McGilvra or Epiphany?

A choice focused on the elementary years

McGilvra and Epiphany School both give families a chance to focus on the elementary years before making a separate middle-school decision. McGilvra is a public K–5 school in Madison Park. Epiphany is a secular independent pre-K–5 school in Madrona. For a family choosing kindergarten, it is worth seeing both classrooms and walking both campuses.

Ask how reading and math instruction work from week to week, how progress is shared with families, and how teachers respond when a student needs more support or challenge. A school tour is also a chance to see children’s relationships: who greets them, how they ask for help, and how they take part in a group.

Creative learning and the time after school

At McGilvra, families can explore art, music, PE, and library alongside classroom learning. The PTA’s enrichment program brings seasonal on-campus classes in areas such as STEM, sports, music, and art. Classes are separately registered and fee-based, with scholarship information published by the PTA.

Epiphany’s Extended Day program offers before-school care from 7 to 8:15 a.m. and after-school care from 3 to 6 p.m. The published afternoon rate is $37 per day, or $40 for drop-in, with fee reductions tied to financial aid. The school also describes camps during most breaks and programs on some conference and in-service days.

McGilvra’s licensed on-site aftercare runs from dismissal until 6 p.m. through Seattle Parks & Recreation and Montlake Community Center. Wednesday care starts at the earlier 1:10 p.m. dismissal. Ask the provider about current space, fees, and break coverage. An enrichment class is not a substitute for a confirmed full-afternoon care plan.

Price the plan you would actually use

Epiphany lists 2026–27 tuition of $41,225 before need-based aid, with Extended Day as an additional cost. McGilvra’s public elementary day is tuition-free. Compare tuition after aid plus the care and classes your family would use at each school; include commutes and school-break arrangements too.

On both visits, describe your child’s needs directly. Ask what learning support looks like in the classroom, when specialists become involved, and whether any services have separate fees. Those answers will tell you more about your family’s fit than a broad public-versus-private label.

Make room for the next chapter

Both elementary paths lead to a new decision after fifth grade. McGilvra’s published alumni list includes public and independent middle schools across Seattle. Ask each school how it supports families through that transition and helps children grow in independence.

Come visit McGilvra, see the school day, and ask a current family about the routines that matter to you. A thoughtful choice starts with the child you have today and the community you want around them.