Charles Wright Academy

7723 Chambers Creek Road West

Tacoma, WA 98467

66 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 17, 2024

Charles Wright is BACK! The school went through some challenges but the new leadership team has invigorated the community and faculty, staff, parents, and students are rallying behind them. My child is having a great experience. Amazing teachers. Breathtaking campus. The experiential education program is second-to-none. A year ago I couldn't recommend CWA, but now I'm telling the world about how great it is. If you're looking at independent schools in the Tacoma area, you definitely need to check out Charles Wright Academy.
Submitted by other on December 05, 2024

If you’re looking for an educational institution that values its mission and the people who make it happen, Charles Wright Academy is truly a special place — now more than ever. I’m proud to be part of this community. I'm proud to be a Tarrier!As one can tell from past reviews, under previous leadership, the work environment often felt tense and discouraging, with little room for error. It brought heightened states of anxiety, and many felt the weight of a toxic culture that didn’t align with the mission and values that initially drew us to CWA. But everything changed with our new Interim Head of School. The new leadership is a breath of fresh air, bringing a spirit of openness, empathy, and care to the community. There is a renewed focus on collaboration and creating a culture of mutual respect. It’s evident that the Interim Head of School is not only committed to the success of the students but also to the well-being and growth of employees. The transformation has been remarkable. Morale seems to be higher, communication is more transparent than before, and employees are being invested in again. It’s exciting to come to work now knowing that I’m trusted to do my job as a professional.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2024

Charles Wright Academy is not the school it was when our family started attending years ago. What was once a vibrant, respectful, inspiring, and safe community is a place where families and staff operate in a state of fear and retaliation by leadership. We have seen a majority of wonderful teachers and educators leave or get fired (or contracts “not renewed because of fit”) in the past few years. And now families are leaving hand over foot. The head of school, Susan Rice, has dismantled this community with incredibly toxic leadership and there is no coming back from that as long as she is in charge. She operates like a true dictator and if you give any criticism, you are out. We won’t be coming back for the long-term if she continues to “lead” the school because there will be no school left to lead.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2024

Sadly, Charles Wright Academy is going through some very rough and scary times. There has been a massive--almost 90% turn-over in all levels of the school, both administration and teachers not to mention a lot of families leaving or not coming back. Almost all of the Board has been replaced and new board members are personally appointed by Susan Rice, Head of School. This has created a very dangerous gap in transparency and accountability. The Board is either unwilling or unable to provide the governance to address an overwhelming number of concerns and complaints over the past few years about the Head of the School. We eventually sent a letter to the Board sharing our concerns and have not heard back other than a response letting us know they received our letter and were working on a response. We looked for a Compliance Officer at the school who could independently monitor and provide a safe and effective route for complaints and investigations but we have found none. Very concerning, is we can't see anyone on the current Board with a legal, ethics, or HR background either. We are very perplexed that the Board doesn't have an open channel to the parents or even the Family Association. Now it is the end of the school year, we have already committed to one more year financially, but we cannot see ourselves returning after this next year if we do not see an immediate response from the Board to stop all the chaos and instability we see and feel. We love so much about the school and really hope they will turn things around before it's too late.
Submitted by student on June 01, 2024

I have been apart of CWA for 7 years. I feel supported by all of the amazing teachers. I feel happy everyday and feel academically supported the moment I step into the school. I think that the Head of School Susan Rice is a great addition. She is kind, welcoming, and treats everyone with respect. I would recommend this school to everyone.
Submitted by student on June 01, 2024

I am a student here in the middle school, I wake up every morning willing to start the day and go to school. I dont only learn academically at CWA but I learn emotionally, mentally, and physically. Charles Wright Academy has supported me through every challenge that I have had. I will always recommend this school. Going to CWA for more than 6 1/2 year I have always had the teachers to support me. The head of school, Susan Rice is an amazing addition to this school. With all of the changed she has shaped this school into something that kids love to wake up and go to.
Submitted by teacher on May 26, 2024

