Who We Are

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At Cathedral School for Boys, our commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion date back to our founding in 1957. As an Episcopal School, we are called to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.”
Ever since we opened our doors, Cathedral has been dedicated to ensuring that all families, no matter their cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and ways of thinking, feel welcomed and embraced within our community, and we are intentional in how we integrate the myriad perspectives and identities into the soul of our community.
 
Our belief is that in order to purposefully contribute and thrive in a diverse environment, one must experience an enduring state of belonging. The feeling that one’s voice and actions matter within our institution is critical to engagement, personal growth, and learning.
 
Because That Is Belonging at Cathedral School for Boys

DEIJB at Cathedral School for Boys

At Cathedral School for Boys, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging (DEIJB) are essential to our approach to education and to the development of a just society.
 
Cathedral’s commitment to DEIJB is founded on the promise of all Episcopal Schools to "strive for justice and peace among all people and (to) respect the dignity of every human being." This promise grounds our approach in the recognition of the social and moral responsibilities that we owe one another and in the benefits that we all receive when we share common values.
 
As such, each member of the Cathedral community commits to:
 
  • Engaging in conversations with empathy and curiosity, and listening to recognize the presence, ideas, and beliefs of all individuals within the Cathedral community;
  • Practicing respect and acting with courage to speak up, speak out, and stand up for what is right even when it is challenging or unpopular;
  • Upholding the process of reflection, healing, and repair, holding ourselves with accountability, and accepting responsibility for our actions.
Cathedral is committed to cultivating a community of people in the many ways they identify, including by race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, family structure, language, learning styles, physical ability, religion, culture, and socioeconomic background that embraces the broadest possible range of beliefs, values, experiences, and perspectives. Our community comprises people who value the diverse perspectives of others and who desire to learn continually about themselves and from one another. We believe that only with open minds and open hearts, our Cathedral community will thrive and experience belonging, both within the walls of our classrooms and beyond.

Affinity & Alliance Groups

List of 5 items.

  • Student Affinity Groups

    Affinity groups bring students together with an identifier in common, e.g., race, gender, religion, family status, etc. Additionally, affinity groups are for individuals who identify as group members and can speak to the group experience from the “I” perspective. These spaces allow students to be seen, heard, and affirmed for who they are through facilitated conversations with Cathedral School faculty and staff members. An affinity group’s ultimate goal is to support the development of a healthy sense of self within the respective identity so that students will feel empowered to engage deeply with others in the broader community.
     
    Cathedral School’s Student Affinity Groups:
     
    • Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
    • Black / African American
    • Diverse Family Structures
    • Filipino
    • Jewish American
    • Latino
    • Middle Eastern, North African & South Asian (MENASA)
    • Multiracial
    • Neurodiversity
    • New to CSB
    • Siblings with Diverse Abilities

  • Student Alliance Groups

    Alliance groups bring students together who have a shared commitment to an identifier group, e.g., race, gender, religion, family status, etc. Alliance groups are for individuals who identify as group members and can speak to the group experience from the “I” perspective and as people who support and stand in solidarity with that group. Alliance groups are platforms for students to learn and work together to make our school community more inclusive and welcoming.
     
    Cathedral School’s Student Alliance Group:
     
    • Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

  • Upper School Student Clubs

    • Student Council
    • Sports & Cards Club
    • Sneakerhead Club
    • Sports Photography Club
    • Perspectives
    • Chess & Games
    • Manga
    • STEM Club
    • Book Club 
    • Open Art Studio
    • Model UN
    • Typing Club

  • Parent Groups

    • SPIRE (Stories and Perspectives of Individual Real Experiences, a parent-led group that provides a safe space for CSB community members to discuss identity and race-related issues)
    • Parents Association DEI Committee
    • Board of Trustees DEI Committee

  • Faculty / Staff Groups

    • Faculty and Staff of Color Sustainability Group
    • LGBTQ+ Sustainability Group
    • White Awareness & Accountability Group
    • Women’s Affinity Group

Student & Curriculum Support Partners

List of 8 items.

