McGilvra or Bush?

One elementary chapter, or a K–12 path?

Families exploring The Bush School’s Lower School are often thinking beyond kindergarten. A K–12 school offers the possibility of a community spanning several stages of childhood. McGilvra offers a focused public K–5 chapter in Madison Park, with a new middle-school decision after fifth grade. Both are useful paths to consider when you visit.

You do not have to decide every school year ahead of time to make a thoughtful elementary choice. Ask what your child needs now: how they respond to instruction, where they will make friends, and how the school will keep you involved in their progress. At McGilvra, explore the classroom work and meet the teachers alongside the wider PTA community.

Make the after-school plan concrete

Bush’s Lower School Extended Day runs from 3:15 to 6 p.m. at a published rate of $32 per afternoon. Its clubs change by quarter and include activities such as chess, robotics, drama, sewing, and art. Financial aid for Extended Day follows the family’s tuition-aid percentage.

McGilvra has two separate after-school routes: PTA-coordinated enrichment classes and licensed childcare through Montlake Community Center. Enrichment runs in seasonal sessions; childcare runs from dismissal until 6 p.m., including Wednesday early release. Check enrollment, fees, handoffs, and care after a club finishes with the relevant provider.

Compare tuition and the rest of the year

Bush’s published 2026–27 Lower School tuition is $41,835 before need-based aid. McGilvra’s public K–5 school day is tuition-free, with separate costs for optional classes and childcare. Compare your family’s actual net cost after any aid award, rather than treating the posted tuition as everyone’s bill.

Include early-release afternoons, conference days, and school breaks in that comparison. A daily care program and an individual enrichment class solve different needs. Ask each school which non-school days it covers and when registration opens, then put the answers on a sample weekly calendar.

McGilvra and Bush can be different chapters

The PTA’s alumni list includes The Bush School among the public and independent schools students have attended after McGilvra. Choosing public elementary school can leave room to consider an independent middle or high school later. Bush makes its own admissions decisions, and no later place is guaranteed.

A visit makes this decision more specific. Look at student work, ask how teachers respond when a child needs extra help or challenge, and notice how children participate in the classroom. Visit McGilvra as part of that exploration, even if an independent school is already on your list.