The Northwest School

We are NWS Alumni Parents. NWS community provides the right environment, organization and methods to build strong foundation to face complexities in the real world. At NWS offshore parents are assured their students are in good hands. Cheers!

If a school hasn't received new reviews for a long time, and then suddenly multiple high-scoring anonymous reviews appear within just a few consecutive days, it always makes people feel a bit uneasy.
Northwest School is decent, not the best but better than average. It's located in downtown Seattle and has no relation to Northwestern University. :) The Admissions Director has a bit of a temper, but is a good person, quite straightforward and doesn't beat around the bush.

The school has strict management, offers diversified education, is very friendly to international students, provides rich and varied cafeteria food, parents' email communications with school leaders receive prompt replies, and all suggestions raised are satisfactorily addressed.

This is the school my eldest son attends. My child really likes it here. He has adapted very well to the environment and achieved ideal learning outcomes. We highly appreciate the teaching management here, and we wish Northwest Middle School continued success and prosperity!

The most desirable boarding private high school to apply to in the Seattle area. I hope your child can also become a schoolmate of my child.

The most important thing is that the child really likes the school, which is what makes parents most relieved and satisfied! I hope the school gets better and better!

The leadership at Northwest School cares for and assists international students with both their studies and daily lives. The vast majority of teachers are very responsible, and the American students are of high quality. You can confidently send your child to Northwest School!

A very good school that comprehensively develops children's abilities, emphasizing critical thinking training and language expression training.

Northwest Middle School is excellent. My son has been there for three years and has grown a lot, becoming confident and sensible. Northwest Middle School is especially friendly towards international students, and its curriculum is rich and diverse. Truly, it lives up to its reputation as a Blue Ribbon School!

The school environment is safe and relaxed, the teachers are dedicated and responsible, and the children are all positive and cheerful.

This is a perfect fit for my daughter. She's happy with school life, her studies are continuously improving, and the teacher is very understanding, allowing her to gradually experience the sense of achievement in learning.

My child is in 9th grade at Northwest High School, which is a very human-centered, warm, and high-quality school. The school focuses on holistic development, emphasizes arts and sports, has a great atmosphere, and doesn't have the intense competitive pressure often seen, which makes us feel very at ease placing our child alone overseas. The school offers its own designed honors courses, which are recognized and well-received by universities. It prioritizes the development of a well-rounded personality, boasts a warm atmosphere, and fosters friendly relationships among students, allowing Chinese children from abroad to integrate into the community. My child loves this school.
The school is located in downtown Seattle; although not large in area, its facilities are fully equipped. The principal places great emphasis on safety, continuously strengthening the security team and safety facilities such as cameras, which reassures parents.
We believe our child can gain the abilities for a lifetime of happiness here and embark on a path towards Ivy League universities from this very place.
Thank you to the educational team of Northwest High School!

My son used to study at this school. The school is excellent, with dormitories available for accommodation. The education level is very high, and the teachers are very responsible. They come to China every year to hold parent-teacher conferences. It's great!

Northwest High School's inclusive culture allowed the child to have a happy high school experience here.

My daughter had a wonderful time at Northwest. Not only did she learn academically and get into a great school, but she also made some good friends that she will treasure for life. Thank you, Northwest School!

Great, continuously promoting to Chinese parents.

This is a very good high school. The teachers are serious, rigorous, and very responsible in their teaching. The University of Washington (UW) also has a relatively high acceptance rate for graduates from this high school. As a parent, I sincerely recommend this school.

Northwest School, founded in 1980, is located in downtown Seattle, just a few minutes' walk from the city center, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport nearby. The campus is close to museums, art studios, and the Seattle Public Library, as well as the headquarters of world-renowned companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Amazon, and Expedia. After school, students can immerse themselves in a vibrant urban atmosphere full of history and creativity.

