Annie Wright Schools

Tacoma

Washington

United States

Overview

Annie Wright Schools offer the best of both worlds with a coordinate program for boys and girls in Grades 9 through 12. Our separate Upper Schools offer single gender academics with some co-ed activities and social opportunities. IB academics, arts and athletics—students can do it all at AWS. Annie Wright Upper Schools prepare students extraordinarily well for college, offering small classes, independent-minded peers and an exceptional faculty. An International Baccalaureate World School, Annie Wright has offered the rigorous Diploma Programme, considered the gold standard in international education, for Grades 11-12 since 2009. At the heart of Annie Wright's Upper School programs is the belief that risk-taking, development of passions and shared experience are essential for growth. With these ideas at the center of every offering, students participate in a variety of meaningful activities, clubs and co-curricular experiences. Students gain independence, become meaningfully engaged and have a tremendous amount of fun. Beyond these learning experiences, students engage in a variety of single-gender and co-ed social events and celebrate Annie Wright's numerous traditions, some more than 100 years old, throughout the year.

Academics

Summary: Since 1884, Annie Wright Schools have offered excellent academic programs that challenge students to reach their full intellectual potential. Annie Wright is an International Baccalaureate World School. Emphasis on inquiry, communication, meaningful action, global-mindedness, development of the whole child and measurable outcomes for students and teachers are common throughout IB programs. The International Baccalaureate, founded in 1968, is an educational nonprofit organization that aims to develop intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to prepare students for a rapidly globalizing world. IB students, particularly at the Diploma Programme level, meet rigorous international standards of academic excellence. Annie Wright Upper Schools prepare students extraordinarily well for college, offering small classes, independent-minded peers and an exceptional faculty. Our challenging curriculum appeals to motivated students with a variety of learning styles, with learning support experts to address individual needs. Most importantly, Annie Wright prepares students for a lifetime of learning, instilling in our students genuine curiosity and the courage to ask questions, seek creative answers and meet the challenges of a rapidly-changing, complex and culturally-diverse world. The Upper Schools are committed to helping each student identify and define their particular passions within a context of service to someone or something beyond themselves, turning learning into meaningful action.

Department Director

Student/Teacher Ratio: 7:1

Average Class Size: 14

Summer Programs: Not Offered

Full Time Teachers: 36

Number of AP Courses Offered: 0

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 85.0%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 45.0

Learning Support

Evening Study Assistance
Learning Center
Learning Differences Support
Peer Tutoring
Study Skills Assistance
Subject Tutoring
Technology Center

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Playwriting
Poetry
Journalism

History

European History
Honors
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Mandarin
Spanish

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
World Issues
International Relations

Sciences

Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Ecology
Environmental Science
Physical Science
Physics
Sports Medicine

Math

Algebra
Calculus
Functions
Geometry
Honors Math
Probability
Statistics
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Pre-Algebra

Computer Studies

Computer Applications
Computer Programming
Computer Science
Robotics

Music

Individual Instructions
Orchestra
Songwriting

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Dance
Debate
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Fashion Design
Film and Video
Journalism
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Printmaking
Production
Publications
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Textiles
Theater Arts
Theater Design
Orchestra

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Exchange Programs
Leadership
Outdoor Education
Public Speaking
Student Council
Entrepreneurship
Robotics

Distinctive or New Programs

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) (s)Electives: robust activities program Student leadership Trips & retreats included as part of tuition

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 2

Average Students Per Dorm: 66

Number of Girls Dorms: 1

Number of Boys Dorms: 1

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet
Full Kitchen
Refrigerator

