View source for Bush School (Washington)

{{about|a private school in Seattle, Washington|the school of government at Texas A&M University|Bush School of Government and Public Service}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
|name                   = The Bush School
|logo                   = Bushlogo.PNG
|motto                  = Experience education
|location               = [[Madison Valley, Seattle|Madison Valley]]
|streetaddress          = 3400 East Harrison Street
|region                 =
|city                   = [[Seattle]]
|state                  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|zipcode                = 98112
|country                = United States
|coordinates            = {{coord|47.622996|-122.288776|format=dms|display=inline,title|name=The Bush School|type:edu_region:US-WA}}
|schooltype             = Private
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|established            = {{Start date|1924}}
|founded                =
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|founder                =  Helen Taylor Bush
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|head of school         = Sarah Smith
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|faculty                = 85
|teaching_staff         =
|employees              = 45
|key_people             =
|grades                 = K–12
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|enrollment             = 580<br>{{hlist|K–5: 185|6–8: 160|9–12: 235}}
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|campus size            = {{convert|6|acre|m2}}
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|colors                 = Blue and white
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|accreditation          = Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
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|picture                = Seattle - Bush School 02.jpg
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|website                = {{URL|http://www.bush.edu}}
|footnotes              =
}}

'''The Bush School''' is a independent [[private school|private K–12 school]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Founded in 1924 by Helen Taylor Bush, The Bush School today enrolls 735 students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Admissions Overview {{!}} Apply to The Bush School in Seattle, WA |url=https://www.bush.edu/admissions |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.bush.edu}}</ref> As of 2020, school review website [[Niche (company)|Niche]] ranks the Bush School as the best private K-12 school in Washington state and the 4th best private prep and high school in the Washington state.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore The Bush School|url=https://www.niche.com/k12/the-bush-school-seattle-wa/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=Niche|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2021}}
In 1924, Helen Taylor Bush, a supporter of John Dewey's philosophy of progressive education, opened a preschool and kindergarten in her home to six students. In 1929, the school, having grown to six grades, the school was organized as a nonprofit corporation with a board of trustees. The Helen Bush School for Girls formally began in 1930.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In 1941, Bush helped organize the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools, now called [[Northwest Association of Independent Schools|NWAIS]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bush School Mission & History {{!}} Seattle Private School |url=https://www.bush.edu/about-bush/mission-and-history#:~:text=The%20Bush%20School%20is%20founded,educational%20philosophy%20of%20John%20Dewey. |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.bush.edu}}</ref>

Gracemont became part of the Bush School campus in 1944. The house itself, plus the carriage house and the grounds, were transferred to Mrs. Bush by Grace Heffernan Arnold. Gracemont continues to serve as a classroom and administrative building for the Upper School.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carneys an Doe|url=https://www.carneysandoe.com/assets/The-Bush-School-7.6.pdf}}</ref>

In 1968 the boarding program was phased out.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The school was formally renamed the Bush School in 1970 and began enrolling boys in the Upper School, making it Seattle's only K–12 coeducational independent school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bush School Mission & History {{!}} Seattle Private School |url=https://www.bush.edu/about-bush/mission-and-history#:~:text=The%20Bush%20School%20is%20founded,educational%20philosophy%20of%20John%20Dewey. |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.bush.edu}}</ref>

In 1986, the Bush School completed two capital campaigns that dated back to 1972 resulting in a faculty endowment, renovations to its Gracemont building, and construction of the Commons, a new gym, an art building, administrative offices, Benaroya, and the urban courtyard.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lift and Relay of Gracemont Mansion (The Bush School)|url=https://tileroofing.org/industry-insights/lift-and-relay-of-gracemont-mansion-the-bush-school/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=tileroofing.org|date=9 September 2013 }}</ref>

Construction of the Lower Campus including the Lower School classrooms, Community Room, library, Mag Gym, turf field, play structure, and the parking structure was completed in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bush School Mission & History {{!}} Seattle Private School |url=https://www.bush.edu/about-bush/mission-and-history#:~:text=The%20Bush%20School%20is%20founded,educational%20philosophy%20of%20John%20Dewey. |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.bush.edu}}</ref>

In 2016, The Bush School acquired a second campus, called the Bush Methow Campus, in [[Mazama, Washington]]. The twenty-acre campus and educational facility, formerly known as the North Cascades Basecamp, integrates wilderness, cultural, and academic experiential learning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bush School Mission & History {{!}} Seattle Private School |url=https://www.bush.edu/about-bush/mission-and-history#:~:text=The%20Bush%20School%20is%20founded,educational%20philosophy%20of%20John%20Dewey. |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.bush.edu}}</ref>

== School traditions ==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2021}}{{Promotional tone|section|date=June 2021}}
Inquiry-based and experiential learning is a longstanding tradition of the Bush School, which is manifested in field trips for students in each of the school's divisions, as well as international travel and wilderness outings for older students. Winter sports also are a focus of its experiential learning program, and the school holds a mountaineering class at Snoqualmie Pass and also a winter sports wilderness program including snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snow hiking and learning about winter wildlife. The school also encourages students to explore cultural, natural and historical sites.

==Notable alumni==
* [[Chris Ballew]] (1983), member of the band [[The Presidents of the United States of America (band)|the Presidents of the United States of America]], children's musician (stage name [[Caspar Babypants]])
* [[Claire Dederer]] (1985), author
* [[Dave Dederer]] (1982), member of the band [[The Presidents of the United States of America (band)|the Presidents of the United States of America]]
* [[Meg Greenfield]], political [[editorial]] writer
* [[Risa Lavizzo-Mourey]], president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
* [[Bonnie McKee]] (2002), songwriter
* [[Sweet Water (band)|Sweet Water]], American rock band

==References==
{{Commons category|Bush School}}
<references />

{{WIAA Sea-King District 2|B|1A}}

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[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1924]]
[[Category:High schools in King County, Washington]]
[[Category:Private elementary schools in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Private high schools in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Private middle schools in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Schools in Seattle]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in Washington (state)]]