Charles Wright
Academy
Lower School (K-4)
Where curiosity becomes a lifelong love of learning.
At Charles Wright Academy, your child won't just sit and listen - they'll dig, build, question, and create. Our Lower School gives every child a strong academic foundation alongside the confidence and skills they'll need to successfully navigate the future with confidence.
Our kids love being at CWA, and we love being part of this vibrant community. We’re especially thankful for the incredible teachers and staff whose passion and care bring the school’s values to life every day.Current Lower School Family
Strong Foundations in every subject
Reading and Writing
At Charles Wright Academy, we are dedicated to building confident, lifelong readers and writers through a comprehensive literacy program that combines two powerful approaches. Fundations brings a structured, science-of-reading-aligned curriculum to foundational skills — making the learning of reading, spelling, and handwriting engaging and effective for students and teachers alike. Complementing this, our Reading and Writing Workshop, rooted in Lucy Calkins' research, embraces the understanding that every learner is unique, fostering the independence and agency students need to thrive in any reading or writing task.
Mathematics
Our Lower School mathematics program builds a solid foundation in interconnected concepts, procedural fluency, and real-world application through Carnegie Learning Math Solutions — a research-based, standards-aligned curriculum proven to boost student achievement and engagement. Using a blended learning model, the program weaves together teacher-led instruction, digital tools, problem-based learning, and AI-powered gamified practice to develop the critical thinking and analytical skills that define math success. Students engage with MATHbook to capture their thinking and reasoning, targeted Skills Practice worksheets to reinforce key concepts, math talks, hands-on manipulatives, and a consistent attention to equity and habits of mind — all in alignment with our Tarrier Traits.
Science and Innovation
In our Lower School, innovation, critical thinking, and creativity come to life in the Innovation Lab, where students' natural curiosity drives exploration, design projects, and hands-on discovery. Library classes and project-based learning further sharpen these skills by teaching students how to find, evaluate, and apply information effectively across reports, projects, and presentations. Our K-12 science program follows the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) — research-based standards designed to deepen content understanding while cultivating essential skills like communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem-solving, and flexibility, preparing students for success in college, careers, and engaged citizenship.
Learning by doing - what is project-based learning?
Rather than drilling facts, our students tackle real questions, investigate real places, and share their findings with real audiences. Every grade has a rich, year-long theme that weaves together reading, writing, math, science, and social studies - so knowledge sticks and kids genuinely care about what they're learning. Each grade explores a compelling, place-based topic - from your backyard to across Washington State - building deeper thinking and a real sense of belonging in the world.
Kindergarten
Life Cycles and Pollinators
Children explore how living things grow and change - from apples and pumpkins in the fall to butterflies and plants in the spring. Literacy and math connect naturally to every discovery.
First Grade
Farm to Table
Students garden, learn about nutrition, and trace food from farm to community. The year culminates in a student-run farmers' market open to families - complete with flower starts, veggie seedlings, and handmade goods.
Second Grade
Sustainability
Composting, recycling, and upcycling give second graders the tools to become environmental advocates. Students don't just learn about sustainability, they practice and teach it.
Third Grade
Nisqually Watershed
From Mt. Rainier to the Puget Sound, students explore interesting topics like ecology, human impact, and salmon habitats. The year includes an overnight trip to the Mt. Rainier Institute, a first unforgettable adventure away from home.
Fourth Grade
Washington State
Fourth grade at Charles Wright is all about exploring our beautiful state of Washington. Students dive into investigating the economy, ecology, and culture of the state through hands-on exploration, field experiences, and by asking questions that require critical thinking and taking action. Students travel to the Olympic Peninsula to explore an old-growth forest and learn about earth science and systems before heading to the Columbia Plateau, where they are immersed in learning about our economy and ecology. Through exploring our earliest inhabitants, modern-day people, and our state government, students learn about their role in society and how the past helps shape our futures.
Specialist classes
Beyond core academics, every Lower School student attends five weekly specialist classes that expand their skills and spark new passions.
Library
From choosing their first books in Kindergarten to independently evaluating research sources by Grade 4, building lifelong literacy habits.
Music
Voice, movement, rhythm, and ensemble instruments. By third grade, students are reading music, and all grades perform together with confidence.
Spanish
Language learning through play, conversation, and cultural connection - building real communicative ability from Kindergarten on.
STEM
Hands-on inquiry in our Innovation Lab. Students explore living systems, ecosystems, and Earth science - aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
Visual Arts
Weekly studio time develops creativity and technical skill - from color mixing and shapes in Kindergarten to three-dimensional drawing and sketchbook study in Grade 4.