  • A Better Chance

    A Better Chance (ABC) is a national nonprofit that identifies academically talented students of color and connects them to some of the country’s top independent, public, and boarding schools.

  • City of Hope

    City of Hope is a leading U.S. nonprofit medical center and research institute — founded in 1913 — that provides compassionate, cutting-edge care for people with cancer, diabetes, and other serious illnesses, while advancing breakthrough treatments through research and clinical trials.

  • Facing History & Ourselves

    Facing History & Ourselves is a global nonprofit that equips schools, districts, and educators with resources and training to help students confront racism, antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry through the study of history.

  • Gender Spectrum

    Gender Spectrum is a leading nonprofit organization that works to build inclusive environments for transgender and gender-diverse youth by offering education, resources, and support to schools, families, and communities.

  • GLSEN

    GLSEN is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every student — regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression — can learn in a school environment free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

  • Learning for Justice

    Learning for Justice is a longtime initiative from Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that provides free, high-quality resources and training to educators, schools, and communities — helping them build inclusive, thoughtful, and justice-oriented learning environments.

  • San Francisco Unified School District

    San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is the public school district for the City and County of San Francisco, educating roughly 50,000 students across more than 120 schools.

  • The Institute for SEL

    The Institute for SEL (IFSEL) is a nonprofit organization that works with schools to embed social-emotional learning (SEL) throughout the whole school community — students, educators, parents, and caregivers — helping build more inclusive, empathetic, and emotionally healthy school environments.

Community & Equity Engagement Partners

List of 5 items.

  • A Better Chance

    A Better Chance (ABC) is a national nonprofit that identifies academically talented students of color and connects them to some of the country’s top independent, public, and boarding schools.

  • Bayview Mission

    Bayview Mission is a community-based outreach initiative serving families, seniors, veterans, and neighbors in the Bayview / Hunters Point neighborhoods of San Francisco. Operating out of a residential home supported by Grace Cathedral and the Episcopal Diocese of California, the Mission provides food, hygiene items, diapers, clothing, and other essentials to community members experiencing economic hardship. Through consistent, compassionate support, Bayview Mission strengthens dignity, care, and connection for those most impacted by inequity in the city.

  • Grace Cathedral

    Grace Cathedral is a landmark Episcopal cathedral on Nob Hill that serves as the principal church of the Episcopal Diocese of California and a longstanding partner to Cathedral School for Boys. Rooted in San Francisco’s civic, cultural, and spiritual life since the mid-1800s, the Cathedral welcomes people from all backgrounds through inclusive worship, interfaith outreach, social-justice initiatives, and a wide range of arts and cultural programming. Known for its French-Gothic architecture, replica “Gates of Paradise,” iconic stained glass, twin labyrinths, and rich music tradition, Grace Cathedral continues to be a center of reflection, community, and service for the city.

  • San Francisco City Impact

    San Francisco City Impact (SFCI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving residents of the Tenderloin District — one of the most underserved neighborhoods in San Francisco — by providing essential resources, community support, and hope.

  • San Francisco Unified School District

    San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is the public school district for the City and County of San Francisco, educating roughly 50,000 students across more than 120 schools.

Faculty & Staff Growth Partners

List of 10 items.

  • Black Teacher Project

    Black Teacher Project (BTP) is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to recruiting, sustaining, and developing Black teachers — empowering them to lead and reimagine K–12 schools as communities of liberated learning.

  • Blink

    Blink Strategic Consulting works with schools and other organizations to critically and compassionately “rethink diversity.” The firm offers tailored support in areas like DEI auditing, strategic planning, leadership coaching, and professional growth for faculty, staff, students, and families — helping communities translate DEI statements into meaningful, sustained action.

