Belonging: Equity & Inclusion
At Wissahickon School District, we strive to promote a culture of BELONGING Belonging is defined as experiencing appreciation, validation, acceptance, and fair treatment within an environment (adapted from Cobb & Krownapple, 2019). through our policies, instructional practices, student programs, activities, and services.
As a learning community, rich in DIVERSITY Diversity is understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, (dis)ability status, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. This also includes cognitive diversity and how different individuals process and produce learning. and committed to academic excellence and character development, we know that to fulfill our mission, of having students excel to their fullest potential, we must provide a supportive and inclusive educational environment for all students and staff.
In fostering EQUITY Equity in education is defined as every student having access to the resources and rigor they need at the right moment in their education across race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, family background and/or family income (adapted from www.ccsso.org). and INCLUSION Inclusion is defined as engagement within a community where the equal worth and inherent dignity of each person is honored. An inclusive community promotes and sustains a sense of belonging (adapted from Cobb & Krownapple, 2019). in our schools, we seek to create a learning community in which all students are appreciated, inspired, and equipped to engage and excel. We open all doors of opportunity to ensure that each student is treated with DIGNITY Dignity is our inherent value and worth as human beings. Everyone is born with it. (Leading with Dignity, Donna Hicks, 2018). and receives what they need to experience success.
By focusing on belonging, equity, and inclusion, we aspire to create a school community where everyone can thrive as their authentic selves and where students can harness their strengths, student agency, and cultural competency to be global citizens.
Please join us on the journey to improve and sustain equity in our educational community. To help guide and support our students and families on their paths through elementary, middle, and high school, we have linked useful information (which will be continually updated) about district-wide programs and policies; our academic programs; student activities and clubs; and sources of assistance for families.
We invite you to watch our Introductory Video and click the links below to learn more about our equity and inclusion efforts.
"Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive
of it as belonging to everyone;
who lend the best of ourselves to it, and with joy."-Audre Lorde
DIVERSITY IN WSD:
BREAKDOWN OF STUDENT POPULATION
(as of August 2024)
District-wide Enrollment: 5,131
Percent Enrollment by Student Group
Students from Low Income Households |
24% |
Students of Color |
40% |
Students with Individualized Education Plans |
18.45% |
Enrollment by Gender
Male |
48% |
Female |
52% |
Percent enrollment by race/ethnicity
Multi-racial |
5.97% |
American Indian/Alaskan Native |
.16% |
Asian |
16.44% |
Black |
9.35% |
Hispanic |
8.59% |
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander |
.17% |
White |
59.09% |
Undefined |
.23% |