Northwest School

The Northwest School is a private school for grades 6 through 12 located in the historic Summit School building, originally built around 1905 in Seattle. The structure features two distinctive octagonal towers flanking the main entrance, large windows for natural light, and solid construction with brick and stucco walls alongside more recent lap siding.

The building was originally constructed as Summit Grade School around 1905 when Seattle's population was growing and schools expanded rapidly throughout the city. Architect James Stephen designed it with flexible layouts that allowed new classrooms to be added as enrollment increased over time.

The school's name reflects its location on First Hill, connecting it to Seattle's neighborhood identity. Today, students and visitors move through spaces that honor early 20th-century educational design while creating their own community traditions.

The school is located on First Hill near downtown Seattle and can be easily reached on foot from First Hill Park by heading east along University Street to Summit Avenue. Visitors should be mindful that the campus remains an active educational space where students study and gather, so respectful behavior and scheduling ahead is recommended.

The school is notably recognized for its champion Ultimate Frisbee teams, with the boys team achieving a perfect season in 2011 and winning the Western National Championships multiple times. This unexpected focus reveals how the school balances traditional academics with excellence in an unconventional sport.