Our Diversity Journey
Charlotte Latin’s commitment to diversity literally began on the day it opened its doors for the first time in September of 1970 as Charlotte’s first integrated independent school. Since that time, year after year, Charlotte Latin has strived to create a balanced and engaging class profile that sustains and invigorates school culture and appreciates the educational value of diversity in Charlotte and the nation. For more than forty years, the Latin community has embraced students and their families who represent a rich variety of nationalities, ethnicities, races, and faith traditions.
The Charlotte Latin community’s diversity journey has taken substantive steps that highlight the evolving value of inclusion on campus and the importance of promoting diversity as a key component of a quality educational experience for all independent school students. In 1994, Charlotte Latin hosted “Beyond Diversity: Talking with One Another,” a conference of independent school educators designed to encourage a dialogue among people of various backgrounds. Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt joined the conference as a featured speaker. The School once again led the focus on diversity in 1996 by hosting a North Carolina Association of Independent Schools conference titled, “The Classroom Collage: Seeking the Pieces of Diversity in Our Schools.” More than 700 administrators and teachers from across North Carolina participated in the conference, which emphasized the importance of racial and cultural diversity in our schools, as well as recognized and celebrated diverse learning and teaching styles.
In 2003, Charlotte Latin further strengthened its commitment to promoting diversity as an instructional priority by appointing Mr. Greg Everett, a member of the Upper School faculty, as the School’s first Diversity Coordinator. In 2006, Mr. Nicholas Wharton was named Latin’s first, full-time Director of Diversity to lead strategic diversity goals and objectives across the institution. As a member of the School’s Administrative Team and an instructor with Headmaster Arch McIntosh of the Senior Leadership Class, Mr. Wharton works with students, parents, faculty, and administrators to help the School community promote diversity and inclusion and to develop outreach opportunities with the Charlotte community.
In 2006, the School community participated in a lengthy campus review process to develop the CLS Statement of Religious and Cultural Diversity, a policy that serves as a reaffirmation of Latin’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to its non-sectarian tradition. In 2009, Charlotte Latin hosted a Community Relations Luncheon during which key representatives of Charlotte’s diverse communities and faith organizations engaged in discussions to promote trust and cross cultural understanding. As a result of authentic and candid dialogue, several collaborative initiatives were developed to enrich student learning, educational outreach, and access to the city’s diverse communities.
Today, Charlotte Latin’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is woven into the fabric of school life through the curriculum, extracurricular activities, special events, and the active leadership of parents, teachers, and administrators.