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. Annie Wright Schools are nestled in the beautiful North End neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington. The historic campus was named Most Beautiful Private School in Washington State by Architectural Digest. And though our campus and building are, indeed, beautiful, it’s what’s happening inside our building that is pure magic. We hope you’ll take a moment to learn more about Annie Wright Schools, our program, and the people that make up our strong and vibrant community.
Annie Wright is an International Baccalaureate World School and is fully authorized to deliver the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Lower School. The PYP is a transdisciplinary curriculum that addresses children’s needs holistically, focusing on developing them as inquirers, both in the classroom and the outside world. We believe that a strong, inquiry-based curriculum is essential for our mission to cultivate individual learners to become well-educated, creative, and responsible citizens for a global society, and so that our students may thrive in the 21st century. Students acquire knowledge, explore concepts, and learn and apply skills in a program that is relevant and challenging. They learn how to learn and how to take responsible action to create a better world.
The Middle School provides students with a sound academic foundation in a supportive environment, where structure and routine are balanced with the freedom to explore and develop individually. At AWS, we intentionally celebrate the years between elementary and high school as a time when our students grow dramatically in their independence, in their ability to think globally, and in their desire to make connections and define who they are as individuals. Our extraordinary teachers, unique experiences, and student-centered program create a supportive and encouraging community as students embark on their MS journey through the lens of the International Baccalaureate.
While Annie Wright is a co-ed Upper School, our boys and girls are educated separately. Annie Wright was originally an all-girls school, and when the Upper School for Boys opened in 2019, it added tremendous value to the overall high school experience while allowing us to maintain the benefits of a differentiated learning environment. We’ve found that this model creates a more focused and engaging classroom experience for all Upper School students. It also allows for exceptionally small class sizes—some as small as four to six students—which helps foster strong relationships between students and teachers and encourages active participation in the classroom. Ultimately, we believe this approach gives both boys and girls the opportunity to thrive in environments designed to support their learning and growth.