Northwest School adheres to a rigorous educational philosophy, focusing on community service and environmental protection. Located in Seattle's downtown Northern National Historic Landmark District, the school encourages students to actively participate in environmental protection teams and the maintenance of historic landmarks. Simultaneously, through outdoor activities and community visits, students develop a sense of responsibility and respect for nature. Northwest School is a co-educational boarding school with approximately 480 students in total. International students account for 16% of the total student body, coming from 35 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

Northwest School also offers many special programs: 10th-grade students can participate in science education collaborations, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, DNA research, electrophoresis processes, and DNA fingerprinting. 11th-grade students learn how to view different issues from a global perspective, for example, by participating in debate competitions on various topics. 12th-grade students learn how to become engaged citizens. All senior students must dedicate at least 15 hours to electoral campaigns, social justice projects, non-profit organizations, or other approved political programs.

The Northwest School's data: student body of 500, student-teacher ratio of 1:6, international student percentage of 10%, boarding percentage of 9%, and 86% of teachers hold advanced degrees. The middle school was founded in 1905 and is located in downtown Seattle, a famous and scenic city in the United States, 30 minutes' drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Its unique geographical location allows international students not only to receive an excellent education but also to fully experience various aspects of American culture and life. It is ranked 68th among boarding high schools nationwide. The school does not offer AP courses, but all courses are at an honors and college preparatory level, recognized by top universities. Graduates of the school successfully gain admission to top universities in the US and abroad. The school has been honored as an "Intelligent School" and a "Blue Ribbon School." The Northwest School is the only school in downtown Seattle that offers boarding for international students. According to the authoritative US ranking platform Niche, it is an A+ school and the only private school in downtown Seattle with an international student boarding program, ranked 68th among boarding high schools nationwide and 2nd among the best boarding schools in Washington State. The school's arts program is a key development area. It offers 61 different forms of art courses, taught by professional artists in dance, music, drama, and visual arts. Students are required to take two art courses after entering 9th grade. Academic performance is outstanding, and the school offers specialized interdisciplinary research and study courses. The school's average SAT and ACT scores are well above the national average.

Our child is very happy at Northwest Middle School. Every parent's greatest hope is to be satisfied with their child's growth environment, and that satisfaction is the ultimate affirmation of a school. Northwest Middle School is excellent!

Northwest School is a historic boarding school in Seattle, USA. The child really likes the school's location, and transportation is very convenient. The child adapted to the school in less than a month. The school's teachers and dorm parents are very humane and provide a lot of help to the students. The school's curriculum design is also excellent. The school frequently organizes various activities, encouraging children to participate in outdoor sports and various athletic activities, and there are also instructors in the gym. The students are also very friendly; within a month of arriving at school, the child made many friends and was even invited to classmates' homes as a guest, feeling like living in a big family. The child is also very satisfied with the school's dining hall. The school often changes cuisines from different regions and offers them to students in a buffet style (unlimited). The school creates a profile for each child, allowing parents to log in at any time to check their child's academic performance and attendance. Additionally, the school sends parents various activity information via email every week and holds regular parent-teacher conferences. If parents have any questions or needs, the school will do its best to help solve them. As an international school, Northwest School has students from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds. Everyone learns from each other, understands each other, and shows tolerance, which is believed to be more meaningful for the child's growth!

My child is graduating this year. Reflecting on their four years at Northwest School, here are a few thoughts from a parent's perspective:
1. The school is located in downtown Seattle, offering convenient living and proximity to a major city. Of course, this relatively means facing some common big-city issues, such as homelessness on the streets and safety concerns. Dormitory management is quite good; overnight stays outside require permission from the school, parents, and the host (three parties). The dorms have extensive experience managing international students.
2. Regarding humanitarian care, international students, as a minority group, receive attention from all aspects of the school. Especially during the pandemic, students who stayed in Seattle fared well. The school responded promptly to any unexpected situations, allowing parents to feel at ease.
3. The school focuses on liberal arts and humanities education, making it suitable for children who enjoy liberal arts, offering many opportunities for development and expression. Those with a STEM preference will need to put in extra effort themselves. In recent years, including 2023, international students' university application outcomes have been excellent, with the University of Washington almost becoming a "safety school."
4. Being in the city center, the school isn't large, and although activity spaces are limited, sports activities are abundant. As long as you're willing, there's always something suitable for you. The coaching staff is very professional.
5. The communication channels between the school and international students are good, and there's an information platform to track the child's classes, academics, and performance in real-time.
6. Don't expect the cafeteria to cater specifically to Chinese tastes, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Plus, with a wide variety of restaurants nearby, it's not an issue.

