About

Inclusion

"We must respond to the impatient echoes for justice and inclusion that have been reverberating throughout our country and the world. Racial justice has been elusive for centuries. It is essential to acknowledge that during the more than five hundred years of colonialism and four hundred years since the first slaves arrived from Africa, many educators have looked the other way, pretending to be immune from biases and racism that for too long were unaddressed." —Headmaster Temba Maqubela

Groton School is committed to inclusion—
to having a diverse student body and to providing the support needed so that all have equal access to success at Groton. The school believes it can best fight racism through education.

The school recognizes the need to examine engrained institutional biases and to educate everyone on the Circle about hidden prejudices and the ethical imperative to stand up for others. Headmaster Temba Maqubela has always chosen action over rhetoric, and he has helped the school make noteworthy strides toward true inclusion.

New Strategic Framework
A new strategic framework, adopted by the Board of Trustees in November 2021, positions Groton to solidify its commitment to inclusion, belonging, and student well-being.
Continued Resolve in the March toward Inclusion and Belonging
"We have no intention of stopping this march toward what is fair and right, knowing well that the journey is long."
Trustees Affirm Fight Against Racial Injustice
"We are inspired by the courageous activism of people of all races standing up for justice in the world, and we aspire to be part of the solution that ends conscious and subconscious racism."
Trustees Letter on Inclusion and Confronting Racism
"While the lived experiences of students on campus have improved and will continue to improve under the Maqubelas’ leadership, we all know that there is work to be done. The Maqubelas know it, too, and we believe in their leadership."

GRAIN

GRAIN (GRoton Affordability and INclusion) solidified the school's commitment to an open Circle. It ensured that all deserving applicants, regardless of background or financial standing, have equal access to a Groton education. GRAIN also froze tuition for three years and kicked off deep determination by the Board of Trustees to keep costs under control.

GRAIN also placed special emphasis on the group Mr. Maqubela often calls “the talented missing middle.” Often assuming that they will not qualify for aid, these families are squeezed by burdensome loans at the college level and rarely think of independent schools like Groton. “How can independent school students have a real-world experience,” asks Mr. Maqubela, “if we omit the talent from an enormous socioeconomic group?”

Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Groton School is committed to diversity and inclusivity with responsibility, mutual respect, and empathy. We strive to maintain a community in which every person feels welcomed, valued, and respected. We are dedicated to shared examination of our different perspectives, inherent privileges, disadvantages, and prejudices, especially in terms of race, religion, national origin, gender and sexuality, socioeconomic status, and political ideology. We believe this work is critical to preparing students to lead “lives of character, learning, leadership, and service." —Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement

Groton School intentionally welcomes students from a wide range of backgrounds, and many volunteer for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The group plans thought-provoking events and workshops and facilitates discussion, sometimes on difficult topics, that helps students live and learn together with respect for and celebration of our differences. Guest speakers, followed by small group discussions, challenge the community to think deeply.

Working with the student committee is the faculty Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which includes representatives from different academic departments, as well as the school chaplain, counselors, and dean of students.