Frequently Asked Questions

List of 17 frequently asked questions.

• What are you looking for in an AWS student/Applicant?

  Annie Wright Schools seeks students who are curious, motivated learners and positive community members. We value a growth mindset, strong character, and a willingness to participate in academics and school life. Successful applicants demonstrate openness to challenge, respect for others, and an interest in contributing to a diverse, globally-minded IB learning community, supported by engaged families who share our values.

• What are the key deadlines?

  Admissions Deadline: January 23, 2027

  Financial Aid Deadline: January 23, 2027

  Scholarship Deadline: January 23, 2027

  Prospective Gator Weekend:
  
  

    • AccessAWS: January 30
    • Group Play: January 31
  
  

  Admissions Decisions Released: End of February

• Can you accommodate virtual applications?

  Yes, we frequently work with families who are applying to Annie Wright Schools from out of town. We can provide various accommodations such as virtual interviews, virtual assessments, and virtual meetings during regular school hours. Please connect with your Admissions Team Member to get specifics for your student’s admissions process.

• Do you give admissions preference to siblings of current Annie Wright students?

  Siblings of currently enrolled students receive admissions preference, when possible. As with all applicants, placement depends on readiness and available space.

• What advice do you have for students applying?

  We encourage students and families to get to know Annie Wright Schools as well as possible. Visiting campus through a tour, open house, or visit day helps students imagine themselves here and gives everyone a chance to experience our community firsthand. For those who cannot visit in person, our Virtual Previews offer a meaningful opportunity to learn more and connect with us.

   

  We also recommend that students and families take their time with the Questionnaire, engaging thoughtfully with each question. This application offers an opportunity to share students’ interests, learning styles, and experiences, as well as what the family values in a school. Thoughtful, honest, and reflective responses help us get to know applicants and determine whether Annie Wright is the right partner for their educational journey.

• Is a tour required? And does my student have to come for the tour?

  Tours are highly recommended, though not required. We encourage students and families to join us on campus to get first-hand experience with our community. For Lower School applicants, students are not required to attend, but they are welcome to do so as they tend to really enjoy seeing the campus. For Middle and Upper School applicants, we recommend having your student accompany you, as this helps familiarize them with Annie Wright, and inform their application process. We encourage you to login to your myAW account to select a tour time that works best for your family!

• Do you require specific tests and scores?  Are tests optional?

  Assessments are required as a part of our admissions process for Grades 1-12. These assessments help us better understand a student’s academic readiness, as well as our ability to appropriately support and challenge them in the classroom.
  
  Assessment results are reviewed holistically alongside transcripts, teacher recommendations, and other application materials to determine whether our academic program is a strong fit for the student at their current level. For more information regarding specific divisional assessments, please see the Divisional FAQ, below.

• For non-native English speakers, do you require students to speak English by the time they start school?

  We require students to have grade-appropriate levels of English proficiency when starting school. This ensures that the student is able to enter a class feeling confident that they can manage the discussions and questions needed for coursework. Please see below for details about English language requirements at your student’s grade level, and connect with your Admissions Team Member with any further questions.

• Can we submit additional materials (e.g., art portfolios, writing samples)?

  You are welcome to submit additional materials to supplement your application, but this is by no means required and does not increase your chances of admission.

• Who should write the teacher recommendations?

  Teacher recommendations should be requested from each student’s current classroom/Math and English teacher(s). For Early Childhood applications, the teacher recommendation will also be accepted from daycare providers or nannies. Teacher recommendations open mid-November each year and should be sent through the checklist in your myAW portal. Enter the teacher’s email address and a form will be auto-sent for them to complete.

• Does a student have to have an IB background to come to AWS?

  Students are not required to have any IB background in order to begin the IB curriculum. We find that students of many different educational backgrounds can thrive without any prior knowledge of IB. 

   

  One possible exception is students entering Grades 11 and 12 who are interested in the IB Diploma Programme track. Please contact your Admissions Team Member for these specific requirements.

• Is a student required to study the IB curriculum?

  In the Lower and Middle School, we use the International Baccalaureate curriculum for all students. The Lower School uses the Primary Years Programme and the Middle School uses the Middle Years Programme. 

   

  In Grades 9 and 10, our curriculum prepares students for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, widely considered the world’s most rigorous high school curriculum. All Annie Wright students in Grades 11 and 12 may choose among three options of study:
  
  

    • The Annie Wright Diploma (non-IB)

    • Course Candidacy (partial IB)

    • IB Diploma Candidacy (full IB)
  
  

  Any track is accepted and students may move from one track to another if necessary (excluding delayed entry to the full IB Diploma).

• How are we notified of admissions decisions?

  You will be notified via email by your Admissions Team Member. For applicants who complete the full process by the initial January deadline, admissions decisions will be sent out in late February each year. Applications received following our January deadline will be considered for remaining spaces on a rolling basis. Notification timelines vary for off-season applicants. If you receive a decision of acceptance, you will be asked to login to your myAW account to review your enrollment contract.

• Once my student is enrolled, do we have to reapply each subsequent year?

  No, you do not need to reapply annually for admissions. Each February, you will need to sign a re-enrollment contract to confirm your student’s spot for the upcoming school year. 

   

  If your family receives need-based financial aid, you will need to reapply through Clarity every fall.

• Do you have a waitlist, and how does it work?

  We have a waitpool, rather than a waitlist; if families are given a waitpool admissions decision and wish to remain under consideration, they must complete the Waitpool Reservation Form. Applicants are then placed in a general pool without a specific order. Should a space become available, the waitpool allows the admissions committee to holistically review each candidate taking into consideration the composition of the class.

   

  Students may receive a waitpool admissions decision for one of two reasons:
  
  

    • Space is not currently available in the grade level

                  and/or

    • Financial aid needs cannot be fully met at the time of decision

  
  

  If a space becomes available for your student, you will be contacted via phone to ensure you receive the notification. At the time of this call, you will not be required to accept the space immediately, but will instead be asked if you are interested in reviewing an enrollment contract. Once a contract is received, you will have one week to accept or decline.

• Can we reapply next year if we are in the waitpool?

  Yes, families can apply again if not admitted the previous year. Our acceptance rates vary by grade level, so sometimes spots may not be available in the desired year. Re-applying into future years is a great way to take advantage of potential newly opened spots. In most cases, if you are re-applying into the same division, you will complete a modified admissions process as some pieces of the application can be kept on file and rolled over to the following year. If you are re-applying into a new division, a full re-application process may be required. Reach out to your Admissions Team Member to get more specifics about this process.

• If we’re applying late, is there still space available?

  It is best to check in with your Admissions Team Member to get information about available spaces in your desired grade level prior to submitting an application. In most cases, we offer rolling admission for any remaining spaces or for the grade-level waitpool.