Preferred Admissions Program

Lower School Preferred Admissions Program

Overview

Preferred Admissions is an admissions option for families applying to Preschool 3-4 through Grade 3 who are committed to remaining enrolled at Annie Wright Schools for an extended term.

Preschool families who select Preferred Admissions are making a commitment to remain enrolled at Annie Wright Schools at least through the completion of Kindergarten. Families entering Kindergarten through Grade 3 are making a commitment to remain enrolled at Annie Wright Schools at least through the completion of Grade 5. In return, these families will receive priority consideration during the admissions process. This allows us to build our classes with families who share our vision for continuous, meaningful engagement in the IB Primary Years Program and in the full richness of the Annie Wright Schools experience.

Why Long-Term Enrollment Matters

For more than 140 years, Annie Wright has been committed to building a strong community where students, families, and teachers develop meaningful, long-term relationships.

As Washington's only full IB continuum school, we are intentionally designed as a Preschool through Grade 12 educational journey. Our curriculum, traditions, and student experiences are built to support growth over time, allowing each year to build naturally on the last.

Long-term enrollment also strengthens the school community as a whole. When students remain part of the Annie Wright experience for multiple years, classrooms benefit from continuity, friendships deepen, and families become active contributors to a vibrant and connected school culture.

The Preferred Admissions program reflects our commitment to partnering with families who are seeking a sustained educational experience and who value the continuity that helps students and our broader community thrive.

Why This Matters for Your Student

The investment in staying for several years is about what's best for your student's development. When families commit to a longer Lower School journey, students benefit from:

Continuous IB Learning

The Primary Years Program's inquiry-based approach builds year over year, with students developing as thinkers, communicators, and risk-takers through sustained engagement with transdisciplinary themes.

Extensive Learning Support

Our Learning Specialists build relationships with students over time, understanding their unique learning profiles and helping them develop self-advocacy skills that grow stronger each year.

Progressive Arts & Athletics Skill Development

From learning to swim in our pool to participating in Lower School athletics and arts programs, children develop confidence and competence through multi-year progression.

Scaffolded Counseling

Our Lower School Counselor works with students and families over years, providing scaffolded social-emotional learning that evolves with each student's development.

Community Bonds

The friendships, traditions, and sense of belonging that develop when children grow up together as Gators, from inquiry visits around Tacoma to overnight camps in Grades 4 and 5, create a foundation that lasts a lifetime.

For students who then transition to our Middle and Upper Schools, these advocacy skills, relationships, support, and understanding of IB principles serve as an important foundation for the Middle Years Programme and the Upper Schools programs.

Contact Us

If you have questions about the Preferred Admissions program or would like to discuss whether it is the right choice for your family, please contact:

Chelsea Thompson

Lower School Admissions Director

253.284.8602
chelsea_thompson@aw.org

How to Apply Using Preferred Admissions

A Preferred Admissions form will be accessible via the application checklist beginning on December 1.
To formally apply for Preferred Admissions, simply submit the form indicating your desire to be considered in this pool prior to the application deadline.

Financial Aid Transparency

For families receiving financial aid, we want to be clear about our commitment to you.

Your financial aid award will be presented with your admission offer, and barring significant changes in your family's financial circumstances, you can expect your aid to remain consistent throughout your student's time at Annie Wright Schools.

Our goal is a transparent, stable partnership that allows you to plan confidently for your student's Annie Wright education.

Preferred Admissions Program Terms

List of 6 items.

Priority Admissions

Families who select Preferred Admissions are given first priority through our holistic admissions process. If we can fill our available spaces with admissible Preferred Admissions applicants, we will do so before considering other applications.
Binding at Enrollment

The commitment becomes binding only when a family accepts the offer of admission by signing and submitting their enrollment contract.

A family's financial aid award will be presented with their admission offer, and barring significant changes in a family's financial circumstances, families can expect their aid to remain consistent throughout their student's time at Annie Wright Schools.

Our goal is to ensure families have all the financial information necessary prior to making a multi-year commitment to AWS.
Enrollment Commitment

Families that enroll in Preschool, agree to keep their student enrolled through Kindergarten.