The school provides excellent pastoral care and is quite friendly to international students. Host family arrangements are available for Thanksgiving and Christmas, which gives parents great peace of mind. It has a strong artistic atmosphere, making it suitable for children who enjoy art. The food used to be delicious, but apparently, they changed chefs, and now it's not as good. There's no option to choose course difficulty, and there are no honor or AP courses, so it's not ideal for those with high academic demands.

The school is very good, the teachers are very conscientious, and the dorms and cafeteria are also very nice.

The cafeteria is good, communication is timely. Teachers visit Shanghai and Guangzhou annually to meet with parents. The residential program is excellent.

The child had a very happy secondary school experience and also got into an excellent university.

The Northwest School, located in Seattle, is just a few minutes' walk from the city center. Students can walk to museums, art studios, public libraries, and more. The entire campus is always vibrant and filled with a creative atmosphere. The Northwest School is situated in the International District historical preservation area, and the school places great emphasis on community service and environmental protection. Students are required to regularly participate in environmental protection activities, clean historical sites, and visit surrounding community areas. Ultimate frisbee is the school's strong sport, with many championships won by both male and female teams. The school's signature courses include a DNA project in collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a global perspective public speaking program, and political study programs on topics such as the constitution, elections, social justice, and more.

My child just started school this September, and their grades in the first semester were excellent. Seeing my child learning and living happily, perhaps the parents are even happier than the child. In early November, the school's headmaster, the high school dean, and teachers held parent meetings in Seoul, Taipei, and other locations. Chatting with the headmaster and the school's guidance counselors for over an hour, learning more about the children's academic performance, understanding the application process and preparation steps, etc., was truly very beneficial. Typically, I receive the school's electronic newsletter every week and frequently get notifications about family-school activities. By logging into the school's private website, parents can check their child's attendance records, courses, semester grades, and teacher comments, thereby staying informed about their child's academic situation.

Furthermore, the 5-star dining experience mentioned on The Northwest School's website truly lives up to its reputation. Organic vegetables, fruits, and ingredients come from dedicated and long-standing family farms, helping the school kitchen provide safe and healthy food for teachers and students. The weekly menu is also published on the school's website.
It's worth mentioning that the school's location is excellent, situated in downtown Seattle, a prime spot that not many private high schools in the U.S. can boast. Transportation and shopping are convenient, the climate is pleasant, with lush greenery all four seasons, and no long, cold winters.

Choosing Northwest School was one of the best decisions my family ever made. Thai Son has matured significantly in character and gained a lot of knowledge during his two years at the school. My son has become a young man who is more responsible for himself, his family, and his community. What I like most about the school is that the teachers genuinely care and know very well how to encourage and motivate students to progress. The counseling teachers are very experienced and help students thoroughly prepare their college applications. If you want to find an excellent environment for your child's comprehensive development, please do not hesitate, choose Northwest School! Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Mother of Nguyen Thai Son, NWS Student, Class of 2017, Hanoi, Vietnam

The Northwest School, or NWS, in Washington State, is a private co-educational school located in downtown Seattle, offering education from grades 6-12 and on-campus accommodation for students in grades 9-12. Its excellent geographical location allows international students not only to enjoy a high-quality education but also to fully experience American culture and life in a comprehensive way.
Seattle is one of the most beautiful places in the United States, with a mild climate, clean environment, diverse and culturally inclusive city, and convenient transportation. It was ranked 2nd among U.S. cities by "Business Week" in 2012 and 64th in the "Global Cities 500" list in 2019. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra has a history of over a hundred years and is one of the world's most recorded symphony orchestras; Seattle is also very diverse and active in popular and modern music.
The Northwest School campus is located near Seattle's historic Capitol Hill. Seattle is not only one of America's famously scenic cities but also home to the headquarters of Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Amazon, Costco, Expedia, and many other world-renowned companies. Seattle has always prided itself on its friendly and highly educated citizens, world-class universities, vibrant arts and culture, and famous professional sports teams.

