What Is an Independent School?

Independent schools are non-profit institutions financed through tuition, fundraising activities, and investments. They do not rely on the church, state, or federal government for support. About 1% of America's children attend secular independent schools.

The Northwest School is governed by its Board of Trustees, which hires the Head of School and holds him or her accountable for the successful operation of the institution. Independence allows the school to create its own mission, to hire the faculty it believes will fulfill its goals most ably, and to enroll the students it can serve best.

Independence means that in order to keep tuition affordable, The Northwest School relies primarily on yearly contributions to the Annual Fund to support current programs, and to enrich our offerings beyond the basics covered by tuition and fees.

Annual giving also helps us meet the Board's goal of providing financial aid to at least 15% of our domestic students. Occasional capital campaigns address major facilities improvements and build our endowments. Additional fundraising events such as Elliott Bay Book Night and Pizazz! are focused as much on community building as on raising money.

Community, finally, is the heart of an independent school. Close cooperation between the school and parents, who volunteer their time and professional expertise for everything from special events to the Board of Trustees, enriches every child's education.

Volunteering educates parents about the mission of the school, while strengthening their confidence that their children are part of a community in which they'll thrive.

The Northwest School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS) and the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS), and we are approved by the Washington State Board of Education. Every seven years, we renew our accreditation with PNAIS through an intensive self-study and site visit by educators from peer institutions.

"The Northwest School's culture of excitement about learning made me a life-long learner. Today it still invites students to be independent thinkers and active community members. Having my daughter involved in the NWS community is vital to my family."

— Casey Cram, (NWS '82), Parent '10

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