Admission
At its best the admission process offers prospective families an opportunity to pause and reflect on who their child is and what their hopes are for their child’s life.
We acknowledge that this endeavor is no simple feat! Through thoughtful open-house tours, a prospective-parent education evening focusing on equity and inclusivity, and through a personalized interview, parents are invited to consider how Westland’s mission and culture matches their family’s values as well as how progressive education could be right for their child. Our intention is that the admission process is one marked by thoughtfulness, and care.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Westland believes that in order to empower students to become informed, engaged, and active citizens in a democratic society, they must be provided with explicit and intentional anti-bias and social justice education. Through the integrated studies at Westland, students are engaged in developmentally appropriate learning that investigates personal identity and how the individual connects to the group community, to the larger school community, and finally to society as a whole. Concurrently, students learn to recognize, understand, respect, and utilize differences. They come to understand how to identify systemic inequities and learn how to take action.
A Scientific American magazine article entitled “How Diversity Makes Us Smarter” shares that decades of research by organizational scientists, psychologists, sociologists, economists, and demographers indicate that socially diverse groups—in regard to race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and other social identifiers—are more innovative than homogeneous groups. In short, diversity makes us smarter. It jolts us into cognitive action in a way that homogeneity simply does not. Westland School, guided by its strategic plan and the Board of Trustees, is actively working on initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Led by the Diversity Leadership Team of the Board and our Social Justice and Anti Bias Curriculum Teacher Task Force, we actively work toward explicit goals regarding Westland’s long-standing commitment to social justice.
Admission Criteria
Westland strives to create balanced classes within a strong and healthy community. In doing so, our admission considerations may include academic and learning potential, gender balance, sibling relationships, or promoting the school’s commitment to diversity of all kinds.
Where applicants meet admission criteria, Westland gives preference to siblings, children of personnel, and alumni children. Having a current student enrolled at Westland is the basis for sibling priority.
Admission decisions are made at the discretion of the head of school and the admission committee. Admission and continuing enrollment are dependent on parental support of the school’s mission and full disclosure by the parent/guardian of any and all medical or learning conditions affecting the child’s health, behavior, and/or learning potential. Students and families whose needs can be met by the school will be invited to re-enroll from year to year.
Nondiscrimination Policy
Westland School promotes a community of inclusion and emphasizes the appreciation of the value of all people. Westland does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, race, religion/creed, gender, culture, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identification, or socio-economic background. This policy applies to all areas of the school including admission, hiring, educational policies, flexible tuition, and other school-administered programs.
