Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Belonging is at the heart of Mid-Pen.At Mid-Pen, belonging isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something you’ll feel from the moment you walk in. This is a school where you don’t have to change who you are to fit in. You can just be yourself.

Your teachers will know you, not just your grades or your test scores, but also your strengths, your challenges, and what motivates you. They’ll push you to grow, and they’ll also be there to support you every step of the way.

Just as important, you’ll be accepted by your peers. Mid-Pen is full of students who come from different backgrounds, with different interests, perspectives, and learning styles. That mix is what makes our community strong. You’ll find classmates who appreciate diversity in all its forms—race, culture, identity, experiences, and ways of thinking. Here, differences aren’t something to overcome; they’re something to value and learn from.

We cannot downplay students' need to feel safe and valued in the classroom.

Zaretta Hammond

Belonging here comes from how we treat each other. We show respect. We practice kindness. We accept people for who they are. And we take responsibility for ourselves and for our community. When those values guide how we show up every day, Mid-Pen becomes a place where it feels safe to try, to stumble, and to succeed.

Why does this matter? Because when you feel like you belong:

1. You build real connections—with friends, teachers, and the community around you.
2. Learning feels easier, since your brain works best when you feel safe and valued.

As education researcher Zaretta Hammond explains, your brain learns best when you feel connected to people you trust and know will treat you well. At Mid-Pen, those connections are at the center of your experience.

That sense of belonging is what makes Mid-Pen different. Here, you don’t need to fit into a mold—you already belong, just as you are.