At Charles Wright Academy, I've learned to remain silent and refrain from advocating for myself, as doing so leads to being ostracized and monitored closely. The work environment is toxic, leaving me feeling undervalued and unsafe. The high turnover rate reflects the pervasive issues. The school's leadership fails to prioritize the well-being of its faculty and staff, and instead, major issues are downplayed or blamed on others. My grievances include delayed W2 forms, delayed reimbursements, and budgetary constraints hindering classroom resources. With an annual salary lower than that of public school teachers, the lack of support and transparency is disheartening. I cannot recommend this school to others; it's a toxic environment that prioritizes appearances over the well-being of its employees.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2024

Being part of the CWA community for the past six years has been an incredible journey. CWA is a place that celebrates our son’s achievements, whether they occur within the classroom or beyond. Our son has flourished both academically and athletically, and the camaraderie among the parents in his cohort is truly inspiring. As we look forward to the transition to Middle School next year, our excitement only grows!Choosing a school for our child is a privilege that we don’t take for granted. At CWA, children are at the heart of every decision. It’s a community where everyone strives to excel, always keeping the best interests of the kids in mind. While no school is perfect, the commitment to our children’s well-being at CWA is unwavering.As a parent, I can confidently say that CWA is not your typical school. If you’re looking for a static environment where every child receives a cookie-cutter experience, this isn’t the place. CWA embraces the dynamic nature of growth and change. While honoring and respecting traditions, the school does not limit itself or remain stagnant in their name. Our dedicated faculty and staff encourage our kids to step outside their comfort zones, try new things, and learn from both successes and failures. We are unafraid to tackle tough challenges, even when they are unpopular. This is a place where innovation and growth thrive, and we feel incredibly grateful to be part of this inspiring journey. We couldn’t be more thrilled with our family’s experience here!
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2024

The school's responses to the negative reviews are inaccurate. Complaints have been brought to Administration and the Board in many ways over the past several years including emails, conversations, surveys, and exit interviews to name a few. In my experience (and all of them were not anonymous) they have been either not responded to, not followed up on and/or dismissed. What has become clear is an organization who will not take a critical eye and evaluate what potentially could be going on to improve or address the concerns and negative experiences families and employees have had. If more time was spent actually communicating and having open dialogue with families and employees rather than monitoring websites and sending blanket rose-colored emails they would find a lot more success and progress on getting the school back on track and less divided. There is a lot of mention of the amount of turnover of staff/employees (which is valid, accurate and very concerning) but people should also know the same amount of turnover has occurred with families/students. Pay particular attention to middle school and upper school as their enrollment rates are significantly lower where some of the grades have less than 30 students. Families do not expect faculty to stay forever and it is understood there will be turnover but at this school it has been rampant. The Board and Admin should be doing as much as they possibly can to understand why employees and families are leaving, and what they can do to retain them.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2024

My children have attended Charles Wright for the past decade. During that time, they have developed an incredible love of learning through hands-on activities, experiential education, and personal connections with their teachers. One of the greatest testaments to the value of the school is the way they talk about it. Their faces light up when they tell me about a recent science experiment, a new art project, how a coach encouraged them, or an upcoming field trip they can’t wait to attend. In a time, when many schools are cutting back on enrichment, Charles Wright is investing even more time, energy, and resources to create meaningful learning opportunities on and off campus. As with any institution, there are still ways to grow and improve. As it continues to evolve, the school is actively working to incorporate feedback from families and community members, which I appreciate. We are incredibly grateful for the solid foundation our children have received and know that it will continue to benefit them for many years to come.
Submitted by teacher on May 17, 2024

I have worked with CWA over the past several years and having worked across various divisions at Charles Wright Academy, I've always been impressed by the faculty's dedication. The support from the head of school, and leadership throughout each division, not to mention all of the top notch team that work behind the scenes is somewhere I can continue to see myself growing along side with confidence. As a teacher I have continuously appreciated the trust the administration instills in their teachers/faculty. I am empowered to create engaging learning experiences and truly connect with our students through leadership in each division. However as a mom, experiencing that same care firsthand with my son is truly heartwarming. We decided to take a chance on Charles Wright and it has not disappointed. The class sizes are perfect, and the teachers and staff are incredibly caring and dedicated, and their enthusiasm for fostering a love of learning is contagious. My son's teacher specifically and her miraculous assistant teacher in particular, have gone above and beyond to help him thrive in the classroom. They take the time to understand his needs, how to challenge him while nurturing him and to top it off they create a supportive environment where he and his classmates are having fun while feeling valued.I am a bit biased being able to teach on this stunning campus, BUT the beautiful forest setting and the school's strong focus on community create a truly special place to be a part of. Our son and his friends love participating in all of the extra curricular programs from chess, to theater, Kids club to watching the big kids on the field (Go A's)! We are always greeted with a welcoming smile, an open door (physically and metaphorically) and partnership. We're confident Charles Wright is the school for our son to shine.
Submitted by teacher on May 15, 2024

