A culture of courtesy and common sense. A liberal arts education drawing connections among artistic, historical, literary, and scientific fields of knowledge. An outdoor and environmental program. Stellar athletics. These are some of the integral parts of The Northwest School. Set in an urban campus that is housed in a historic landmark cared for by our students, we provide a curriculum for grades 6–12 that offers an international perspective and encourages independent and creative thinking in every class. We educate and shape our students into global citizens who will one day shape our community, nation, and world.
The Northwest School: outstanding college preparatory and much more. Come see for yourself.
Welcome from Mike McGill: Head of School
Welcome to the Northwest School. I should confess at the outset that I’ve only just arrived in Seattle, that my tenure at the school is all of a month old. However, the decision to relocate my family—to move them 3000 miles from their very comfortable situation in Baltimore—was a year in the making and not casually considered. On the contrary: I scoured the country for a school that would present an exciting opportunity for me as an educator, but also a rich, challenging environment for my son, a ninth grader, and a vibrant, diverse community for our family. We found that place on Summit Avenue here in the heart of downtown Seattle.
So what’s so compelling? What distinguishes Northwest from other schools? From its founding over 30 years ago, The Northwest School has been an ambitious, idealistic, optimistic, and forward thinking place. Rooted in traditions that underscore our belief in the power of education to make a difference in the world, we’re also nimble enough to respond to the fast pace of change in that world. The school was the brainchild of educators who recognized that the heart of any excellent school is its faculty, so they began by seeking the best teachers from all over the country—deeply passionate and knowledgeable about their disciplines, of course, but also innovative, restless (in the best possible way), and committed to helping adolescents discover their own strengths and passions…while inspiring them to do something with them.
The commitment to hire teachers who embody those qualities continues today (and we look all over the world to find them). That’s why our kids are excited to come to school. What I encountered last fall when I first walked through the majestic front doors of Northwest’s historic building (affectionately dubbed “Haus” by its inhabitants) was an infectious energy, an enthusiasm for learning that emanates from every classroom, lab, and studio. Don’t be misled, though: just because they love being here doesn’t mean our students aren’t working really hard—and excelling. In fact, because they care so deeply about what it is they’re learning—because it has meaning and relevance—they’re actually working harder than ever before.
There are a few other important distinguishing characteristics I'd like to share, qualities that, as both educator and father, persuaded me to switch coasts and come to The Northwest School:
- Its global reach. With an international student body, supported by the only boarding program in Seattle, and a network of partner schools stretching from Asia to Central America, NWS is not merely paying lip service to the imperative of preparing its students to live and work in an increasingly interconnected world—we’re meeting that challenge every day.
- A unique integrated humanities program. Comprising history, literature, philosophy, political science, art history, and more, this intellectually stimulating series of courses, taught by teams of dedicated scholar-teachers, has been a central part of the Northwest experience since its founding.
- An historic commitment to diversity of all sorts. From its earliest days, the school recognized that our excellence as a learning community was dependent on our gathering as rich a mix of people as possible who would be willing to bring their unique experiences, perspectives, and voices to the conversation.
- An art program unlike any other in Seattle. The range (over 50 courses from mime to advanced photography), quality (all of our faculty are both skilled teachers and professional artists), and expectation (that all of our students will take two courses each year throughout their NWS career), infuses our community with a creative energy that is very special.
- The dedication to environmental stewardship. We are not simply grasping at the most recent educational trend (though it’s probably impossible to find a school website anywhere that doesn’t claim this as an important focus): the conscious commitment to caring for our planet runs deep at Northwest. Informing virtually every aspect of our curriculum and operations, the belief that we have an obligation to educate our students to live sustainably has been an integral part of The Northwest School's identity since its founding.
Now by definition, a website is very limited in its capacity to describe a dynamic place like Northwest. I hope that, having studied ours, you’ll decide to visit in person and see first-hand how we challenge students to grow in an environment that celebrates individuals, fosters a powerful sense of community, and nurtures in everyone a lifelong love of learning and a commitment to change the world. Come spend some time with us and discover what inspired me to move here.
Sincerely,
Head of School
August, 2011