DID YOU KNOW?
Over a five-year period, students’ SAT scores averaged 1,260 points compared to the national average of 1,000 points.
Typically, 20 percent of a Charles Wright graduating class are National Merit Scholars or Commended Students.
Charles Wright offers more Advanced Placement courses – the equivalent of college courses – than any other high school in the South Puget Sound area.
Minority students account for 28 percent of the student body.
In the last decade, Charles Wright students consistently earned top honors among the State of Washington’s journalism students.
Charles Wright grants over $1.3 million in financial assistance to 21% of the student body.
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David Kangas
Upper School Science, Green Derby and Knowledge Bowl Co-Advisor
David Kangas teaches chemistry in the Upper School. “I enjoy the lab work the most,” says Kangas, “especially the end of the year acid-base project in first year chemistry. Students spend every day of the last three weeks of school in the lab. I really appreciate how the small class sizes allow for quality student-teacher interactions.”
Kangas graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelors degree in biology and went on to earn his masters degree at Washington State University. “I was one of 22 selected for the first of three cohorts in a masters program in chemistry,” explains Kangas. “I spent two summers at Washington State University and completed distance learning during the school year. The degree program culminated with eight weeks spent working at Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory. There I had the opportunity to be a part of research attempting to model the rate of migration of heavy metals through the Hanford environment. The cost of the program and my living expenses were not only entirely funded by the National Science Foundation, but I was paid to go to school as well!”
Kangas is an avid pursuer of continuing education. Most recently he completed a 12 week meteorology course funded by the American Meteorological Society and National Science Foundation. Kangas joined the faculty of Charles Wright in 1992. During his tenure he has advised the Green Derby club and the Knowledge Bowl team. He also volunteers at his church and enjoys photography and travel. He also blends the disciplines of biology and chemistry as a home brewer.
Visit his web site
Kangas graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelors degree in biology and went on to earn his masters degree at Washington State University. “I was one of 22 selected for the first of three cohorts in a masters program in chemistry,” explains Kangas. “I spent two summers at Washington State University and completed distance learning during the school year. The degree program culminated with eight weeks spent working at Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory. There I had the opportunity to be a part of research attempting to model the rate of migration of heavy metals through the Hanford environment. The cost of the program and my living expenses were not only entirely funded by the National Science Foundation, but I was paid to go to school as well!” Kangas is an avid pursuer of continuing education. Most recently he completed a 12 week meteorology course funded by the American Meteorological Society and National Science Foundation. Kangas joined the faculty of Charles Wright in 1992. During his tenure he has advised the Green Derby club and the Knowledge Bowl team. He also volunteers at his church and enjoys photography and travel. He also blends the disciplines of biology and chemistry as a home brewer.
Visit his web site