Other Dorm Amenities

pool gyms field gardens walking distance to shops and restaurants

Student Life

Students from around the state, country and world love to live and learn at Annie Wright Schools, where they develop deep friendships that last a lifetime. Boarding at Annie Wright is fun, safe and educational and a lot like living in a giant family. Our community makes up around half of the Upper School population, and the eight residential faculty – dorm parents – are dedicated to each student's well-being and academic success. Annie Wright Schools are nestled on a beautiful campus in the North End neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington, overlooking the Puget Sound. Shops and restaurants are a short walk away, and the city is near majestic national parks and Mt. Rainier. Tacoma is about 45 minutes south of Seattle and just 30 minutes from Sea-Tac airport. Dorm rooms are each unique, comfortable and spacious. Students enjoy shared kitchen facilities, media lounges and study spaces around the dorm. Its location right in our main building makes access to the dining hall, classrooms, library, gym and other campus facilities as easy as walking down the hall. Boarding prefects are selected in their senior year to work closely with resident staff to build a vibrant and nurturing dorm community. Each prefect is responsible for leading a specific dorm group, by way of facilitating weekly check-ins, planning community-building activities, designing “All-Dorm Fun” programming, and being an active listener, role model and advocate for all resident students. Residential life offers a wide variety of fun and engaging activities. Examples include: ice skating, skiing and snowboarding camping, hiking and rock climbing museum and city tours theater shows and sports events sushi making, tie-dying and even a real trapeze class spontaneous and planned game nights, movie nights, cookie baking, parties, shopping trips and more "All-Dorm Fun” events, organized by the prefects, which have included a Halloween murder mystery, a spring carnival, roller-skating, and more!

Facilities

Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Indoor Basketball Court
Indoor Climbing Wall
Indoor Pool
Pool
Technology Center
Volleyball Court

Other Facilities

Clubs & Organizations

Asian Club
Chess Club
Community Service
Debate Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Fencing Club
Foreign Language Clubs
Gardening Club
Habitat for Humanity
Honor Council
International Club
Literary Magazine
Math Club
Model UN
Newspaper
Outing Club
Peer Tutoring
Pep Club
Photography Club
Quiz Bowl
Sailing Club
Science Bowl
Sexualities Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Theater Club
Yearbook
Yoga Club

Arts & Athletics

Summary: ARTS The ARTS at Annie Wright Schools are about Skills, Stories, and People. Across the disciplines of visual arts, media arts, music performance, music production, technical theatre, theatre performance, and film, we cultivate the skills of each discipline so that we can more skillfully and powerfully uphold the stories, sounds, and images of our knowledge, perspectives, and identities. Annie Wright Upper Schools uphold spaces within & beyond the school day for students to develop skills and discipline as creative thinkers, generators, problem-solvers, technicians, collaborators, and expressors. Within the academic program, arts-based development in music and visual arts are guided through IB arts curricula and elective courses unique to Annie Wright Schools. Beyond the school day, students extend their interests in discipline-specific areas including orchestra, music production, theatre performance, theatre design & tech, visual arts, digital media, and cinematic storytelling. For more, visit https://www.aw.org/upper-school/arts. ATHLETICS Annie Wright Upper School teachers and coaches harbor a mentality of positivity, teamwork, inspiration, vision and goal-setting. Every Annie Wright student is a Gator, and there is a place on our teams for everyone, regardless of ability level. At the same time, we strive for excellence and set goals to win league championships for every team. Annie Wright Schools are a 1A classification member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) as a participant of the West Central District III and Nisqually League.

Arts Department Director: 003PH0000046zg1YAA

Athletics Department Director: 0035G00001crBO5QAM

Notable Achievements: Volleyball undefeated seasons in 2012 & 2013, Girls basketball went to state in 2019 & 2020, Basketball player on track to beat WA scoring rec

Arts

Acting
Dance
Debate
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Fashion Design
Film and Video
Journalism
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Printmaking
Production
Publications
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Textiles
Theater Arts
Theater Design
Orchestra

Interscholastic Sports

Basketball
Cross Country Running
Football
Golf
Outdoor Education
Soccer
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball

Recreational Sports

Basketball
Camping
Cross Country Running
Dance
Football
Golf
Hiking
Kayaking
Outdoor Education
Rock Climbing
Sailing
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball

Graduates

Summary: Annie Wright students can go anywhere and do anything after high school. No matter their goal - large research institution, small liberal arts college, international university, visual arts conservatory, service academy - the college counseling team is here to support them every step of the way. Preparation for the college admission process is embedded in the curriculum starting in Grade 9, allowing students to participate in activities that not only prepare them to be competitive for the process, but also to empower them to be strong students and engaged community members. College Counselors know and care deeply about each student as an individual, and can help them discover colleges where they will thrive. Year after year, an overwhelming number of recent graduates tell us they are happy with the support for the college process, as well as the outcome.

