The Ellis School

Life at Ellis

Culture & Community Life

The Ellis community pursues, supports, and embraces diversity of all kinds.

At The Ellis School, we celebrate the collective strength that comes from our individual differences. Our community is intentionally built on inclusion, where every student feels welcome, known, heard, safe, and valued. Ellis is deeply committed to fostering an equitable and just school environment—one that not only supports each girl’s growth but also positions The Ellis School as a leader in diversity, equity, and justice initiatives in education.

List of 4 items.

  • Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

    We commit to doing the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally and externally.

  • Culturally Sustaining Learning

    We strive to teach a culturally sustaining curriculum and engage in culturally sustaining instructional practices.

  • Partnering with Families

    We foster authentic and reciprocal relationships with families.

  • Valuing Every Individual

    We recognize and celebrate the unique value and dignity of every student.

List of 3 items.

  • Ellisians for an Inclusive Community

    Ellisians for an Inclusive Community (EFIC) is a group of faculty, administrators, and staff who meet regularly to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of school life.

  • Family Affinity Groups

    Fostering authentic and reciprocal relationships with and among families is one of the ways Ellis establishes an equitable and inclusive school community. Parent Affinity Groups bring together parents who share a core identifier. They provide a safe environment in which parents who share a specific identity can come together for building community and empowerment while supporting Ellis students who share their core identifier. 

  • Student Affinity Groups

    Student Affinity Groups bring together students who share a core identifier, providing a safe environment in which students who share a specific identity can come together for building community while supporting and empowering one another. Affinity Groups prepare community members to engage effectively in cross/intercultural exchanges.

Middle School Affinity Groups

List of 2 items.

Upper School Affinity Groups

List of 5 items.

Upper School Alliance Groups

List of 3 items.

Culture Jam

Culture Jam is an annual student-led and produced conference focused on diversity, designed to empower students to engage in courageous conversations alongside their peers. The event offers a safe, inclusive space for high school students to explore identity, reflect on lived experiences, and discuss equity-related issues present in schools, the Pittsburgh region, and the broader global community.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes was 2026's Culture Jam theme, calling our community to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and connect more meaningfully across difference. Through storytelling, dialogue, and shared experiences, participants are invited to step into perspectives beyond their own—recognizing both the common threads that unite us and the unique identities that shape how we move through the world.

Dr. Denise LaRosa

Director of Culture & Community Life

With the United States’ increasingly diverse population intertwined with historical and contemporary societal injustices, it has become imperative that schools make creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community a priority, not just an idea to put on paper. We at Ellis are committed to establishing our school as a leader in equity and justice initiatives through a strategic and intentional approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion work and initiatives. At its core, this work begins with all students feeling that they are seen, heard, and known throughout their school community.
As a member of the Ellis community, I have witnessed the continued evolution of The Ellis School’s aim to ensure every student is seen, heard, known, feels safe, and is treated fairly through the lens of both a faculty member and a parent of two students of color. One of my favorite African proverbs is “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community takes time, intentionality, and a collective effort. It is my hope that together, we can go far and deep into the work that will affirm and sustain the identities of all students who grace the Ellis campus.

Related News

List of 10 news stories.

Culture & Community Life

The Ellis School does not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation in employment. We do not discriminate in student recruitment, admissions, financial aid, or any other aspect of the School’s program, except on the basis of age and gender identity in fulfillment of the School’s mission.
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992   |   admissions@theellisschool.org
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992
admissions@theellisschool.org