Strength in Community

The modern era of The Bush School saw a focus on increasing diversity, both in the community and through intercultural fluency within the curriculum. In 2007–2008, twenty-four percent of the student body were students of color. Fifteen percent of enrolled students received financial aid, and the financial aid budget was just over $1.4 million. By contrast, in 2023–2024, forty-eight percent of the student body are students of color. Twenty-two percent of enrolled students receive financial aid, and the financial aid budget is now $4.8 million.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts are woven throughout the current Lower School curriculum, and the Upper School has increased its elective offerings, notably in English and history, to include a wide array of global perspectives. Much of this growth and diversification is attributed to sustained commitment by the Board of Trustees as well as the leadership of Heads of School Frank Magusin (2000–2014) and Percy L. Abram (2014–present). In the grand tradition of wilderness education at Bush—and harkening back to the 1934 addition of a Snoqualmie ski lodge for student learning, The Bush School purchased a twenty-acre campus in the Methow Valley in 2016. The campus provides students with in-depth and longterm learning opportunities in eastern Washington and has established a foothold in the surrounding communities. The campus is currently used for retreats, E-Weeks, Cascades, and summer programs, and plans for a semester school are in development. Creating access for a diverse community of students guided by teachers who uphold the ideals set forth by Helen Taylor Bush remains the hallmark of a Bush education.