Admissions

Tuition and Financial Aid

Annie Wright Schools' small class sizes, world class faculty, excellent facilities and innovative programming require a significant investment by parents, and we honor the sacrifices of many of our families to make education a priority. 
We believe that all of our students should have access to the programmatic opportunities we offer. Because of this, we have worked hard to embed as many costs as possible in our tuition. Once you join us, we want to make sure you can take full advantage of our program—including before- and after-school offerings and travel

Families are also supported by thousands of alumni, friends and community members who continue to contribute through annual giving, which helps offset tuition.

Tuition Rates for 2025-26

Annie Wright Schools are committed to making our programs as accessible as possible. In addition to flexible payment plans, we offer need-based financial aid to families in our community who would not otherwise be able to access an Annie Wright education. For further information about need-based aid, please see the information below.

List of 6 items.

  • Preschool

    5 mornings: $22,230
    5 full-days:  $26,260

    Tuition for our 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. Half-day programming begins at 8:00 am and ends at 12:00 pm.
  • Kindergarten-Grade 5

    $29,775

    Tuition in our 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. See “Additional Estimated Fees” below for further details.
    • Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year. Options for personalization are available for an extra charge.
  • Grades 6-8

    $34,350

    Tuition for our Middle School program includes:

    BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
    • 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. For more information, see “Additional Estimated Fees and Expenses.”

    TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

    All Middle School field trips, including our signature Journeys:
    • Grade 6: 3-night overnight to San Francisco
    • Grade 7: 4-night overnight to the Southwest
    • Grade 8: 6-night overnight to Costa Rica

    ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES

    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. Options for personalization are available for an extra charge.
  • Grades 9-12 | Day Student

    $36,250

    Tuition for our Upper School programs includes:

    TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

    • All students in Grades 9 & 10 participate in class-building opportunities:
      • Grade 9 retreats (locally held)
      • Grade 10 Expeditions
        • 2024–2025: Iceland, Italy & Belize
        • 2025–2026: Iceland, Italy & Peru
    • Juniors and Seniors enrolled in (s)Electives (see below) may participate in alternating domestic and international travel. Recent trips have included: Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., California, Detroit, Alaska, England, Japan, Canada, Germany, Rwanda, Netherlands, Korea, Japan and Brazil.

    BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL
    OFFERINGS

    • (s)Electives (3:30 pm–4:30 pm)
      • 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.
    • Arts & Athletics (4:30 pm–6:30 pm)
      • All students, regardless of participation in organized arts and sports, have access to our fitness facilities and weight room, as well as our recording, textiles, music practice, and dance studios.

    YEARBOOK
    • Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year. Options for personalization are available for an extra charge.
  • Grades 9-12 | 5-Day Boarding

    $36,250 tuition and $18,250 boarding fee. Total $54,500.

    Our five-day boarding program caters to students who live just outside practical, daily commuting range. Students go home after school Fridays and return Sunday evenings, but otherwise are full members of the boarding community and are invited to stay on campus one weekend a month to take part in the various weekend activities

    Included in the tuition and boarding fee for 5-day Boarding students are:

    BOARDING EXPERIENCES
    • All meals between Sunday dinner and Friday lunch, catered by our dining partners at FLIK.
    • All boarding activities and experiences including overnight experiences, all-dorm fun events and more.
    *Students requiring F-1 visas or green cards may only be accepted as 7-day boarders.

    TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

    • All students in Grades 9 & 10 participate in class-building opportunities:
      • Grade 9 retreats (locally held)
      • Grade 10 Expeditions
        • 2024–2025: Iceland, Italy & Belize
        • 2025–2026: Iceland, Italy & Peru
    • Juniors and Seniors enrolled in (s)Electives (see below) may participate in alternating domestic and international travel. Recent trips have included: Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., California, Detroit, Alaska, England, Japan, Canada, Germany, Rwanda, Netherlands, Korea, Japan and Brazil.

    BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL
    OFFERINGS

    • (s)Electives (3:30 pm–4:30 pm)
      • 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.
    • Arts & Athletics (4:30 pm–6:30 pm)
      • All students, regardless of participation in organized arts and sports, have access to our fitness facilities and weight room, as well as our recording, textiles, music practice, and dance studios.

    YEARBOOK
    • Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year. Options for personalization are available for an extra charge.
  • Grades 9-12 | 7-Day Boarding

    $36,250 tuition and $40,975 boarding fee. Total $77,225.

    Included in the tuition and boarding fee for 7-day Boarding students are:

    BOARDING EXPERIENCES
    • All meals, 7-days a week, catered by our dining partners at FLIK.
    • All boarding activities and experiences including overnight experiences, all-dorm fun events and more.
    *Students requiring F-1 visas or green cards may only be accepted as 7-day boarders.

    TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

    • All students in Grades 9 & 10 participate in class-building opportunities:
      • Grade 9 retreats (locally held)
      • Grade 10 Expeditions
        • 2024–2025: Iceland, Italy & Belize
        • 2025–2026: Iceland, Italy & Peru
    • Juniors and Seniors enrolled in (s)Electives (see below) may participate in alternating domestic and international travel. Recent trips have included: Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., California, Detroit, Alaska, England, Japan, Canada, Germany, Rwanda, Netherlands, Korea, Japan and Brazil.

    BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL
    OFFERINGS

    • (s)Electives (3:30 pm–4:30 pm)
      • 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.
    • Arts & Athletics (4:30 pm–6:30 pm)
      • All students, regardless of participation in organized arts and sports, have access to our fitness facilities and weight room, as well as our recording, textiles, music practice, and dance studios.

    YEARBOOK
    • Each student receives a yearbook at the end of the school year. Options for personalization are available for an extra charge.
In an effort to provide full transparency prior to enrollment, please see below for a few additional fees and expenses families can expect when enrolling at Annie Wright.

Additional Estimated Fees and Expenses

List of 3 items.

  • Due at Enrollment

    Deposit | A non-refundable tuition deposit is required to complete the enrollment and re-enrollment process. The deposit amount varies depending on the type of enrollment (Day, 5-, 7-Day Boarding) and is specified on the contract. The deposit is applied to your tuition.
     
    Textbooks | One-time fee, varies by grade.
    Preschool
      $45
    Kindergarten
    $100
    Grades 1 - 3
    $165
    Grades 4 - 5
    $190
    Grades 6 – 8
    $310
    Grades 9 - 12
    $465
     
    Technology Package | Grades 9-12: $1,600 One-time fee | Mac laptop, 4-year AppleCare+ warranty coverage, software, ongoing in-house technical support, and loaner laptops when repairs are in progress. 
     
    International Students Only: Health Insurance | $950 per student in grades 9 – 12.
  • Uniform | School Supplies

    Uniforms | $110 - $260 | Daily uniforms are required at all levels. Dress uniform is required at the Upper School level. The expense varies by grade level and personal choice.
     
    School Supplies | Costs Vary
    • Lower and Middle School students will be provided with all necessary, common-use classroom school supplies (pencils, markers, etc.). Lists of individualized supplies (backpacks, binders, swimsuits (LS), etc.) will be available in late Spring.
    • Upper School students have one required item: a Texas Instruments TI-84 (Plus or Plus CE) graphing calculator, which should be purchased prior to the start of school as this is the only approved graphing calculator for math and science courses. During the first week of school, each student will receive an Annie Wright Schools planner, and teachers will inform students about any additional needed supplies. 
  • Transportation | Lunch | Extended Day

    Bus service | 2025-2026 | $1,600 - $3,200 | Annie Wright Schools provide reliable, safe transportation for over 100 students every day. Round-trip and one-way passes are available, as well as sibling discounts. For more information visit our Programs & Services page.
     
    Lunch | (day students only)* | Costs vary | Annie Wright has partnered with FLIK Independent School Dining to offer a variety of homemade meals each day, and since many students bring lunch from home, costs vary significantly for families, though, on average, families in Grades 3 - 12 spend ~$69/month on lunch.

    Daily offerings include soup, hot entrée, side dishes, salad bar, composed salads and sandwich of the day, along with sandwiches made to order. Younger students can pre-order box lunches (at a lower rate), while students in Grades 3 and above may go through the lunch line. For more information visit our Programs & Services page.

    *Meals are included in Boarding tuition.
     
    Extended Day Care | Costs Vary | For Grades K through 8, we offer unlimited after-school ED at $630 per season (scheduled to coincide with arts/athletics seasons) and can include up to 2 arts/athletics options. Alternatively, ED is included on activity days for arts and/or athletics options at $260 per season/per twice-weekly option. A $35/day drop-in option is also available.

Financial Aid

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

We recognize that the financial aid process can feel overwhelming. While our partners at Clarity (see the "How to Apply for Financial Aid" box) have worked hard to ensure the application process is as easy and seamless as possible, we hear many questions about affordability and applying for need-based aid. Please see the FAQ's below for further information. 

Financial Aid FAQ

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

  • Who can apply for financial aid?

    Any family who needs assistance accessing an Annie Wright education is able to apply. Over 40% of Annie Wright families currently receive some form of financial aid. Because our goal, when providing need-based aid, is to ensure we can support families throughout their enrollment at Annie Wright, we are careful to allocate awards that are sustainable for years to come. While we currently provide awards at all grades, and awards can range in size from $1,000 to full scholarships (Tacoma Scholars), we are generally able to provide larger aid awards in the higher grades because the length of commitment is shorter.  

    Annie Wright Schools do not offer athletic scholarships.

  • How do we apply for financial aid?

    We use the Clarity Financial Aid application to determine a family’s level of financial need. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. Returning families apply by November 1 and new family applications are due on the same day as admissions applications.
  • How are Financial Aid awards calculated?

    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. You will be asked to provide information regarding overall household information including, but not limited to: household income, family size, bank accounts and investments, home equity and other assets, household and medical expenses, tuition paid for siblings at other tuition-charging schools including 4-year colleges and universities, and individual family circumstances. 
  • Do you offer full scholarships or financial aid offers that cover full tuition?

