Charles Wright Academy is a coed private college preparatory school in University Place, Washington, offering Preschool to Grade 12.^[1]

CWA is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).

It is located on a 107-acre campus in Tacoma, Washington and has a non-sectarian religious affiliation.^[2]

History

In 1947, Lowell Elementary in Tacoma was damaged by an earthquake when Annie Wright Seminary, an all-girls school (at the time), took in some of the students from kindergarten, first, and second grade. Pleased with the functioning of the school the parents urged to continue the school as co-ed and further including higher grades, which was declined.

Sam and Nathalie Brown decided to open a school for boys, and approached Bishop Stephen Bayne of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia who directed them to take the plan forward. They along with other interested parents purchased 127 acres on Chambers Creek Road and began functioning as a private boys school as approved by Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Their first year in 1957 included 40 boys and five faculty members.^[2] In 1970, Charles Wright Academy decided to admit girls and has been co-ed ever since. It was named Charles Wright Academy in honor of Charles Barstow Wright.

Mascot

Tarriers were Irish immigrant railroad workers who contributed to the construction of the United States railroad during the mid-19th century. The job of the Tarrier was to drill holes in rock to blast out railroad tunnels. Tarriers were later immortalized in the 1888 American folk song Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill.

According to the school's website, the Tarrier was chosen due to the shared association with the school's namesake, Charles Barstow Wright, and the Tacoma railroad. Wright was a railroad executive who served as President of Northern Pacific Railway from 1875 to 1879 and was instrumental in deciding on Tacoma as its western terminus. Wright was active in the founding of the City of Tacoma and Charles Wright Academy was built and named in his honor in 1957. According to the school's website, Tarriers are a symbol of excellence and perseverance, two of Charles Wright Academy’s school values.

The Charles Wright Academy Tarrier is represented by a mascot named Spike, a man wearing a plaid shirt and a bowler hat while holding a mallet. In early years, a student would dress up in a green and white plaid shirt, blue jeans, and work boots. In recent years, a more modern full-body costume, including a mask, has been worn.

Due to the obscure nature of the term Tarrier and it being a homophone of the small dog, the “terrier,” the Charles Wright Academy community spends a great deal of time explaining their beloved mascot and its origins honoring the hard-working Irish immigrants in the United States, who toiled day and night for the “sugar in their tay (tea)” to build the Pacific Northern Railroad all the way to the Pacific terminus in Tacoma, WA. The “City of Destiny” as Tacoma is still called to this day, is and was the “end of the line” for the grand railroad, selected in 1873.^[3]

On their Lower School, or Elementary, campus the Tarriers have an original bell from a vintage Pacific Northern train line. Students have the opportunity to ring it throughout the day to signal the end of morning and afternoon recess. Students and faculty across their 107-acre campus can hear it ringing proudly throughout the day, connecting Tarriers of all ages to the rich history of their community, their mascot, and the school’s namesake.

Academics and faculty

CWA has a total of 84 teachers among whom 61% have advanced degrees. They have an average of 16 students per class and offer 14 AP courses.^[2]

Athletics

A total of 11 sports are offered, including baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball.^[2][4] Additionally, theatre and knowledge bowl are offered as extracurricular activities. There are numerous student-run clubs at the school.^[2]

Student accomplishments

• The sailing team at CWA came first in the 2017 NWISA Double-handed Championship and represented the Pacific Northwest on the national stage.^[1]
• In 2017, they won in Cougars' home debut.^[5]
• CWA also won in the FIRST Robotics Competition Nisqually League championship.^[6]
• In 2019, the CWA Knowledge Bowl team won first in state in the 2A division.^[7] In 2022 they earned 2nd in state in the 2A division.^[8]
  • Historic placements include first place in 2017,^[7] 2015,^[7] 2013,^[7] 2009,^[9] 2008,^[9] 2006,^[9] 2005,^[9] 2004,^[9] 2001,^[9] 2000,^[9] 1999,^[10] 1998,^[10] 1997,^[10] and 1996,^[10] in various divisions ranging from a joint A/B to 4A.
• In spring of 2019, the Envirothon team won 2nd in Pierce County and 3rd in the overall South Sound region.

Notable alumni

• Penn Badgley, actor^[11]
• J'Nai Bridges, opera singer^[12]
• Ryann Donnelly, lead vocalist of Schoolyard Heroes
• Nate Mondou, baseball player^[13]

References