Having taught in public schools for over 2 decades, I can honestly say that Charles Wright Academy is hands-down the best School in which I have ever worked. Nowhere that I have taught has given me the autonomy and support in creating my classroom curriculum that I have received from the Administration and leadership here at Charles Wright. The opportunities to collaborate with my peers, families and the community is unparalleled and I couldn't be more thankful to be a part of this school. I was not asked to write a review by anyone in the school or the community, but after reading many of the negative and, frankly, rude lambasting of school leadership and the school in general, I could not stay silent any longer. I get it, change is hard. Change is difficult. Sometimes change is necessary. Times change and so too do best practices and policies. Things simply cannot always be done exactly as they have always been done. Science, safety, technology and our world are constantly evolving and we must sometimes make difficult choices to make changes at an institutional level that can leave former students, family members and staff disappointed. I can tell you that no major policy change, personnel change, best practices shift or safety upgrade is done on a whim or made by one single individual. I can also tell you that not every staff member, student or family member will be privy to those conversations. That is just how it works. As a Department Chair I know firsthand that some people have behaved in inappropriate ways that made their dismissal or resignation necessary. I also regularly experience people laying blame at the feet of administration for normal job related circumstances that are unfortunate, but not anyone’s “fault” like W2s being late. My advice for anyone in the education industry is that if you want to be treated as a professional, start by being a responsible professional. I encourage my peers to be a part of the solution, not just lamenting a problem.Not every school is going to be a match for everyone. That's just a simple fact. I can tell you I love Charles Wright and will stay here for as long as this institution will have me.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2024

Charles Wright Academy is the perfect fit for our children and for our family! The teachers know my children and understand each one enough to nurture, support, and challenge each one in the way they need to grow. My children are seen, valued, and have grown in confidence and curiosity because of the experiences CWA has provided them. The vision of leadership that values the experience of each child from the Beginning School and Lower School, where my children are, to the Middle School and Upper School where the sprouts of these indelible seeds of learning can be seen, like in this year's fabulous Arts Festival, distinguishes CWA in its delivery of an excellent education at all levels. We are not going anywhere and cannot recommend Charles Wright Academy, its leaders, faculty, staff, coaches, and absolutely stunning 107 acres more highly than we do. Proud to be Tarriers!
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2024

My daughter loves going to school every day. She loves her teachers, and they show a deep concern and genuine interest in helping her become the best human she can be. She loves being a Tarrier, and I especially appreciate that she can participate in so many different activities, something that seemed a lot more intimidating in a much larger school like the ones I went to.I was concerned that having recently been diagnosed with ADHD we may need to move her to a different school. But her teacher, the specialists, and the administration have all shown a real enthusiasm in providing her the support and accommodations she needs in her school life. I also appreciate the support they've shown us as a family. It truly makes me feel like we belong.I'm confident we've made the right choice for our daughter in Charles Wright.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2024

When we first started at Charles Wright, we were allured by the Lower School, including the building itself, the teachers, and structure of the curriculum. Come to find out this is a bit of a trap, as when we transitioned to the Middle School, things completely shifted. The rooms themselves are dated, leaky, sports barely exist, teachers were brand new in the teaching field, and the curriculum reflected a rigid, by-the-books technique that was the opposite of our expectations. Friends had told us about the very open-ended nature of the classrooms, with thoughtful discussions taking place on the fly as topics arose amongst the community of students in such a manner you wouldn't find elsewhere. This seems to have changed with the new administration. We could put up with a fair amount, but the recent bouts of blame-shifting these shortcomings onto whatever is convenient (Covid, teacher turnover, imaginary forces, whatever) is sophomoric and a sign of a sinking ship. So we'll be hopping off before it gets even worse.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2024

