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Very Good

#45 of 381 private schools in WA

Top 12% of private schools

Charles Wright Academy

School

7723 CHAMBERS CREEK RD W, Tacoma, WA 98467

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 78 schools in Tacoma. Learn more

Enrollment

519

Student-Teacher

8.7:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Tacoma

#4 of 18

public schools

Washington schools

#11 of 94

About Charles Wright Academy

Charles Wright Academy serves 519 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Tacoma's affluent suburban community. This regular public school maintains an impressive 8.7:1 student-teacher ratio with 60 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and smaller class sizes that many families seek. The school has earned recognition as one of Washington's top-performing institutions, ranking 23rd out of 381 schools statewide and placing in the 94th percentile.

With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10, Charles Wright Academy demonstrates strong educational outcomes that reflect the commitment of both educators and families in this community. The school draws from a well-educated neighborhood where 40% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the median household income reaches $89,849. This affluent setting, with median home values of $517,600 and a low poverty rate of 9.9%, provides a stable foundation for educational success.

The relatively small ZIP code population of 15,140 contributes to a close-knit community atmosphere. Located on Chambers Creek Road West, Charles Wright Academy sits in the heart of Tacoma's large suburban landscape, offering families the benefits of suburban living while maintaining access to the broader educational and cultural opportunities of the greater Tacoma area.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.7:1, Charles Wright Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Charles Wright Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$41,145
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$37,148
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.90x — Tight
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
86%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$76.5M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 519 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Charles Wright Academy compares to 94 public schools serving similar grades in Tacoma, WA

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
This School
vs
17.5:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
519
This School
vs
450
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.7
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 48.7% vs 0%
Asian 14.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 11.8% vs 0%
Black 5.4% vs 0%
Charles Wright Academy Tacoma Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Charles Wright Academy (this school) 7.7
Mount Tahoma High School 6.8
Whittier Elementary School 8.8
Manitou Park Elementary School 5.1
Gray Middle School 5.0
Wainwright Intermediate School 5.5
Edison Elementary School 4.6
Oakland High School 7.4
Arlington Elementary School 6.9
Madison Headstart
Foss High School 6.2
Hunt Middle School 7.6
Geiger Montessori School 7.9
The School at Pearl Youth Residence
Delong Elementary School 8.5
Insight School of WA Open Doors Program
Angelo Giaudrone Middle School 6.7
Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center 6.7
Reed Elementary School 7.3
Franklin Elementary School 6.2
Dr. Dolores Silas High School 4.1

Showing 20 of 94 schools. View all schools in Tacoma

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in WA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 7.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 7.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,204
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 68%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B 6.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 519
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in WA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 48.7%
Two or More 18.1%
Asian 14.3%
Hispanic 11.8%
Black 5.4%
Native American 1.5%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

7723 CHAMBERS CREEK RD W, Tacoma, WA 98467

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Charles Wright Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. University Place Primary (rated 8.9/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby University Pla), which scores notably higher. Another option is Chambers Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby University Pla), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Whittier Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Tacoma, see our Tacoma schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Drum Intermediate University Pla 0.6 mi 5.6
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL University Place 0.8 mi 6.0
Narrows View Intermediate University Pla 1.1 mi 7.3
Chambers Elementary University Pla 0.8 mi 8.8
Oakbrook Elementary School Lakewood 1.2 mi 6.1
Hudtloff Middle School Lakewood 1.3 mi 3.6
Evergreen Primary University Place 1.2 mi 6.5
Curtis Senior High University Place 1.3 mi 7.6
Custer Elementary School Lakewood 1.5 mi 7.8
Curtis Junior High University Place 1.5 mi 5.4
Sunset Primary University Place 1.3 mi 7.3
Dower Elementary School Lakewood 1.5 mi 4.9
Oakridge Group Home Lakewood 1.7 mi
Firwood Steilacoom 1.7 mi 6.9
Transition Day Students Lakewood 1.7 mi
Oak Grove Lakewood 1.8 mi
University Place Primary University Pla 2.2 mi 8.9
MONTESSORI IN MOTION University Place 2.4 mi
Whittier Elementary School Tacoma 2.3 mi 8.8
Lochburn Middle School Lakewood 2.2 mi 4.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98467 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,586

Median Home Value

$580,100

Median Rent

$1,566/mo

Population

15,241

College Educated

42.2%

Homeownership

61.3%

Avg Commute

30 min

Poverty Rate

11.6%

Median Age

41.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Charles Wright Academy has a median household income of $90,586. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $580,100, with a median rent of $1,566/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.6%. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Kent Laboratory Academy Kent, WA 7.7
THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL Redmond, WA 7.7
Bryant Center Spokane, WA 7.8
WOODINVILLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Bothell, WA 7.8
ANNIE WRIGHT SCHOOLS Tacoma, WA 7.9
THE BUSH SCHOOL Seattle, WA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Charles Wright Academy

What grades does Charles Wright Academy serve?

Charles Wright Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Charles Wright Academy?

Charles Wright Academy has an enrollment of approximately 519 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Charles Wright Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Charles Wright Academy is 8.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Charles Wright Academy rank in WA?

Charles Wright Academy is ranked #45 out of 381 private schools in WA.

What is Charles Wright Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Charles Wright Academy has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Charles Wright Academy a private school?

Yes, Charles Wright Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Charles Wright Academy a religious school?

No, Charles Wright Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
19 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
8 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (6,715/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Tacoma). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
519
Gender Split
55% M / 45% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
60
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
172 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
PIERCE
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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