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Learn, grow, and thrive at Annie Wright Schools
Imagine being one of just 17 students in a classroom, where your teacher knows your name, understands your strengths, and supports the dreams you’re working towards – no matter how niche. Each day, you sit between classmates from 15 countries, exchanging perspectives and opening your world to new cultures and ideas. Learning beyond textbooks, you develop new passions – be it in a 25-yard indoor pool or a state-of-the art science lab.
This is what life feels like at Annie Wright Schools. Founded in 1884, the private school is located in the beautiful North End neighbourhood of Tacoma, Washington. From Lower School (Preschool to Grade 5) to Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) and Upper School (Grades 9 to 12), every stage builds on the last. Co-educational programmes are available in the Lower and Middle Schools, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options. No matter where you join the journey, you’ll find the support you need to explore, grow, and become a well-educated, creative, and responsible citizen of society.
Learning the IB way
As an International Baccalaureate World School, AWS offers programmes that teach you to think critically, set goals and pursue them, and build the confidence to advocate for yourself. The IB path starts with the Primary Years Programme (PYP), builds through the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and finishes with the Diploma Programme (DP). In Grades 11 and 12, every student takes IB courses, and you get to decide whether to go for the full IB Diploma.
Since introducing the IB DP in 2009, Annie Wright has built a legacy of guiding students toward their fullest potential. Year after year, IB candidates celebrate success with an 88% pass rate (the international average is 78.5%).
When class ends, discovery begins
At AWS, there is plenty of room for curiosity, adventure, and play through:
Ask any student who’s joined the (s)Elective programme, and they’ll tell you it’s something they’ll never forget. For some, it meant flying to Seattle for a conference. For others, it was trips to Japan, England, and Rwanda. Whatever the destination, you can take part in a community engagement project to uncover new passions, perspectives, and skills.
(s)Elective programme
Travel offerings
AWS's local, national, and global travel offerings open doors for you to challenge your worldview. The best part? Every school trip, including local inquiry visits and overnights, Upper School retreats, expeditions, and (s)Elective travel, is included in tuition.
Boarding at Annie Wright Schools is an experience in itself. Each dorm room is unique, but all are spacious and comfortable. You can hang out with other boarders in the kitchen, media lounges, and study spaces. And because dorms are located inside the main building, everything you need, such as the dining hall, library, classrooms, gym, and other campus facilities, is only a short walk away.
Boarders are supported by eight residential faculty members (or dorm parents). They help with schoolwork, provide transportation, and organise cultural trips, leadership opportunities, and recreational trips, including:
Washington’s best boarding school
- Ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding
- Camping, hiking, and rock climbing
- Museum and city tours
- Theatre shows and sports events
- Sushi making, tie-dying, and even a real trapeze class
- Spontaneous and planned game nights, movie nights, cookie baking, parties, and, shopping trips
- "All-Dorm Fun” events, which have included a Halloween murder mystery, a spring carnival, roller-skating, an evening at a water park, and a trip to the Washington State Fair
Adventure awaits
Step outside and discover more with AWS’s Great Outdoor Adventure Team (GOAT). Created especially for boarders, this (s)Elective is all about exploring the outdoors, building leadership skills, and making memories with friends you’ll have for life.
I am from Beijing, China, and I’ve been a boarder at AWS for four years. What I love most about AWS is the incredibly supportive community, the close connections I’ve built with friends and teachers, and the wide variety of opportunities that have allowed me to explore my interests and passions. Living in Tacoma has been exciting and enjoyable, as it’s very different from where I used to live, and the dorms have given me the chance to explore the city and experience new things. Being part of the AWS boarding community has given me a strong sense of belonging and family, with peers and dorm parents who genuinely care and support me. Some of my fondest memories are All Dorm Fun events, especially Dorm Olympics, which bring everyone together through a variety of activities that create lasting memories. My favourite tradition is May Day, which celebrates the growth and accomplishments of each class and gives me the chance to reflect on my own journey while being inspired by the seniors preparing for their next chapter.
