpetuating problem, though - I wonder how private schools can improve and attract more minority children. And I think by minority children, we're mostly talking about black and possibly Hispanic children - I don't see this being so much of a problem with, for example, Asian children. IME, Montessori schools tend to have heavily Asian (especially Indian) enrollment, often equal to the white enrollment. I know that isn't necessarily the case everywhere or in most private schools, of course.
To the mothers of such kids on here - what would make a school feel more welcoming to your children if it wanted to increase minority enrollment?
I can only speak for myself, but I want nothing to do with a private school that is looking to increase minority enrollment. I recognize that this is a privilege, because I have the ability and resources to move to any place where the public school meets my diversity criteria. I would not be comfortable with a school that doesn't have a longstanding history of diversity and inclusion, because no matter how hard leadership may try to make changes, there will be parents who push back and vocally oppose their efforts. Then I'll be in jail. All bad.
But to answer the question, the only way I'd choose such a school is if it was founded with the express purpose of providing black kids with the highest quality education, regardless of income. I'd need a certain ratio of black teachers and administrators, equal representation of blacks and Hispanics on the board of directors, etc. People who would advocate for my child at every level.
The last piece of this is so spot on. I teach in a Quaker school that hangs it's hat on having a diverse student population. the lower school is about 50% families of color, and my current 8th grade class is close to 75% students of color, mostly black. Teachers are trained continuously in diversity work, as are students (they present all over the country at conferences). While the administrators and a decent chunk of the faculty is in the LGBT community, very few lead teachers are POC (and only 2 of 6 administrators). The faculty in the lower and middle schools is more diverse, but the upper school faculty is mostly white, and I hate the message that sends. We have tried to recruit faculty of color but it's not really worked.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
I'm learning so much in this thread. I admit to being shocked that most privates mention are only 50ish years old. Out here, we have so many that are 100+ years old.
The school I attended is 133 years old.
I was thinking the same thing. We are graduating our 320th class this year.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”