  • California Teacher Development Collaborative

    California Teacher Development Collaborative (CATDC) is a statewide nonprofit consortium that partners with independent schools to deliver thoughtful, equity-centered, high-quality professional development, coaching, consulting, and leadership support. Through its ongoing programs and workshops, CATDC helps strengthen teaching practice, develop leadership capacity, and foster inclusive, connected school cultures across California’s independent school community.

  • Diversity Leadership Institute

    The Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) is a national-level program from National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) designed for independent-school educators, administrators, and staff who lead or support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging efforts.

  • EdChange

    EdChange is a nonprofit group of experienced educators dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and social-justice principles in schools and communities.

  • Leverage to Lead

    Leverage to Lead is a consulting and coaching organization that partners with schools to strengthen leadership, governance, and organizational culture through an equity-centered lens. Working with administrators, leadership teams, and boards, Leverage to Lead supports schools in aligning values with practice, building inclusive systems, and advancing meaningful institutional change. Its work emphasizes strategic leadership, accountability, and the long-term sustainability of equity and belonging efforts.

  • Multicultural Leadership Institute

    The Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI), offered by the Wildwood Group, is a professional learning program designed to support educators in developing equity-centered leadership skills. Through cohort-based learning, facilitated dialogue, and reflective practice, MLI helps faculty and school leaders deepen self-awareness, strengthen cultural competence, and build the capacity to lead inclusive, mission-aligned school communities. The program emphasizes sustained growth, collaboration, and practical application within independent-school settings.

  • NEMNET

    NEMNET is a national diversity-recruitment and consulting organization founded in 1994 that helps schools and other educational institutions recruit and retain diverse teachers, administrators, and coaches.

  • People of Color Conference

    The NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) is a flagship national gathering for educators, administrators, trustees, and allies from independent schools — designed to support and strengthen equity, inclusion, and belonging across school communities.

  • Strategenius

    Strategenius is a BIPOC-owned national search firm specializing in recruiting and placing educators and leaders in independent K–12 schools — with a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and authentic representation.

Institutional & Network Affiliations

List of 3 items.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day March

Fourth-Annual Feria Hispana

San Francisco Pride Parade

Jewish Affinity Group Students Volunteering

Mabuhay Day: Celebrating Filipino American History Month

Mid-Autumn Festival: Mahjong Night

Activist Art by Grade 7 Students

Director of Community & Student Life

Aaron Mullen
Director of Community & Student Life
 

DEIJB Fact Sheet

Racial Breakdown of Student Population:

  • White: 43%
  • Multiracial: 26%
  • Asian: 22%
  • African American: 4%
  • Latinx: 4%
  • Middle Eastern: 1%
 

Faculty Who Identify as a Person of Color:

  • 26%
 

Student Affinity Groups:

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
  • Black / African American
  • Diverse Family Structures
  • Filipino
  • Jewish American
  • Latino
  • Middle Eastern, North African & South Asian (MENASA)
  • Multiracial
  • Neurodiversity
  • New to CSB
  • Siblings with Diverse Abilities
 

Student Alliance Group:

  • Gender / Sexuality
 

Students Receiving Adjustable Tuition:

  • 24%
 

Where Our Families Live:

  • San Francisco: 90%
  • Marin: 5%
  • East Bay: 3%
  • Peninsula: 2%
 

Where Our Students Come From:

  • 17 Different Preschools
  • 19 Different Elementary Schools
“Without belonging, our sense of self, sense of well-being atrophies, it goes away.”
 
— john a. powell, Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute, UC Berkeley
 
(Graphic Concept: Turner Consulting Group)

Cathedral School for Boys

Located in San Francisco, California, Cathedral School for Boys is an independent elementary school for boys in Kindergarten – Grade 8. Our mission is to provide an excellent education through intellectual inquiry and rigor that is centered in the Episcopal tradition and is respectful of and welcoming to people of all religious traditions and beliefs.