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The Northwest School United States Flag

A- 5.0 1 Reviews Recommended Washington, US
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Admission Office Global@northwestschool.org

School Overview

Data & methodology
Overall
A-
Matriculation A-
Academics B+
Extracurriculars B
Community A
Reviews B+
The Northwest School offers a rigorous, college-preparatory program with a cross-disciplinary curriculum. Courses in the humanities, mathematics, science, languages, and arts are required at all times. The school has a uniquely international character: the fact that 16% of its population comes from abroad gives students a truly global perspective. Regular participation in environment teams, which clean the historic building and grounds, and in the outdoor program, which offers trips throughout the region, teach responsibility and respect for the environment. Students graduate from the Upper School with a true liberal arts education. The academic core is a three-year survey of human society from prehistory through present day. Learning to analyze history from political, economic, social, religious, and artistic perspectives lays the foundation for college-level electives in the senior year. The school has a uniquely international character: the fact that 16% of its population comes from abroad gives students a truly global perspective. Regular participation in environment teams, which clean the historic building and grounds, and in the outdoor program, which offers trips throughout the region, teach responsibility and respect for the environment. Students graduate from the Upper School with a true liberal arts education. The academic core is a three-year survey of human society from prehistory through present day. Learning to analyze history from political, economic, social, religious, and artistic perspectives lays the foundation for college-level electives in the senior year. The daily presence of international students from more than 12 countries creates a global perspective for our whole community and makes our population unique among Seattle-area schools. International students who receive ESL support are gradually integrated into more courses with American students each year. Physical education, sports teams, arts courses, class trips, the Environment Program and the Outdoor Program offer additional chances for interaction.
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The Northwest School Information 2025 | FindingSchool
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School Stats

Average
Current School
Tuition
$73,435
Enrollment
384
International Students
12%
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
86%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:6
Endowment
$9 million
Average SAT Score
1286
Average ACT Score
29.1
Class Size
16
Boarding %
11

Matriculation

(2024)
Ranking University/College Students
LAC #1 Williams College 1
#14 Vanderbilt University 1
#21 Emory University 2
#22 University of California: Berkeley 1
#25 Carnegie Mellon University 1
#27 University of Southern California 2
#28 New York University 1
#34 University of California: San Diego 3
LAC #8 Claremont McKenna College 1

Academics

AP Equivalent and Beyond

(22)
The Ancient World Through the 17th Century
Dominant and Counternarratives of U.S. History
Imagining Nationalism & Internationalism in the 20th Century
Identity, Joy, Justice, Action
Innovation in Modern Latin American Art and Literature
Postcolonial Literature: Language Arts
The Ancient World Through the 17th Century
Dominant and Counternarratives of U.S. History
Imagining Nationalism & Internationalism in the 20th Century
Identity, Joy, Justice, Action
Innovation in Modern Latin American Art and Literature
Postcolonial Literature: Language Arts
Hope in Misery: Science Fiction & Social Justice
Exploring Gender and Sexuality in Hamlet
Civics
Black Internationalism and African Decolonization
Media Literacy for Social Action
Finding Voice, Fighting Power: Modern Latin American History from Independence to the Present
Prisons, Policing, and Abolition
Advanced Calculus
Advanced Topics in Mathematics: Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus
Advanced Biology
Advanced Biology: Environmental Science
Advanced Chemistry
Physics 12
Physics with Calculus
Advanced Theatre Production
Advanced Art
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Sports

(6)
Basketball
Cross Country
Soccer
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

(20)
Asian Art Club
Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group
Badminton Club
Birding
Black Student Union
The Cooking Space
Asian Art Club
Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group
Badminton Club
Birding
Black Student Union
The Cooking Space
Cupcakes for a Cause
Dungeons and Dragons
Internet of Things
Jewish Student Union
Latin American Union
Middle School Book Club
PlayClayPlay
Programming Interest Group
Q-Club
Team Enough
Womanxst Interest Group
Inernaional student union
Environmental Interest Group
Model UN Interest Group
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Arts

(22)
Band
Choir
Dance
Jazz
Performing
Production
Band
Choir
Dance
Jazz
Performing
Production
Animation
Ceramics
Drawing
Graphic Design
Photography
Sculpture
Watercolor
Design
Vocal
Yearbook
Songwriting
Media
Studio Art
Art
Costume Design
String
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Contact The Northwest School

Admissions Officer
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School Link

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The Northwest School is a member of SAO (The Standard Application Online) platform. Click the button below to apply.

