You belong here.
As one of our key distinctions, Holton-Arms champions diversity. In founding our School, Jessie Moon Holton demonstrated the power education has to liberate the mind. She was a strong advocate of kindness, understanding, cooperation, and service. By championing diversity, we foster a culture of integrity where differences are celebrated.
Susanna A. Jones (excerpted from her June 2020 letter to Holton Community)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission Statement
Holton-Arms cherishes the uniqueness of each of our members including current and former students, faculty, and staff. We seek to create an inclusive environment that sees, values, and supports diverse identities and experiences, cultivates engaging discourse, and empowers our students to be thriving members of the global community.
At Holton-Arms, each of us is responsible for fostering an equitable, respectful, and just community. We are committed to:
- Discovering, developing, and valuing our full authentic selves.
- Deepening awareness of personal and systemic biases and being accountable for the impact of our words and actions.
- Developing an understanding of the historical origins and perpetuation of systems of power and privilege.
- Engaging in open and brave conversations that promote growth, understanding, connection, and agency.
- Embracing every individual as essential to the community.
Principles of Dialogue
Holton-Arms is a community where we engage in brave conversations by seeking out, listening to, and learning from multiple perspectives and lived experiences. We believe that by upholding the inherent dignity of each person, including when there is disagreement, we enable one another to thrive. In order to practice these beliefs, we commit to:
- Assuming the shared responsibility of fostering engagement and belonging;
- Participating in conversations that explore similarities and differences candidly;
- Viewing experiences of conflict as an opportunity to grow;
- Practicing humility, asking difficult questions, taking risks, and making mistakes;
- Taking responsibility for the impact of our words and actions; and
- Reflecting on and engaging in restorative practices.
Though we encourage our community to seek out differences of perspectives, we do not ask students or adults to legitimize degrading views regarding race, ethnicity, religion, ability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Transgender Guidelines
The Holton-Arms School is intentional in its support of and respect for all members of its community, providing a safe, welcoming environment where differences are celebrated. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid practices, or of its athletic and other school-administered programs. We will consider for admission any student who identifies as a girl at the time of application and who wishes to join an institution dedicated to girls’ education. If a student transitions from identifying as a girl while enrolled at Holton-Arms, the administration will work with the student and the student’s family to evaluate continued enrollment in keeping with the student’s well-being and the mission of the School.