Partnership Aims to Boost Student Diversity

The Webb Schools have formed a new partnership aimed at boosting opportunities for admission and academic success for under-served students of color.

The schools have signed an agreement with Private School Axis, a nonprofit founded in 2020 to drive diversity, equity and inclusion at Los Angeles area independent schools. The organization helps families navigate the application process and supports students during the transition to independent school and throughout the academic year.

”This partnership will help to accelerate The Webb Schools’ efforts to provide admission to a diverse group of extraordinary students both from this region and around the world,” Associate Head of Schools Dr. Theresa Smith said. “We are excited to begin working with Private School Axis.”

Private School Axis is led by Founder and Executive Director Collette Bowers Zinn, a fourth-generation educator, trained litigator and co-host of the podcast eRACED, which looks at the intersection of race, culture and education.

Webb’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion can be traced to its very first year, 1922, when founder Thompson Webb provided scholarships to half of his students. Today, The Webb Schools are among the most diverse of U.S. independent schools. Webb provides $6 million in annual scholarships and nearly 60 percent of U.S. students hail from communities of color.

The Private School Axis partnership is one of several Webb affiliations aimed at boosting diversity, equity and inclusion. For admission and student support, these include A Better Chance, Gender Spectrum, Independent School Alliance, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, SEEDS, Oliver Scholars and Young Eisner Scholars. For staff and faculty recruitment and support, partners include Nemnet Minority Recruiting, So CAL POCIS, AXIS and the Southern California Diversity Recruiting Fair.