Diversity at Middlesex
When Frederick Winsor founded Middlesex in 1901, it was an act of diversity. In conceiving a non-sectarian school, Winsor welcomed boys of all faiths, believing such an inclusive spirit would enrich the educational environment.
In 1934, Middlesex instituted a National Scholarship Program so that boys who earned admission to the School could enter regardless of economic means—a historic initiative for the time. Since then, the doors of Middlesex have opened wider as it has become international, multicultural, and coeducational. Today, we welcome students from 35 States, 15 foreign countries, and myriad backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
Our vertical housing structure provides shared space where students from grades 9 through 12 learn amidst the different ages, experiences and interests of their peers. Throughout the campus, the nature of our architecture and landscape brings us together in shared spaces—and some of the most valuable teaching and learning we do owes a debt to the diversity we experience together.
The diverse background of the student body and faculty remains a critical component of a Middlesex education. Students and faculty build a community of ideas, creativity, and purpose that no homogeneous group of individuals could achieve. The school’s original non-sectarian spirit continues to guide Middlesex and make it a welcoming place of cultural and intellectual exchange.
If you have any questions about the Diversity Program at Middlesex, please contact Brian Smith, director of diversity, at basmith@mxschool.edu or 978-402-1466. We look forward to hearing your voice!
To function and thrive in today’s world, a global, multicultural approach is essential. Throughout the curriculum, Middlesex students are exposed to global perspectives through the history, art, and literature of diverse cultures and traditions, as well as by the views and backgrounds of peers in the exchange of ideas around the table and around the campus.
In addition to studying ancient civilizations, the majority of first-year students will study a non-European civilization through History Department offerings. As they move through their Middlesex careers, students actively encounter and analyze differences in perspective, background, and culture through the English department. Students explore global challenges through the sciences while experiencing diversity of expression and origin in the Arts. At its best, the academic program at Middlesex widens the lens through which we see the world.
Co-curricular opportunities complement the academic program’s commitment to multicultural education. Students participate in Model United Nations, Model Congress, Junior Statesmen of America and a full range of community service opportunities, both local and international in reach. The foreign language departments offer summer immersion and travel opportunities. Finally, through our activities program, students are able to take advantage of the tremendous cultural offerings of the Greater Boston area.
The core of a Middlesex education involves exposure, engagement, and experience. Through multicultural commitment in the academic and co-curricular programs, Middlesex students are able to see themselves, and see their work in life, in the context of a larger, global community.
