The Northwest School

1415 Summit Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122

The Northwest School Photo #1 - The Northwest School is a thriving and exciting place to learn. Step into our historic main building and our new vibrant facilities in downtown Seattle, and you will see energy and enthusiasm emanating from every classroom, lab, and studio at all hours of the day.

The Northwest School Photo #2 - We believe that students who have been truly engaged by a community of scholars, artists, and international peers will graduate with an insatiable love of learning, a respect for diverse opinions and beliefs, the knowledge to navigate critical and complex ideas.

The Northwest School Photo #3 - We are a school that fosters a love of and respect of ideas, and a place that teaches its students to think and synthesize. This is most evident in our Humanities programs. Using original source materials and works of classical and contemporary literature this series of courses connects history, literature, philosophy, political science and history.

The Northwest School Photo #4 - We challenge students to both think and pursue possibilities as if they were working scientists. Through open-ended lab work, our students discover multiple ways to explore and test concepts, and, most importantly, learn how to frame relevant and productive questions.

The Northwest School Photo #5 - We provide a comprehensive math program with highly traditional curriculum and strong foundational elements. Students are encouraged to engage in a broad spectrum of mathematics classes, from Algebra to Advanced Calculus and Statistics.

The Northwest School Photo #6 - We have always believed that incorporating art into every area of study deepens both learning and joy. This is the way students retain their creative essence as they venture into adult lives.

The Northwest School Photo #7 - Northwest is known for hiring practicing artists as teachers. Our faculty exhibit in galleries and major art shows, publish poetry and photography books, direct professional theatre productions, and perform music at Tula's and Benaroya Hall.

The Northwest School Photo #8 - Teamwork, dedication, discipline, and sportsmanship are at the core of our athletics program. We provide athletic opportunities for all with varsity and junior varsity teams in basketball, cross country, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and Ultimate Frisbee.

The Northwest School Photo #9 - While we enjoy a well-earned reputation for fair play, we are equally proud of our significant achievements in interscholastic competition, including more than 40 tournament, league, state, and national championships.

The Northwest School Photo #10 - The Outdoor Program offers a schedule of one-day and weekend-long trips throughout the year. These trips are designed to develop life-long recreational skills and habits that are safe and ecologically sound, with an emphasis on environmental ethics.

The Northwest School is a co-ed, middle and high school with a student population of about 500 students.

Located in downtown Seattle, The Northwest School offers a college preparatory experience grounded in vigorous study. Its challenging curriculum teaches students to discover the connections between historic, scientific, and artistic fields of knowledge. The school has a national reputation as a vibrant intellectual community and has been recognized by the US Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

More informaion in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Indonesian, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Turkish can be found here>>>>

Quick Stats (2023)

Grades: (Boarding) 9-12
Enrollment: 460 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $65,690
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $46,585
Acceptance rate: 48%
Average class size: 16 students
Application Deadline: Dec. 11 / Feb. 12 / rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Northwest School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 298 schools) for:

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2022 School Data

The Northwest School

Boarding School Avg.

School Focus

College Preparatory

Grades Offered (Boarding)

9-12

5-12

Grades Offered (Day)

6-12

Pre-K-12

School Type

Co-ed

Supports Learning Differences (LD)

Yes

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1980

1906

Campus Size

2 acres

125 acres

School Calendar

Link to School Calendar

Student Body

Enrollment

460 students

310 students

% Students of Color

30%

25%

% International Students

16%

20%

% Students Boarding

11%

70%

Average SAT Score

1340

* National Avg. »View

SAT range (25th-75th percentile)

1210 - 1470

Average ACT score

*National Avg. »View

Offers Post-Grad Year

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Average Class Size

16 students

* National Avg. »18

Student : Teacher Ratio

6:1

7:1

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

47%

71%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

Link to Summer Program Details

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size

$9 million

$25 million

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$65,690
(Boarding fee $19,105 Includes room and board )

$61,400

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$46,585
($46,585 Includes tuition ($44,560), lunch ($1,450), health insurance ($575))

$33,900

% Students on Financial Aid

15%

40%

Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$27,000

$25,000

Merit Scholarships Offered

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline

Dec. 11 / Feb. 12 / rolling

Jan. 15

Accepts Standardized Application

Yes

SSAT Required

Yes

Average Percentile SSAT

79%

Acceptance Rate

48%

58%

Director of Admissions

Michelle Sanchez

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

n/a

Courses

Advanced Calculus, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Drawing, Advanced English Composition, Advanced Photography, Advanced Spanish

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Sports

Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Club or Organization:
Asian Art Club, Badminton Club, Black Student Union, GLAM, Habitat for Humanity, International Student Union, Math Club, Model UN, Outdoor Program, Programming Interest Group, The Cooking Space

College Matriculation

Year: 2015 - 2019

10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)

University of Washington

Western Washington University

Whitman College

Colorado College

Macalester College

Scripps College

Seattle University

University of Redland

Boston University

Occidental College

Link to Matriculation Data

School Notes

The Northwest School campus is anchored in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood of downtown Seattle. The school`s urban campus is surrounded by many art studios, museums, concert halls and theaters. The campus is just a few minutes` walk from the shore of the Pacific Ocean, famous Pike Place Market, the first Starbucks coffee shop, the Paramount Theater, the Pacific Science Center, the Space Needle and many other cultural landmarks and recreational activities.
The Northwest School is the only school in Seattle with a co-ed international boarding program. The school`s dormitory located on campus offers a safe environment in which faculty and students work together to create a community that supports personal growth. The faculty help students gain communication, conflict resolution, and academic skills, while living together in a joyful, vibrant learning community.
The Northwest School`s unique interdisciplinary program of studies consist of an integrated humanities program, applied mathematics, science, language study, visual and performing arts experiences, and athletic competition. The school offers 55 art courses in Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts taught by professional artists. It fields 30 teams in Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, Track and Field, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Graduates of The Northwest School attend some of the top universities in the nation and abroad. Every year representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities from across the United States visit the school to recruit NWS students. All school`s graduates are admitted to universities and colleges.
NWS students are actively engaged in sports, the arts, community projects, and outdoor activities. The Northwest School provides many opportunities for students to experience the natural environment beyond the city, through sea kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, hiking, biking and camping. The Outdoor Program offers a schedule of day and weekend-long trips throughout the year.
The Northwest School accreditations: NWAIS, NAIS, TABS, NSLA, PBC, NBOA, DIEN, the National Summer Learning Association
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Emmett Shear - American internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV. He is the Chief executive officer of Twitch. [2] He's also a part-time partner at venture capital firm Y Combinator.[3] Shear is also co-foun
- Stone Gossard - Musician, co-founder of American rock band Pearl Jam.
- Liz Mair - Political strategist

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Northwest School cost?

The Northwest School's tuition is approximately $65,690 for boarding students and $46,585 for day students.

What is the acceptance rate of The Northwest School?

The acceptance rate of The Northwest School is 48%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%.

Who are famous alumni from The Northwest School?

The Northwest School famous alumni include: Emmett Shear, Stone Gossard and Liz Mair.

What sports does The Northwest School offer?

The Northwest School offers 6 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball.

Does The Northwest School offer a summer program?

Yes, The Northwest School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What is The Northwest School's ranking?

The Northwest School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High SSAT scores.

When is the application deadline for The Northwest School?

The application deadline for The Northwest School is Dec. 11 / Feb. 12 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 11 / Feb. 12 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

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