Charles Wright Academy Explained

Charles Wright Academy
Established:1957
Type:Private day school college-prep
Grades:PS-12
Gender:Co-educational
Head Name:Head of School
Head:Christopher Gorycki
Streetaddress:7723 Chambers Creek Road West
City:Tacoma
State:Washington
Zipcode:98467
Country:United States
Enrollment:590
Average Class Size:≈15
School Colors:Green and White
Mascot:Tarriers
Coordinates:47.2012°N -122.5454°W

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. 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.

Athletics

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

Student accomplishments

Notable alumni

References

  1. News: Charles Wright Academy Qualifies for National Sailing Championship in Boston. 2017-05-07. The Suburban Times. 2018-07-20. en-US.
  2. Web site: Charles Wright Academy Profile University Place, Washington (WA) . 2018-07-20 . www.privateschoolreview.com . en.
  3. Web site: Northern Pacific Railroad announces Tacoma terminus on July 14, 1873. . 2023-12-07 . www.historylink.org.
  4. Web site: Charles Wright Academy. ParentMap. en. 2018-07-20.
  5. News: Seton celebrates its opener despite loss. 2017-09-09. The Columbian. 2018-07-20. en.
  6. News: Boys' basketball team grabs back-to-back wins Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. 2018-01-09. Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. 2018-07-20. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2010-2019 State KB Results . 2022-12-11 . Google Docs . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-Present State KB Results . 2022-12-11 . Google Docs . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2000-2009 State KB Results . 2022-12-11 . Google Docs . en-US.
  10. Web site: 1990-1999 State KB Results . 2022-12-11 . Google Docs . en-US.
  11. Web site: TV.com. Penn Badgley. July 30, 2020. TV.com. July 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703140410/http://www.tv.com/people/penn-badgley/. dead.
  12. News: Sailor. Craig. December 23, 2016. Lakewood basketball player turned opera star will perform in free Tacoma concert tonight. The News Tribune. October 18, 2020.
  13. Web site: Charles Wright Academy senior to play Division I baseball at Wake Forest University . 29 November 2012 .