Annie Wright Schools are located in beautiful Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school.
Annie Wright Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool-Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options in Grades 9-12. Five- and seven-day boarding options attract students from around the world.
AWS is proud to be an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, delivering IB programs in every division.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
- Grades: (Day Students) PK-12
- Enrollment: 900 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,225
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $36,250
- Average class size: 17 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 24 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School News
- 2024 grad sought father’s approval, but found his own path - 06/15/2024Adwaya Bage's father treasured his boarding school years in his native India and wanted his son to have a similar experience at Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma. The small boarding ...moreschool gave Bage, 18, the opportunity to be independent and learn who he was. hide
- Announcing the IB Global Alliance - 11/17/2023The nature of the IB program provides rich soil for cross-school collaboration, and we are eager to delve into these spaces as we build relationships with other IB partners across ...morethe globe hide
Top Rankings
Annie Wright Schools ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
9-12
Grades Offered (Day)
PK-12
6-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1884
1907
Campus Size
10 acres
125 acres
Colors
Navy Blue, Gold
Student Body
Enrollment
900 students
319 students
% Students of Color
57%
27%
% International Students
16%
21%
% Students Boarding
16%
67%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
7:1
Number of IB Courses Offered
20
-
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
41%
72%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$36.8 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$77,225
(7-day boarding)
(7-day boarding)
$66,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$36,250
(Listed tuition is day students in grades 9-12. Please visit our website for tuition information: www.aw.org)
(Listed tuition is day students in grades 9-12. Please visit our website for tuition information: www.aw.org)
$35,500
Yearly Tuition
(5 Day Boarding)
(5 Day Boarding)
$54,500
$49,300
% Students on Financial Aid
35%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$14,850
(Need based aid requires Clarity application)
(Need based aid requires Clarity application)
$25,000
Admissions
Application Deadline
Jan. 24 / rolling
Jan. 15
Director of Admissions
Cassandra Kopriva
Abby Drivdahl
Abby Drivdahl
Application URL
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
18
Courses
IB 20th Century History SL & HL, IB Art SL & HL, IB Biology 1, IB Biology 2, IB Business, IB Computer Science, IB Economics, IB English IV: Language & Literature 1, IB English IV: Language & Literature 2, IB Environmental Science and Systems, IB Global Politics 1 & 2, IB Mandarin AB Initio SL, IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL & HL, IB Math Applications and Interpretations, IB Music SL or HL, IB Physics, IB Spanish AB initio SL, IB Spanish SL 1 & 2
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
10
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
24
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
affinity clubs (including Latinx/Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese, & Vietnamese), Automotive Arts, Black Student Union, Business, Coding, Community, Creative Writing, Crochet, Dance Team, Debate, Dungeons & Dragons, Gender & Sexuality, Inkwell student magazine, Investment, Knitting, Mock Trial, Model UN, Nature, Philosophy, Physics, Sports Medicine, Stage Fashion, STEM, Student Government
affinity clubs (including Latinx/Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese, & Vietnamese), Automotive Arts, Black Student Union, Business, Coding, Community, Creative Writing, Crochet, Dance Team, Debate, Dungeons & Dragons, Gender & Sexuality, Inkwell student magazine, Investment, Knitting, Mock Trial, Model UN, Nature, Philosophy, Physics, Sports Medicine, Stage Fashion, STEM, Student Government
College Matriculation
College Acceptance Rate
100%
Year: 2000 - 2024
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
University of Washington
104
New York University
48
Stanford University
45
University of California - Los Angeles
44
University of Southern California
44
Yale University
41
Harvard University
34
Brown University
33
University of California - Berkeley
33
Boston University
31
School Notes
- School Motto: From Strength to Strength
- At Annie Wright, we celebrate each student's unique strengths and learning style and we also recognize that boys and girls often learn differently. Our Upper School program offers a coordinate model that enables boys and girls in Grades 9-12 to study in a single-gender academic environment with opportunities for shared co-ed activities and social interactions outside of the classroom.