Contact Info

http://www.northwestschool.org
1415 Summit Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
206-682-7309
Global@northwestschool.org
Washington

Basic Info

Co-ed
Boarding Grades: 9-12
Urban
IB: No
ESL: Yes
Year Founded: 1980
Campus Size: 2 acres
Boarding Rate: 11%
Religious Affiliation: No Religious Affiliation

Application Info

Deadline: 01/05
Interview: Skype, On Campus, International Admission Visits, Zoom
Other Accepted Scores: DET, IELTS, iTEP SLATE, EIKEN
School Code:
TOEFL: 1715
SSAT: 5413
ISEE: 481127
Spots for Chinese Students Next Year: 30

5.0/5 1 reviews

FindingSchool's user
Provided by School (Parent) 16/05/2025
We are NWS Alumni Parents. NWS community provides the right environment, organization and methods to build strong foundation to face complexities in the real world. At NWS offshore parents are assured their students are in good hands. Cheers!
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Frequently Ask Questions about The Northwest School

Tell me a bit about The Northwest School.
The Northwest School is Co-ed private boarding school located in Washington, US. It was founded 1980 , and currently has about 384 students, 12.00% of whom are international students.

For more official information, please visit http://www.northwestschool.org.
Does The Northwest School have rigorous academic requirements?
The Northwest School also have 86% of faculties whose degrees are master and above.
Where do The Northwest School students typically go for their colleges?
In 2024, some students attended Williams College, Vanderbilt University, Emory University, University of California: Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University.
What is the application requirement for The Northwest School?
Similar to most private schools in the US, The Northwest School’s typical admission requirements include school transcript, recommendation letter, application essay, and interview (often optional, but highly recommended).
What is the Boarding Tuition for The Northwest School?
The total fee for The Northwest School in 2024 is $73,435 which typically includes tuition, boarding fee, student management fee and a few other fees associated with managing international students.

For more information, please contact school’s admission team at Global@northwestschool.org .
Where is The Northwest School located?
The Northwest School is located in the State of Washington of USA. The closest major city is Seattle, which is about 0 miles away from school. Most families can choose Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to travel in and out of school.
How popular is The Northwest School on the FindingSchool network?
Based on FindingSchool monthly traffic data as well as onsite search record, The Northwest School is among the most popular schools, within top 117 for all schools on FindingSchool.

Also The Northwest School has been favorited by 236 users.
How do I complete an application for The Northwest School?
The first stop is to carefully review the school profile on FindingSchool to learn more about The Northwest School. Most of them are directly provided by the school.

Also it is highly recommended to visit The Northwest School’s official site: http://www.northwestschool.org or call them at 206-682-7309.
Are there additional schools that are located close to The Northwest School?
Yes, here are few: Annie Wright Schools, Auburn Adventist Academy and

The closest major city is Seattle. You can find out more schools near Seattle here.
What is the FindingSchool rating for The Northwest School?
The overall rating for The Northwest School is A-.

The section ratings of The Northwest School are:
A- for Matriculation
B+ for Academics
B for Extracurriculum
A for Community
B+ for Students and Parents reviews

Nearby City

Seattle, Washington
Seattle, a major seaport city on the West Coast, is the largest in Washington and the Pacific Northwest region. With a population of 737,015 as of 2020, it is known for its vibrant tech industry, including companies like Amazon and Microsoft. The city boasts iconic landmarks such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Seattle is a hub for innovation, culture, and coffee, offering a unique blend of urban development and natural beauty, with stunning views of the Puget Sound and surrounding mountains.
Population (2022) 598,541
Cost of Living Higher than average 54%
Nearby Airport Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

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