Academics
Engaged Learning
Academic Excellence
HELEN TAYLOR BUSH, FOUNDER OF BUSH
We believe students learn best by doing.
At The Bush School, academic excellence is defined by purpose as much as rigor. Learning is designed to stretch students intellectually while inviting curiosity, exploration, reflection, and connection. Through thoughtfully challenging curriculum and nurturing relationships with teachers, students learn to read closely, write with clarity, analyze deeply, tackle complex problems, and ask meaningful questions about the world around them. From the earliest grades through graduation, Bush students are supported in developing confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning that prepares them not only for college, but also for a lifetime of thoughtful engagement, contribution, and accomplishment.
Experiential Education
List of 3 items.
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Cascades
Cascades is The Bush School’s signature Upper School program, providing three-week immersive experiences that allow Upper School students the opportunity to challenge their thinking, ignite their passion for exploration, and deepen their awareness of their connection to the larger community. -
E-lectives
E-lectives are short, highly-focused courses that provide opportunities for Middle School students to explore interests outside of traditional school subjects, and throughout the school’s history have included wilderness experiences, community engagement, and art creation.
The Bush Middle School offers a wide variety of classes through the E-lectives Program. Students are encouraged to pursue their special interest or activity, as well as take this opportunity to try new things and meet new people. We value this experiential program precisely because it gives students opportunities to discover new interests or traits, develop interpersonal, collaborative, and leadership skills, and take on healthy risks in a safe and nurturing environment. -
E-Week
From late May to early June, Bush Middle School students immerse themselves in two weeks of interdisciplinary and hands-on learning, building confidence, self-reliance, and self-awareness by being taken outside their comfort zones to learn new and rewarding skill sets. E-week combines Bush’s academic on-campus curriculum with engaging experiences in new, off-campus environments, allowing students time for further reflection, acclimation, and application of their newly acquired talents.
Learn By Doing
At The Bush School, experiential learning is a defining feature of a student’s education. Through immersive, hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom, from Methow Valley field research and Cascades design projects to meaningful engagement with and service in local communities, students learn by asking questions, grappling with real challenges, and reflecting thoughtfully on their work. These opportunities stretch students beyond their comfort zones, helping them discover their strengths, clarify their passions, and develop insights that endure well beyond their time at Bush.
Methow Campus
The Bush School campus extends beyond the urban landscape of Seattle across the Cascade mountains to The Bush School Methow Campus. In the fall of 2016, the school acquired a twenty-acre campus and educational facility in Mazama, WA. This campus, located in the region known as the Methow Valley, provides students with immersive experiences that highlight the interdependence between community, environment, and self.
Experiential Learning in Action
The Bush School is an independent day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 745 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status