- Annie Wright Schools is rated #1 Best K-12 Private school in Washington, #1 Boarding School in Washington, and #3 most diverse Private school in Washington.
- As an International Baccalaureate (IB World School) with an emphasis on inquiry, communication, meaningful action, and global-mindedness Annie Wright Schools develop the whole student with measurable outcomes for students and teachers throughout IB programs. As one of less than 20 IB continuum schools in the United States, and the only one in the state of Washington, Annie Wright offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Preschool-Grade 5, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6-8 and Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11-12.
- Annie Wright's Great Outdoor Adventure Team Program (GOAT) encourages students to immerse themselves in the extraordinatory outdoors of the Pacific Northwest with transformative programs throughout the academic year. Experience the thrill of white water rafting, summit Mt. St. helens, master rock climbing, and earn certificates along the way. Students explore Mount Rainter and Olympic National parks, dozens of state recreation areas, forests, and Puget Sound. Our programs cater to students interests, ensuring a personalized journey of discovery, all within the supportive environment of our boarding school community.
- Annie Wright Schools accreditations: NWAIS, IB, TABS, ICGS, ICBS, NAIS
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Betty Garrett-Parks, '36 - Actress, comedian, singer & dancer
- Mary McCarthy - Author
- Eloise Mumford - Actress
- Sally (Peterson) Atherton, '66 - ED, Assoc for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology
- Diane (Dapper) Freeman, '59 - NASA aerospace ops dev, integration & support
- Damani Leech, '90 (Middle School) - President, Denver Broncos
- Amy Paulose, '95 - President, AMES International, Inc
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Annie Wright Schools cost?
Annie Wright Schools's tuition is approximately $77,225 for boarding students and $36,250 for day students.
Who are famous alumni from Annie Wright Schools?
Annie Wright Schools famous alumni include: Betty Garrett-Parks, '36, Mary McCarthy, Eloise Mumford, Sally (Peterson) Atherton, '66, Diane (Dapper) Freeman, '59, Damani Leech, '90 (Middle School) and Amy Paulose, '95.
What sports does Annie Wright Schools offer?
Annie Wright Schools offers 10 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Annie Wright Schools's ranking?
Annie Wright Schools ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High average SAT scores and High ACT scores.
When is the application deadline for Annie Wright Schools?
The application deadline for Annie Wright Schools is Jan. 24 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 24 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Related Schools
Show me:
People that viewed Annie Wright Schools also viewed these schools: Admiral Farragut Academy, Ashbury College, Baylor School, Bodwell High School and Asheville School.
The nearest boarding school to Annie Wright Schools is St. Michaels University School (91.0 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Grades
Students
467 students 2519.8 miles 501 Park Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
(727) 384-5504
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
(727) 384-5504
2519.8
8-12
K-12
K-12
467
750 students 2200.6 miles 362 Mariposa Avenue
Ottawa, Canada K1M 0T3
(613) 749-9630
Ottawa, Canada K1M 0T3
(613) 749-9630
2200.6
9-12
4-12
4-12
750
1,050 students 2081.1 miles 171 Baylor School Road
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 267-5902
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 267-5902
2081.1
9-12
6-12
6-12
1,050
550 students 144.4 miles 955 Harbourside Drive
North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7P 3S4
(604) 998-1000
North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7P 3S4
(604) 998-1000
144.4
8-12
550
297 students 2188.1 miles 360 Asheville School Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 254-6345
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 254-6345
2188.1
9-12
297
Recent Articles
Wait A Year Before Going to College
This article explores the benefits of taking a gap year or a postgraduate year before attending college. It discusses how these options can provide students with additional time to refine their academic skills, gain practical experience, and mature before entering higher education. The article highlights the advantages of both paths, including improved college readiness and enhanced personal growth.
The St. Grottlesex Schools
Generous financial aid and a commitment to diversity are hallmarks of the 21st century release of St. Grottlesex. More here.
Financing a Boarding School Education
Financing a boarding school education can be very confusing for many parents. Here are some strategies to help you understand your options.
