Strategic Framework

Mission

Providence Day School exists to inspire in its students a passion for learning, a commitment to personal integrity, and a sense of social responsibility.

Context

As a leading TK-12 independent school, Providence Day School is known for its innovative approach and focus on Global Studies, as one of just six schools nationwide to offer a Global Studies Diploma and a Round Square school; for its emphasis on social responsibility, proud to be “a private school with a public purpose”, including dozens of community partnerships and its unique Freedom School site; for its commitment to education in science and technology, and the application of innovation to teaching; for its accomplished scholar-athletes, who win state and local championships and go on to Division 1 teams and pro leagues including the NBA, WNBA, and MLS; and for its deep focus on the arts, dominating regional and statewide honors. The school’s greatest strength is its faculty, who serve as national AP readers and hold 101 master’s degrees and 15 Ph.Ds; their accolades range from a Regional Emmy to a Newbery Honor Book Award to an American Geographical Society Teacher Fellowship.

Our nearly 4,000 alumni attend the most competitive colleges in the U.S. and worldwide, including top universities in Europe and Asia. Merit scholarships topped $17.3 million in 2021 and increase each year. A PD graduate is prepared for life, not just college. Our graduates act purposefully and ethically, improving the lives of others.

Throughout its 50-year history, Providence Day School has been distinguished by its tendency to never feel satisfied or complacent with its position but to always strive for its next level of leadership excellence. We are proud to build on the foundation that has been laid down so far, but eager to find ways to better serve our students and families and create positive change in the world.

Following recent recognition by the Southern Association of Independent Schools accreditation committee for its national leadership in independent school education, this strategic framework provides the outline for Providence Day to define its own success and emerge as a truly global leader.

Hear more: Tom Seddon and host Jay Barron discuss the Strategic Framework in an episode of the PD Podcast, "From the Horse's Mouth."

SIX STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK GOALS

Leading the education field

Providence Day will lead the way in educational excellence, aspiring to be one of the best schools in the world.

A relentless drive for innovation is needed to keep PD at the leading edge of private, independent education. Our size lets us provide a wide range of opportunities for students and fulfill our mission to impact many students’ lives. We will continue to carefully and thoughtfully manage enrollment growth to preserve the sense of belonging that is special about the PD community.

Develop and raise the profile of the PD Passport, our TK-12 global education framework to develop young people equipped with essential skills, necessary knowledge, and good character
Continue PD’s tradition of innovation and excellence across academics, technology, athletics, and the arts
Ensure students are building enduring life skills by nurturing character dispositions like perseverance, self-motivation, empathy, and courage
Deliberately manage enrollment growth to ensure students continue to have an exceptional TK-12 experience at PD

Equity, inclusion and belonging

Poet Jay Ward holding a poetry workshop with Upper School students.

PD will create a climate of inclusion so that all member of the community truly belong and are connected to each other and to the world.

A world-class education happens best in an environment composed of dynamic individuals with a rich diversity of culture, religion, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, countries of origin, language, political opinions, cognitive perspectives, and other cultural identifiers.

Affirm PD’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist community
Establish PD as the school of choice for its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion
Prioritize equity initiatives, recognizing that each individual has unique needs to be successful and to fully benefit from a PD experience

photo: Junious "Jay" Ward (center, plaid shirt), Charlotte's inaugural poet laureate, hosting an Upper School workshop.

Health and Well-being

We will support the health and well-being of the PD community - students, their families, faculty, and staff.

Our students–and our faculty and staff–are driven to achieve but require an environment of safety, care, and support in which to learn how to challenge themselves in constructive, healthy, and sustainable ways.

Create a comprehensive PD health and well-being plan
Launch a school-wide conversation about what constitutes success for students
Incorporate well-being into the way PD educators design their course and engage with students

Our faculty and staff

Remy Burnam '29 with math teacher Michelle Garrity '04

PD will recruit and retain the educators essential to be a world-class school.

PD aspires to be a school-of-choice for outstanding educators who share a passion for our mission, embrace our core values, and are committed to being part of an intentional educational community.

Provide a total compensation package that makes it possible to attract and retain great faculty and staff in a competitive market
Focus on innovative professional development for PD faculty and staff
Attract, retain, and develop a diverse faculty and staff that represents the breadth of the families and communities we aspire to serve

The campus environment

We will create a campus that can deliver a world-class education.

Our built environment and technology infrastructure has a direct impact on our ability to support our goals and is a crucial part of creating the culture of the school. We will invest in and evolve the physical and virtual campus to:

Implement the campus master vision in stages to ensure we can support our strategic goals and deliver a world-class educational experience with flexibility and resilience
Ensure that all PD spaces from TK-12 match the quality and utility of our newest buildings
Enhance safety and security for all members of the community

Resources for the future

McKinley Sullivan slapping hands with senior during Senior Walk 2022-23.

PD will build the resources it needs to sustain the school’s future.

Sustaining the school’s success and viability for decades to come requires careful management of resources today, but also a larger endowment to provide greater long-term stability and opportunity.

Increase the endowment to a target of $55 million by 2030
Expand our community’s participation in planned giving by emphasizing its importance through education and awareness