Center for Diversity
Welcome to Blake’s Center for Diversity web site, with highlights and links to material that helps illustrate/reinforce why we are so committed to diversity at Blake.
Why “diversity” at Blake?
Learn how Blake defines “diversity” and why it is essential to the School’s mission.
Cornerstone
Learn about Cornerstone: A Student of Color Alliance
Eager to learn more?
Check out the many suggested videos, books and more on the many facets of diversity.
“Stay at the Table”
Learn why one parent (and Blake staff member) believes this work is critical to Blake’s mission.
Our Ongoing Work
Diversity is essential to the mission and life of Blake. It is woven throughout our curriculum, community outreach programs, student leadership development and parent/faculty initiatives. The following programs and organizations illustrate our ongoing commitment.
The Center for Diversity
The Blake School Center for Diversity empowers the Blake community to become the representative, welcoming, and multicultural community it aspires to be. The Center for Diversity hopes to celebrate the current richness and future possibility of Blake becoming a model of pluralism, by questioning the status quo, facilitating and encouraging community participation in diversity initiatives, empowering others to lead diversity initiatives, building leadership capacity across the community, and encouraging community members to move outside of their current comfort zone.
Blake’s Annual Diversity Symposium
Since 1992, The Blake School has sponsored a diversity symposium featuring a well-known local or national speaker to address various aspects of diversity. Through the Annual Diversity Symposium, The Blake School expands its educational environment beyond the School’s walls and heightens awareness of issues that impact our community. Blake recognizes that true learning takes place through exposure, interaction and the building of meaningful relationships with our surrounding communities. Learn more.
The Diversity Council
The Blake Diversity Leadership Council, composed of administrators, faculty, and parents, is dedicated to executing the School’s commitment to diversity by connecting all constituencies of the School community. The Council endeavors to incorporate diversity throughout the life of the school by celebrating our inherent diversity, creating educational opportunities and dynamic programming, researching curricular resources, and addressing ongoing issues and concerns.
Diversity Education
The Center for Diversity offers several ongoing opportunities for faculty, staff and parents at Blake. A variety of programs are offered where through readings, films, speakers and other activities participants will explore and better understand the importance of pluralism in all that we do.
Student Programs and Organizations
Guest speakers, symposia, and assembly presentations create awareness and appreciation of all people for students pre-K through 12. Upper school organizations such as the Multicultural Awareness Club, the International Club, the Gay-Straight Alliance, and the Student Inter-Action Committee provide venues for ongoing discussion and sponsorship of events.
Pluralism at Blake: Facts at a Glance
The Blake School is recognized as one of the finest independent day schools in the nation. Founded in 1900, Blake serves approximately 1,380 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, is non-sectarian and co-educational, and has campuses in Minneapolis, Hopkins and Wayzata. 100% of our graduates go onto four year colleges and universities, or comparable programs.
Student/Teacher Ratio
Blake’s 9:1 student/teacher ratio and average class size of 15-16 allows for meaningful relationships both in and out of the classroom, and ensures that each child is known and known well.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Approximately 18 percent of Blake students are students of color and there are over 41 languages other than English are spoken as a first language in our families’ homes. The School is committed to a diverse and representative community. We actively seek students throughout the metropolitan area and conduct national searches for all faculty positions.
Geographic Reach
Blake students come from more than 56 Twin Cities communities, with transportation provided for most areas.
Socio-economic Diversity
Over $3 million in need-based financial assistance is awarded annually to 19 percent of our student body, making Blake’s financial aid program one of the largest of any independent school in the Midwest.
International Scope
Over the last decade, Blake has welcomed 90 international program students from over 30 countries. In addition, we have sent over 50 students abroad on Swiss Semester and other global education exchanges.