Annie Wright Schools: Tuition, Affordability, and Comprehensive Educational Value

Annie Wright Schools, located in Tacoma, Washington, offer a comprehensive educational journey for students from preschool through high school. Founded in 1884, the institution is committed to providing a rigorous, globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. This article delves into the tuition structure, associated costs, and financial aid opportunities available at Annie Wright Schools.

An Overview of Annie Wright Schools

Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool-Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls provide day and boarding options in Grades 9-12. The school has five- and seven-day boarding options attract students from around the world. Annie Wright Schools is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, delivering IB programs in every division.

The school is located in the North End neighborhood of Tacoma, WA. Annie Wright Schools blends tradition with cutting-edge innovation in academics, arts, and athletics. The school is deeply committed to character development, service, and global citizenship preparing students to lead with purpose.

Tuition and Associated Costs

Understanding the costs associated with private education is crucial for families considering Annie Wright Schools. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Yearly Tuition

As a Top-Ranked WA SchoolGrades: Nursery/Preschool-12Enrollment: 902 studentsYearly Tuition: $37,520Average class size: 14 studentsApplication Deadline: Jan.

Nursery/Preschool - Grade 12: $37,520 (day students in grades 9-12)

Preschool Tuition

5 mornings: $23,675
5 full-days: $27,965

Tuition for the year-round preschool program includes optional before- and after-school care (7:30 am to 5:30 pm) and coverage during school breaks at no additional charge. Full day summer programming is also included the summer after their first full year of enrollment for Preschool. Full-day hours are 8:00 am - 3:10 pm.

For Half-day Preschool students, the year-round program includes optional before-care and half-day coverage during school breaks at no additional charge. Half-day summer programming is also included the summer after their first full year of enrollment for Preschool.

Lower School Tuition

Grades: $31,265

Tuition in the Lower School program includes: Before-school care beginning at 7:00 am. All of our inquiry visits (field trips) including our overnight experiences for Grade 4 (1-night) and Grade 5 (2-nights). All necessary group-use supplies. Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year.

Middle School Tuition

Grades: $35,725

Tuition for the Middle School program includes: Before-school care beginning at 7:00 am. Before-school orchestra is available beginning at 7:30 am for students who wish to explore string instruments. After-school arts & athletics include after-school care for activity days. Extended-day is available until 6:00 pm. All Middle School field trips, including our signature Journeys. All Middle School students are provided a Mac laptop with 4-year AppleCare+ warranty coverage, software, ongoing in-house technical support, and loaner laptops when repairs are in progress. Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year.

Upper School Tuition

Grades 9-12 (Day Students): $37,520

Tuition for the Upper School programs includes travel opportunities, before- and after-school offerings, and a yearbook.

Read also: Annie Scholarship & Rehab

Boarding Fees

5-Day Boarding: $19,705 (Total: $57,225, including tuition)
7-Day Boarding: $43,565 (Total: $81,085, including tuition)

Included in the tuition and boarding fee for 5-day and 7-day Boarding students are: All meals catered by FLIK. All boarding activities and experiences including overnight experiences, all-dorm fun events and more. All students in Grades 9 & 10 participate in class-building opportunities. Juniors and Seniors enrolled in (s)Electives may participate in alternating domestic and international travel. Opt-in after-school programs that empower students to dive deeply into areas they care about and explore shared passions, build skills, and collaborate on meaningful, hands-on projects. All students have access to fitness facilities and studios. Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year.

Additional Estimated Fees

Uniforms: $110 - $260
Bus Service: $1,600 - $3,200 (2025-2026)
Lunch (Day Students Only): Costs vary, approximately $69/month for Grades 3-12
Extended Day Care (Grades K-8): $630 per season

Additional Costs

Discover the hidden costs of private school, including fees, uniforms, and extras parents must budget for beyond tuition.

Payment Plans

Annie Wright Schools are committed to making their programs as accessible as possible, offering flexible payment plans.