Families that enroll in Kindergarten through Grade 3 agree to keep their student enrolled through Grade 5.

Early Withdrawal Financial Obligation

Should a family opt not to re-enroll at any point before completing their contract term, an early withdrawal fee shall be assessed. The amount of the assessed fee is calculated by subtracting a family’s financial aid award (if applicable) from the current year tuition rate and then dividing the resulting number in half. Both the financial aid and the tuition rate are stated on Family's re-enrollment contract.

FAMILY NOTIFIES AWS OF WITHDRAWAL PRIOR TO SUBMITTING A REENROLLMENT CONTRACT

If a family has not executed a re-enrollment contract for the subsequent year and opts not to have their student return to AWS, the Preferred Admission obligation is 50% of the student's current year tuition obligation.

Example: Grade 2 Family not reenrolling for Grade 3
And, family notifies AWS prior to re-enrolling that they will not return for Grade 3.

Family with $5,000 in Financial Aid	Family with no Financial Aid
Tuition for Grade 2 = $31,265 Financial Aid = $5,000 Net Tuition = $26,265 Family finishes paying Grade 2 tuition ($26,265) on regular payment schedule and must pay an additional 50% of their current tuition obligation ($13,132.50).	Tuition for Grade 2 = $31,265 Family finishes paying Grade 2 tuition ($31,265) on regular payment schedule and must pay an additional 50% of their current tuition obligation ($15,632.50).

The contract is then considered 'complete' and the family is not on the hook for any further fees.

FAMILY NOTIFIES AWS OF WITHDRAWAL AFTER
SUBMITTING A REENROLLMENT CONTRACT

If Family has executed a re-enrollment contract for the subsequent year and, after the execution of that re-enrollment contract, opts not to have Student return to School for that subsequent year, Family shall pay to School one hundred percent (100%) of the Family’s tuition obligation for that subsequent year, consistent with the standard enrollment contract terms applicable to all School families.

Family with $5,000 in Financial Aid	Family with no Financial Aid
Tuition for Grade 2 = $29,775* Financial Aid = $5,000 Net Tuition = $24,775 Family finishes paying Grade 2 tuition ($24,775) on regular payment schedule and must pay 100% of their tuition obligation for the following year ($26,265).	Tuition for Grade 2 = $29,775* Family finishes paying Grade 2 tuition ($29,775) on regular payment schedule and must pay 100% of their tuition obligation for the following year ($31,265). *Example uses 25-26 and 26-27 tuition rates

Multiple Student Policy

If a Family has enrolled multiple students at AWS under separate Preferred Admission Agreements and opts not to have one or more of these students return the subsequent year, the Family will only be asked to pay liquidated damages for one student—the student with the highest tuition rate at the time of withdrawal—regardless of how many students are withdrawn.

Any student(s) who remain enrolled at AWS shall continue to be subject to the terms of their respective Preferred Admission Agreement(s).
Military Transfer Exception

The Early Withdrawal Financial Obligation does not apply if a Family is unable to return to School during a subsequent year due to a permanent change of station (PCS) order or other mandatory military transfer requiring the Family to relocate. We ask families to provide the School a copy of the official military orders to qualify for this exception.

Preferred Admissions Program FAQ

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

Is Preferred Admissions required?

No. Families are not required to select Preferred Admissions to apply to Annie Wright Schools.
What happens if a family leaves before completing their agreement term?

Should a family opt not to re-enroll at any point before completing Kindergarten (for Preschool families) or Grade 5 (for families in Grades K-3), they must pay 50% of their current-year tuition obligation.
Who is eligible for Preferred Admissions?

Students applying to Preschool 3-4 through Grade 3.
Does Preferred Admissions guarantee admission?

No. Families who select Preferred Admissions are given first priority through our holistic admissions process, but all applicants must be admissible under Annie Wright's admission standards.
When does the commitment become binding?

The commitment becomes binding only when a family accepts the offer of admission by signing and submitting their enrollment contract.