Annie Wright Schools

827 North Tacoma Ave

Tacoma, WA 98403

35 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 15, 2024

Very happy we chose AW for my two.First is academic rigor. It's no joke. A's are earned. Parent review below regarding its rigor is spot on.Second is support. One of my children had difficulty in the middle school, and admin/teachers spotted the issues early, got us involved, and she's thriving. She is so inspired by her teachers (Mssrs. Price and Firestein in particular).Third is college prep and reputation. We hired a college counselor (based in NY) to help our older student make some decisions. He was well aware of AW's reputation and spoke very highly of the school.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2024

My child no longer feels safe at Annie Wright due to instances of school violence. We’ll be finding another private school that values safety.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2024

We absolutely love this school. Our children have grown up here, in a loving, nurturing environment. The program has pushed and challenged them in ways we never thought possible. The growth we see in our now young adults is astounding. We feel so lucky to be part of this warm, caring, thriving community. And the opportunities available to all students, regardless of family income is also to be commended. Trips, technology, hands-on learning. Annie Wright has it all.
Submitted by student on October 02, 2023

Good school very fun very friendly eviroment good dorm good food
Submitted by other on January 19, 2023

Experiences at Annie Wright vary by perspectives. Ours was a positive one overall. AW is a small private school of high caliber teachers and administrators far more accessible than most schools anywhere. Our child was elated to experience genuine scholarly exchange throughout. Teachers truly impart knowledge when teaching. Because of the low teacher-to-student ratio, no child gets lost in fray of educational changes.Good performance is rewarded. Challenges are addressed. The community melds well. Round cafeteria seating makes it difficult to overlook anyone in social interactions. They are human; therefore...people.AW has an unenviable task of teaching lessons, guiding, and accommodating students and guardians alike. One AW undersold aspect is networking resources with other schools (e.g. sports). While certainly close-knit, AW is far more resourceful that expected. Staff includes Ivy League graduates who mentor all students to try their best without undo pressure. They are approachable. AW takes the time to get to know their students. No one leaves there 'a nobody'. Like many other schools, the pandemic presented challenges. AW was not an exception. Perhaps they weighed more heavily on precautionary measures than many desired. Would anyone prefer less safety for students? Lessons were learned in the process by all.The term "Wrap Around Education" describes Annie Wright with emphasis on the word education. It is not only academics. Students learn teamwork, compassion, challenge resolution and, perhaps, humor as well. Orchestrated fun activities happened there at all grade levels. Students held actual conversations. Annie Wright is, yes, a microcosm of what is occurring in education worldwide. Coming out of remote settings and redefining best case scenarios is hard. It is as varied as the student populations they strive to teach. AW accepts the challenge head on with care.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2022

My son attended this school as a 7-day boarder last year, and he reported bad food, no support for his mental health, and a slew of problems that were not addressed by the teachers. The school is severely overpriced, with us paying $70,000 for boarding and education while providing a below-average education comparable to that of any public school. Any reasonable parent who wishes to save money should avoid this money grab masquerading as a school. Save your child's and your own money, mental health, and time. I'm not sure how it's the greatest private school in Washington.
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2022

Our son attended the Upper School for Boys this past year as a five-day boarder. While there were some positive aspects to his experience, specifically the dorm parent team and several of the teachers and coaches, there were quite a few drawbacks. The leadership at the school spends lots of time talking about lofty ideals and writing long missives in the weekly newsletter rather than creating systems for effective communication or implementation of plans. The Head of the Upper School for Boys, Jeremy Stubbs, is mercurial and made many missteps in handling issues that arose at the school over the course of the year - and the Head of School, Jake Guadnola, didn't do much better. As a result, our son and several other boys are not returning. Annie Wright School, at least in the Upper School for Boys, just didn't live up to its promises and stated ideals, especially around diversity and inclusion. We think our son can get a better education, one that truly prepares him for the real world, at our local public high school.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2021

The school is overpriced, it offers an education level similar to public schools. Students deal with a series of problems but nothing seems to be done to help them. mental health of students seemed to be ignored even after directly addressing problems to teachers.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2021

All they care is MONEY, how they look, appearance.Education is average, doesn’t worth money.They also asked question if you are “people of color”, which, I never saw on check list of school application. White privilege, fancy bubble school.If you really care about your child’s academic development, this is not the place. After we transfer to more academically focused school, our kid is delighted for love of learning. Obviously, AWS is very slow.Of course some staff are nice but most of them, they never apologize when they make mistakes. Sometimes, when welcoming students in the morning, teachers are talking each other and ignore students. If you ride on the luxury car, can give them a lot of donations, being white, care about being fancy, this is the school for your child.
Submitted by parent on July 01, 2021

This school is amazing. Our daughter has been attending Annie Wright for the past 2 school years. Her social and emotional growth has been amazing to watch. The teachers and assistants are wonderful with the children and nurture them. We could not recommend this school enough. We have had experience with public schools the difference between the two is hard to miss. If you are a hands on parent and like to be involved in your child's schooling, this is the place for you.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2020

Annie Wright has been an amazing experience for my daughters. They've been to both public and private schools; nowhere did the support come anything close to that of Annie Wright.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2020

The word "tremendous" is the first descriptor that comes to mind. My student thrived in this loving, caring, warm, rigorous, challenging environment. My student is ready and excited about going to college feeling confident that she is well prepared.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2020

We can't imagine a more appropriate high school experience for our daughter, who found academic rigor in a warm, loving, even familial setting. The education she received at the Annie Wright Upper School for Girls helped secure her a spot at an elite university.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2020

Top scores, 5-Stars, nothing negative to say.
Submitted by other on April 22, 2020

Classes are comparable to those at the public schools. Overpriced. Not worth paying.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2020

Certainly not worth the price of tuition. Save your time, money and child's soul. PS - they can ask you to be a part of their program, then ask you to leave a few weeks in the school year, without merit, and you are still on the hook for FULL tuition for the entire year. This has happened to many families within our community. Do not be fooled. They do not serve the community, as they try to claim. The demographics of their Upper School proves that.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2019

Amazing! We love being a part of this amazing community.
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2019

Great cirriculum and my child thrived academically
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2019

Our kids have been at Annie Wright since they were 3 and they have absolutely thrived. The curriculum is amazing, offering Spanish, swim, and more - starting in preschool. We love the school and community, and are especially glad that our sons can attend all the way through 12th grade now. Annie Wright is hands-down the best school in the Puget Sound!
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2019

My boys have been at Annie Wright since Preschool and have had an amazing experience. One of my sons has a learning disability, and the school has gone out of its way to teach him how to advocate for himself, find strategies that work and differentiate for him as needed. When asked in Grade 8 if they wanted to transition to a different school for high school, both of them emphatically said no! Finding a school that is the best fit for your child is key, and Annie Wright might certainly be the one for your family!