Financial Aid and Affordability

Annie Wright Schools are committed to making their programs as accessible as possible. In addition to flexible payment plans, they offer need-based financial aid to families in their community who would not otherwise be able to access an Annie Wright education.

Need-Based Financial Aid

Need-based financial aid and scholarships are intended to supplement a family’s financial commitment to their student’s education and are based on the entire family's demonstrated need, not their willingness to pay. The difference between what a family can reasonably be expected to pay and the cost of tuition constitutes the family’s demonstrated need.

Read also: Investing in the Future of Youth

Clarity Application

Annie Wright is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

Financial Aid Application Process

Apply for Financial Aid: Any family who needs assistance accessing an Annie Wright education is able to apply.
Clarity Application: Complete the Clarity Application, which typically takes less than 30 minutes.
Financial Aid Review: The Clarity system is designed to pull family income tax documents to verify household, and where relevant, business income and deductions. The methodology by which it determines a household's need includes allowances for general household expenses based on our geographic area.
Financial Aid Committee Review: Admissions Directors reach out to the financial aid committee, made up of AWS administrators, to discuss any admissible students who have also applied for and demonstrated financial need.
Award Notification: Families who have applied for and received need-based financial aid will see their award on the enrollment contract.

Key Considerations for Financial Aid

Over 40% of Annie Wright families currently receive some form of financial aid.
Financial aid decisions are made in February each year.
Families must reapply for need-based financial aid annually through Clarity.
Both custodial and non-custodial parents are expected to contribute to educational costs.

Merit Scholarships

Merit scholarships are available but in the Upper School only. Incoming day and returning students entering Grade 9 can apply. Students applying for Boarding are automatically considered for boarding-specific scholarships.

Tacoma Scholars Program

The goal of the Tacoma Scholars program is to not only provide an Annie Wright Schools education to Tacoma students who come from historically under-resourced communities, but also to provide support and mentorship throughout college and into the Scholar’s first post-college job.

Academic and Extracurricular Highlights

Annie Wright Schools stand our for our rigorous, globally recognized International Baccalaureate curriculum. The school is committed to character development, service, and global citizenship preparing students to lead with purpose. Annie Wright Schools offer outstanding student support and a well-rounded education. The faculty and staff are deeply committed to each student’s success, providing personalized academic and emotional guidance. Beyond academics, Annie Wright provides excellent opportunities in sports, arts, and extracurriculars-encouraging both teamwork and creativity. Most of all, the school fosters a warm, inclusive community where every student feels a strong sense of belonging.

Academics

Annie Wright Schools have 74% of faculties whose degrees are master and above. The school offers a college preparatory focus.

Total Classroom Teachers: 116 teachers
Average Class Size: 14 students
Number of AP/Advanced Courses: 20 courses

IB Courses

Annie Wright offers a wide range of IB courses, including:

IB 20th Century History SL & HL
IB Art SL & HL
IB Biology 1 & 2
IB Business
IB Computer Science
IB Economics
IB English IV: Language & Literature 1 & 2
IB Environmental Science and Systems
IB Global Politics 1 & 2
IB Mandarin AB Initio SL
IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL & HL
IB Math Applications and Interpretations
IB Music SL or HL
IB Physics
IB Spanish AB initio SL
IB Spanish SL 1 & 2

Extracurricular Activities

Annie Wright's Great Outdoor Adventure Team Program (GOAT) encourages students to immerse themselves in the extraordinatory outdoors of the Pacific Northwest with transformative programs throughout the academic year. Students explore Mount Rainter and Olympic National parks, dozens of state recreation areas, forests, and the Puget Sound.

School Overview

School Focus: College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding): 9-12
Grades Offered (Day): PK-12
Religious Affiliation: Non-denominational
Campus Size: 10 acres
Student Body Enrollment: 900 students
Average SAT Score: 1316
Average ACT score: 34
Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1

Admission Information

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Annie Wright Schools is Jan. 24 / rolling (applications are due on Jan.

Accreditation and Affiliations

The school is accredited by: The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)International Baccalaureate World School (IB)Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS)Imperial College of Business Studies (ICBS)

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