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100.0%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile
75th percentile

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Whitworth University: 2

Williams COllege: 1

Yale-NUS College: 1

Wesleyan University: 1

Western Washington University: 3

Whittier College: 1

Washington State University: 7

Washington University in St. Louis: 3

Wellesley College: 1

University of Wisconsin (Madison): 4

Vassar College: 1

Wake Forest University: 3

University of Vermont: 1

University of Washington: 12

University of Washington (Tacoma Campus): 1

University of the Pacific: 1

University of Toronto: 2

University of San Francisco: 4

University of Southern California: 6

University of Sussex: 1

University of Redlands: 7

University of Rochester: 2

University of San Diego: 3

The University of New Hampshire: 1

University of Oregon: 2

University of Portland: 2

University of Puget Sound: 1

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: 2

University of La Verne: 1

University of California (Santa Barbara): 2

University of Chicago: 2

University of Idaho: 2

University of California (Irvine): 3

University of California (Los Angeles): 2

University of California (Riverside): 1

University of California (Berkeley): 1

University of California (Davis): 5

Tufts University: 1

Tulane University: 1

University of British Columbia: 1

Stanford University: 1

Suffolk University: 1

Trinity College: 1

St. John's College (Santa Fe): 1

St. John's University: 1

St. Olaf College: 2

Southern University and A&M College: 1

St. Lawrence University: 1

St. Mary's College of Maryland: 1

Seattle University: 6

Skidmore College: 1

Southern Oregon University: 1

Savannah College of Art and Design: 1

School of the Art Institute of Chicago: 2

Scripps College: 2

Rhodes College: 1

San Diego State University: 2

Santa Clara University: 1

Purdue University: 1

Reed College: 2

Rensselaer Polytechnic University: 1

Pitzer College: 3

Pomona College: 2

Princeton University: 1

Occidental College: 3

Oregon State University: 1

Pacific Lutheran University: 4

Northeastern University: 1

NYU Shanghai: 1

Oberlin College: 1

Montana State University: 1

The New School: 4

New York University: 3

Michigan State University: 1

Middlebury College: 2

Mills College: 3

Lewis and Clark College: 2

Loyola Marymount University: 2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 1

Johns Hopkins University: 2

Lafayette College: 1

Lehigh University: 1

Hamilton College: 1

Hult International Business School: 1

Gonzaga University: 2

George Washington University: 3

Georgetown University: 1

Georgia State University: 1

Durham University: 1

Emerson University: 2

Florida Atlantic University: 1

Colby College: 1

Cornish College of the Arts: 1

DigiPen Institute of Technology: 1

Carnegie Mellon University: 1

Chapman University: 1

Clark University: 1

California Lutheran University: 2

California Polytechnic State University: 1

Carleton College: 1

Boston University: 8

Bandeis University: 2

Bryn Mawr College: 6

Barnard College: 1

Bates College: 1

Art Center College of Design: 1

American University: 2

Notable Alumni

Sally (Peterson) Atherton

Class of 1966

ED, Assoc for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology

Diane (Dapper) Freeman

Class of 1959

NASA aerospace ops dev, integration & support

Betty Garrett-Parks

Class of 1936

Actress, comedian, singer & dancer

Damani Leech

Class of 1994

COO, International, National Football League (NFL)

Amy Paulose

Class of 1995

President, AMES International, Inc

Merrill (Wagner) Ryman

Class of 1953

World-renowned artist

Lee Skinner

Class of 1986

Dean, Newcomb-Tulane College; Latin Am lit scholar

Erin (Fletcher) Slayton

Class of 1997

Vice President, HDR

Pamela Hyde Smith

Class of 1963

United States Ambassador

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 15.0%

Average Merit Scholarship: 5,000

Current Endowment Amount: $17,238,333

Interested in Annie Wright Schools?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 127

Total Day: 749

Total Enrollment: 876

Boys: 377

Girls: 495

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 5-4

School Type: Elementary, Middle, High School

Dress Code: Uniform

Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep

Application Deadline: Rolling

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $

5-Day Boarding: $44,150

Day Tuition Fee: $29,920

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 35.0%

Average Awarded: $8,500

School Finances

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 15.0%

Average Merit Scholarship: $5,000

Current Endowment Amount: $17,238,333

Contact

827 North Tacoma Avenue

Tacoma, Washington United States

253 284 8613

Director of Admissions: Cassandra Kopriva

Admissions Phone: 253 284 8613

Fax: 253-572-3616

Email: admission@aw.org

Website: www.aw.org

Nearby Schools

The Northwest School - 25mi / 40 km
St. Margaret’s School (BC) - 94mi / 151 km
Brentwood College School - 108mi / 174 km
Shawnigan Lake School - 111mi / 178 km
Queen Margaret’s School - 120mi / 193 km
St. George’s School (BC) - 141mi / 227 km