    We offer full scholarships through our Tacoma Scholars program which is for students who meet specific criteria and are entering in Grade 9. View more information on that program here. Outside of that program it is extremely uncommon for us to offer financial aid that covers full tuition.
  • Does applying for financial aid affect my student’s chances of admission?

    Our admissions application process consists of two separate but important components – the first is the assessment of admissibility, and our admissions committees take many factors into account when creating strong cohorts of entering students. Once those admissibility decisions are made, 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.

    The financial aid committee reviews the overall financial aid budget and determines whether we have the available aid necessary to support each admissible student. In some instances, we identify students for whom, while admissible, we are unable to support their full demonstrated financial need. In those cases, students will be offered a place in our financial aid wait pool.
  • Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?

    Yes, it is required that families reapply for need-based financial aid annually through Clarity.  This ensures we can make financial aid decisions that accurately reflect a family’s current financial situation. It should be noted that, assuming a family’s finances are similar year-over-year, the financial aid award should remain consistent. Only if there are considerable changes to financial circumstances will awards be significantly adjusted. The School prioritizes returning families in assessing our overall financial aid budget, but we may not always be able to accommodate a significant increase in demonstrated need.
  • Is your financial assistance a loan? Do I need to repay it?

    No, our need-based financial aid and scholarships are not loans and do not need to be repaid.
  • Can I apply for financial aid after I enroll my child?

    Yes, new applications for, or increases in, financial assistance after initial enrollment will be considered if there is a qualifying change in circumstances (e.g., divorce, additional enrolled students, unforeseen decrease of household income which becomes permanent, parent/guardian disability, etc.).
  • What if parents are divorced or maintain separate households?

    Both custodial and non-custodial parents, regardless of legal settlements, who are divorced, separated, or never married are expected to contribute to educational costs and are required to submit the Financial Aid application.  Families where parents are separated or divorced will complete separate and confidential Clarity applications to give information about assets, income, expenses, and debts for each household. Both parents and their spouses are expected to participate in the application process. A lack of information from either parent may prevent the family from receiving need-based aid. We are also sensitive to the fact that there are circumstances where only a single parent is present. These circumstances are addressed on a case-by-case basis within the Clarity application.
  • When are financial aid decisions made and how will I find out if I qualify?

    Financial aid decisions are made in February each year. Families who have applied for and received need-based financial aid will see their award on the enrollment contract.  The contract will show overall tuition and fees, any financial assistance or scholarships, and the net remaining tuition. For new families, this is available to view as soon as an acceptance letter is sent. If a family does not qualify for need-based aid or is not selected for a merit scholarship (only Grade 9), no awards will be visible on the contract.
  • Who can I contact for help on my application?

    If you have questions about your Clarity application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the application screen, as well as email and phone support at support@claritytuition.com or 206.210.3752, in both English and Spanish.
  • Do you have tuition payment plans?

    Yes, we offer three different payment plans to choose from: single payment, semi-annual payment, or a 10-month payment plan.
  • Do you offer merit-based scholarships?

    Yes, merit scholarships are available but in the Upper School only. Incoming day and returning students entering Grade 9 can apply. Students applying for Domestic Boarding are automatically considered for boarding-specific scholarships. Contact your Admissions Director for more details.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

List of 4 items.

  • 1. Check important financial aid deadlines

    Clarity is now open for 2026-2027 financial aid applications.

    Financial aid applications for new families applying for the 2026-2027 school year are due with the admissions application and no later than January 24, 2026 to be considered. Financial aid applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after January 24 if funding is still available.

    For returning families, Financial aid applications are due by November 1, 2025.

  • 2. Apply through Clarity

    Financial Aid applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now open.

    The Annie Wright financial aid program is designed to make an Annie Wright education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. 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.

    To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $65 fee to submit.

    If you are applying for the 2025-2026 school year, please do not submit an application until you reach out to your Divisional Admissions Director as there are very few spots available at this time.
  • 3. Get your questions answered

    Questions about your Clarity Application?  There is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the application screen, as well as email and phone support at support@claritytuition.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.
  • 4. View award with acceptance letter

    Based on the financial aid application, Clarity will send a report to Annie Wright Schools. The school will communicate the amount of aid with acceptance and enrollment packages.

TACOMA SCHOLARS

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. Access to AWS’ vast professional network, in addition to our world-class education, creates opportunities for economic advancement and begins to effect real, lasting change. 
Please contact Chelsea Thompson for Preschool to Grade 5, Sahara Jones for Grades 6-8 and Tacoma Scholars, Grace Franco for Grades 9-12 (day & domestic boarding) and Abby Drivdahl for Grades 9-12 (international boarding) if you would like more information on tuition and financial aid options.
Annie Wright Schools remain firmly committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all student applicants. Annie Wright Schools shall recruit, admit, and teach students without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, political ideology, or any other basis prohibited by law.
    • #1 Boarding School in WA State

    • #1 Private K-12 School in WA State