Jasmine Zhao, Senior
During my five years at AWS, I’ve been able to travel to Greece — including Athens, Delphi, and some islands — Windhoek, Namibia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Los Angeles, California; and I will be traveling to Tokyo and Kyoto for a (s)Elective trip next year. Some of my fondest memories come from the bonding experiences I shared with friends, whether riding sand dunes in Namibia, exploring Buenos Aires, watching sunsets in Greece, or visiting rocket labs in LA. On these trips, I learned a lot about different cultures and found it fascinating that, despite growing up in such different places, people share universal hobbies and connections that made me feel right at home. I think the variety of travel offerings at AWS is incredible, especially with new options like the Thailand Global Alliance exchange, and I appreciate how selective trips connect meaningfully with what we’re learning. To any student considering the travel programme, I’d say go for it — it’s an unforgettable experience, and my friends and I still laugh about the funny stories and special moments from our trips.
Aiden Cai, Senior
I chose to be in the Community (s)Elective because I deeply care about building a welcoming community that all students feel a part of. When I was in middle school, many of my role models were members, and I looked up to them as leaders who uplifted AWS. My favourite part of the (s)Elective programme is that students get an opportunity outside of school to meet others who enjoy the same niches and build connections across tie-colours based on shared passions. I’ve learned to hold myself accountable for my mistakes because when I let something slip, the whole group is impacted, but working together and holding each other accountable only makes us stronger. Some of my strongest friendships and mentorships have been born out of this (s)Elective, and the family we build outside of home has become important to me. At the end of the day, (s)Elective is something I always look forward to.
Alice Gabrielson, Junior
Hear from the students
I am from Beijing, China, and I’ve been a boarder at AWS for four years. What I love most about AWS is the incredibly supportive community, the close connections I’ve built with friends and teachers, and the wide variety of opportunities that have allowed me to explore my interests and passions. Living in Tacoma has been exciting and enjoyable, as it’s very different from where I used to live, and the dorms have given me the chance to explore the city and experience new things. Being part of the AWS boarding community has given me a strong sense of belonging and family, with peers and dorm parents who genuinely care and support me. Some of my fondest memories are All Dorm Fun events, especially Dorm Olympics, which bring everyone together through a variety of activities that create lasting memories. My favourite tradition is May Day, which celebrates the growth and accomplishments of each class and gives me the chance to reflect on my own journey while being inspired by the seniors preparing for their next chapter.
Jasmine Zhao, Senior
During my five years at AWS, I’ve been able to travel to Greece — including Athens, Delphi, and some islands — Windhoek, Namibia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Los Angeles, California; and I will be traveling to Tokyo and Kyoto for a (s)Elective trip next year. Some of my fondest memories come from the bonding experiences I shared with friends, whether riding sand dunes in Namibia, exploring Buenos Aires, watching sunsets in Greece, or visiting rocket labs in LA. On these trips, I learned a lot about different cultures and found it fascinating that, despite growing up in such different places, people share universal hobbies and connections that made me feel right at home. I think the variety of travel offerings at AWS is incredible, especially with new options like the Thailand Global Alliance exchange, and I appreciate how selective trips connect meaningfully with what we’re learning. To any student considering the travel programme, I’d say go for it — it’s an unforgettable experience, and my friends and I still laugh about the funny stories and special moments from our trips.
Aiden Cai, Senior
I chose to be in the Community (s)Elective because I deeply care about building a welcoming community that all students feel a part of. When I was in middle school, many of my role models were members, and I looked up to them as leaders who uplifted AWS. My favourite part of the (s)Elective programme is that students get an opportunity outside of school to meet others who enjoy the same niches and build connections across tie-colours based on shared passions. I’ve learned to hold myself accountable for my mistakes because when I let something slip, the whole group is impacted, but working together and holding each other accountable only makes us stronger. Some of my strongest friendships and mentorships have been born out of this (s)Elective, and the family we build outside of home has become important to me. At the end of the day, (s)Elective is something I always look forward to.
Alice Gabrielson, Junior
Jasmine (far right)
An enriching education awaits at Annie Wright Schools.
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