Once upon a time, Charles Wright Academy was a great school. But toxic leadership can destroy the idyllic and as a longtime parent at the school, it has been sad to witness the school’s downward spiral and the effect on students, faculty and staff. When you have a school leader who values a cadre of “yes-people” over critical thinkers who ask tough questions you see a school churn through faculty and staff at an alarming rate and academic standards fall precipitously. Recently many parents, faculty and staff thought their prayers had been answered when they received a very rare communication from the CWA board who have kept their heads firmly buried in the sand for years. Many of us allowed ourselves to hope the board was finally stepping up after years of negligence as faculty, staff and families have left the school in droves. But the board broke their silence only to give their vote of confidence to a head of school on whose watch more than 80% of faculty and staff (and that is honestly a conservative estimate) have left. Mid-year departures are sudden, frequent and mysterious and often not even acknowledged by the school. Academic standards are questionable due to the high teacher turnover rate and sports teams in the high school have to pull up 8th graders just to have enough kids. Parents have learned to look over their shoulder when sharing a school concern with a friend as the wrong person hearing a comment can lead to parents being called into the head’s office and threatened with their child’s expulsion if they don’t toe the party line. Note the recent flurry of positive reviews the school has engineered as a growing group of parents came to this site to air their frustrations as they recognize the board has turned a blind eye to the school’s atrocious leadership. It is much easier to rig more smoke and mirrors than it is to fix what’s broken. But with this toxic, mercurial head of school and a board that backs every questionable decision, CWA is and will remain broken. “Lasciate ogne Speranza, voi ch’intrate.”
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2024

Parent of student at CWA for 9 years. Not returning for HS. For the price the school could be much better and was at one point. Before the current administration, this was one of the best elite private schools in the region. Now, it's an overpriced, decent at best, private school. Yes, it's better than most public schools. Compared to the other private schools in the area, it's not a top ten. Education is ok, but again, for the cost, students should be getting much more. There is an alarmingly high rate of teacher turnover, which has led to a change in culture and community - not in a good way. Classroom sizes are small, but not by design; this is because of all the students that have left. This has also led to an overall decline in athletic programs in both MS & HS. MS athletes are often asked to play HS sports because of the decrease in student population. Lower school might be better than most, but that's not a high bar to hurdle. Plus, the lower school has two of the best teachers in the region, holdovers from previous administrations. If you are just looking for status, CWA might be a good fit. If you are spending top dollar on education and expect much more, look elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2024

Charles Wright Academy has offered an amazing experience and a great education for my three kids offering a high level education as well as teaching students great life skills including how to treat others with respect and dignity. I recommend this school as a great option for students who want to experience the best in class for all ages!
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2024

I am a parent and an alum. I did extensive research on this and other local campuses before enrolling my child. I choose CWA for the educational opportunities, project-based learning, small class sizes and personal attention, caring and dedicated instructors and staff, beautiful facilities and forest, safety, focus on teaching positive values, and community participation.
Submitted by teacher on May 08, 2024

I recommend staying as far away from this school as possible. As with many other reviews on this site and others, I experienced the negative effects of a toxic workplace everyday when I walked on campus. I would regularly be reprimanded by my superior for things they had directly signed off on, and was made to be fearful of what people were saying about me behind my back. On occasion, I would ask a question (as anyone who wants to grow should) and I would be made foolish for not already knowing the answer. I know I am a good teacher, but working at a place like CWA made me question myself like I had never before. Aside from the toxic workplace environment, decisions made from the top are ruining what once made CWA special. In the lower school, they have removed dedicated learning spaces for foreign languages, science, and for students who need additional support. Additionally, they have moved the art space outside of the lower school building to the upper school art wing. In doing so, they have effectively devalued those classes, and removed time and space for homeroom teachers to plan and prep for their lessons. They have done this to increase the number of classes they can fit into the lower school building. While the school may say this is “growth” I say it is an over inflation of the only part of the school with positive enrollment numbers. If you value teachers who have the confidence to teach thoughtful lessons and to continue to grow in their own strengths, I would avoid Charles Wright Academy.