Founding History

Historical Context for the Founding of PD

In 1954, in the landmark case Brown vs. The Board of Education, the United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Despite this ruling, many school districts largely refused to desegregate. In 1965, the landmark case of Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education began making its way through the courts, and in 1971, the United States Supreme Court ruled that busing was an appropriate remedy to integrate public schools. The effort to desegregate led to further racial tension and unrest. This was the racial climate in which Providence Day School was founded as a direct response to busing and integration. Academic institutions that developed in response to desegregation have come to be known as "white flight schools." Providence Day was one of these schools.