Individual Contribution
At the Northwest School, students learn the important life skill of stepping forward and participating in ways that are both personal and meaningful. It starts with a courteous and supportive community, in which students are safe to express opinions, ask questions, and try new skills. It continues with a faculty dedicated to helping each student discover his or her individual learning strengths and style. Students see that intelligence and creativity aren’t fixed; they can be nurtured and developed. As students learn more about how they learn, they become strong self-advocates—identifying what they need to continue growing intellectually—and using that self-knowledge to make powerful, personal contributions to their community.





A day-long celebration of science and math, WinterFest lets students test out what they’ve learned.
During ArtsFest, Upper and Middle Schoolers come together for performances of song, dance, theatre and displays of visual art.
Students take the lead in Parent/Teacher/Student conferences, advocating for themselves about achievements and opportunities for growth.
Students act as election observers in El Salvador.
Students in the Environmental Interest Group spearhead initiatives like the school’s composting and recycling program.
When I graduated from Northwest I wasn’t embarrassed to talk about things or to have ideas. That was especially important to me as a woman. I left there feeling I could do anything.
Alex Pemoulie ’03
Director of Finance, Momofuku, and co-owner of critically-acclaimed restaurant Thirty Acres