The Northwest School is a boarding school located in downtown Seattle, Washington, offering convenient transportation and living. The ratio of senior teachers is 70%, and the international student ratio is 15%. It is a 7-minute drive from the University of Washington and approximately a 15-minute walk from Seattle University. Seattle is home to the headquarters of world-renowned companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, and Amazon.

School features include:

1. Signature Programs: International Program for Environmental Sustainability, Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country, Ceramics, Dance, etc.

2. International Exchange Programs and International Summer Camps: Students can choose to study in France, Spain, mainland China, or Taiwan for three months, immersing themselves in the language and culture of that country.

3. Offers 57 different art courses taught by professional artists in dance, music, drama, and visual arts; the ceramics studio is one of the largest in Seattle, and student works have been selected for the K12 National Ceramics Exhibition; annually, students have the opportunity to perform music and drama at venues such as Broadway Hall, Benaroya Hall, City Hall, and the University of Washington Meany Hall.

4. In recent years, it has won over 40 league, state, and national championship titles in fields such as basketball, cross country, ultimate frisbee, and track and field. For example, in the 2018-19 academic year, the men's cross country team won the athlete award, as did women's cross country, and both men's and women's ultimate frisbee teams.

5. Students designed and built an urban farm and garden of over 3,000 square feet near the school, serving as a student-managed outdoor laboratory, creative space, demonstration space for sustainable urban agriculture practices, and a campus food production space.

The Northwest School campus is located near Seattle's historic Capitol Hill. Seattle is not only one of America's most famous scenic cities but also home to the headquarters of Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Amazon, Costco, Expedia, and many other world-renowned companies. Seattle has always prided itself on its friendly and highly educated citizens, world-class universities, vibrant arts and culture, and famous professional sports teams. The Northwest School, situated in the city, is surrounded by numerous art studios, museums, concert halls, and theaters; moreover, the Pacific waterfront is just a few minutes' walk away. The famous Pike Place Market, the original Starbucks coffee shop, Paramount Theatre, Pacific Science Center, Space Needle, and many other well-known attractions and entertainment venues are also in the nearby area, providing students with ample opportunities to learn and personally experience diverse American life.

The Northwest School is located in Seattle, just a few minutes from downtown. Students can walk to museums, art studios, and public libraries, among other places, and the entire campus is filled with the vitality and creativity of an urban school. The Northwest School is situated in the Northern International Historic Landmarks District. The school highly values community service and environmental protection, requiring students to regularly participate in environmental activities, clean historic landmarks, and visit nearby communities. Ultimate Frisbee is one of the school's strong sports programs, with both boys' and girls' teams having won multiple championships. Signature courses at the school include the DNA Project (in collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center), a debate project with a global perspective, and a political project covering themes such as the constitution, elections, and social justice.

The Northwest School is a boarding school located in downtown Seattle. Its location is excellent, but the school's area is not large. The school's humanistic care is very warm. The teacher responsible for recruiting international students speaks Chinese and is very friendly. The school emphasizes the cultivation of students' artistic disciplines. Academically, 12th-grade students participate in political projects, 11th-grade students debate thorny world issues, and 10th-grade students research DNA. In sports, the school has achieved good results in ultimate frisbee, soccer, and cross country. The school's college matriculation is also excellent, with recent graduates attending prestigious universities such as Stanford University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Emory University, New York University, Boston University, Purdue University, and more.