Sanderling Waldorf School has done a major campus renovation so the school is looking beautiful…read more The Waldorf curriculum and approach are the only school I've found that is truly developmentally appropriate. The teachers are loving, they care deeply about the children, and understand how to meet the children with gentle, loving authority. The curriculum includes art, music, lots of games and movement, woodwork, knitting, 2 foreign languages, and of course all the traditional academic subjects. They learn their times tables by jumping rope, they learn languages through singing and stories, and botany on nature walks. They have been screen and tech free for over 100 years and Waldorf graduates go on to do well in High School, University and beyond. I should know, my daughter had a Waldorf education from Kindergarten through High School and is a successful working adult with a great circle of family and friends. Your child will love going to school and will grown into a resilient, confident, capable, kind and accomplished adult. Sanderling serves children from 15 months through to Grade 8, so call them to take a tour. You won't regret it!

Sanderling is a wonderful option in north county for a screen free approach to education. This…read moreschool has provided an anchor for our family and a community that provides a huge sense of support. Highly recommend!!

My two daughters have been at sparrow since 2021. It was such a relief to find a school that has…read morecommunity and meets criteria for education. Our teachers thus far have been caring, knowledgeable, and dependable. While the school has gone through a few changes over the years, the sparrow community continues to hold together for the kids with help of parents and staff alike. The most important thing is my children are HAPPY at sparrow. They have made true friendships, they know all the staff on a first name basis, and are learning to love learning. Waldorf education is a different kind of educational pathway, however at sparrow all concepts that are seen in public school are still met at sparrow bcuz they are a charter and state funded. They just teach it in a different way. They are not perfect and it's an uphill battle to keep this charter school functioning as a Waldorf since we still have to meet state testing, but the village it provides makes it worth while. Those looking into Waldorf education private or charter, should really work to understand what, how and why, waldorf curriculum is taught.

This school has been one big disappointment after another. I would switch but I have split custody…read moreand the father doesnt want to deal with that. My son is so far behind and they didnt tell me I went to them and told them and then all the sudden they agreed. There is absolutely no communication between facilitiy members. I've been lied to and now I've called Neda 4 times and have yet to recieve a call back. I can not recommend this school. On an educational level I knew this was not traditional but I had no idea my son would be so behind. Im having to pay several hundreds of dollars each month for tutors. I love norse mythology but I did not think that would completely take place of history. My child has not been taught about presidents or wars or anything really related to us history. I do not blame this new teacher the year just started. This whole experience for the past several years has been disappointing. ​

I could not imagine a better place to send my children. We've had such a positive experience at…read morethe Waldorf School of San Diego. The teachers genuinely know our child, and it's clear that child development is at the heart of everything they do. The balance of academics, art, movement, and meaningful relationships has been such a gift. One thing I really appreciate is that the school understands Waldorf education as something living. Steiner's ideas were never meant to be frozen in time--they were meant to keep evolving as our understanding of children grows. I see that here. The school stays grounded in the core principles while continuing to grow and meet the needs of today's children. We're so grateful to be part of this community.

This school lost its principal core Rudolf Steiner teachings...it should be called a Waldorf…read moreinspired school. My child was bullied in kindergarten, then in first grade and finally in second grade he was bullied by an uncertified teacher. The school doesn't try to remedy the bully issue. Go to Sanderling if you can...a true Waldorf school with qualified teachers. We are at Sanderling now, a wonderful and caring community.

All three of my children attended Waldorf School of Orange County through 8th grade. The teachers…read moretake the time to truly know each child, caring as much about the person they're becoming as their academic progress, helping them find their own voice and speak with confidence. The breadth of what's taught is remarkable: Spanish and Japanese, English classes, string orchestra, choir, painting, knitting, sewing, woodworking, alongside a strong foundation in the sciences. Science often extends beyond the classroom entirely, with overnight camping trips where children study rock formations and growth patterns firsthand. Children are also taught to contribute to their class as a community, and that same spirit extends to parents, between the Winter Festival, Grandparents Day, May Faire, and the Spring Concert, it never feels like an institution, but an extended family. Having watched all three of my children thrive here, I recommend it wholeheartedly.

For my daughter is this the third waldorf school, we moved because of my job. The waldorf education…read moreis always special, wherever you are. But I can say, we are happy to be part of WSOC now. My daughter is now in 3rd grade and loves her teachers, wenn she comes home, she often even plays, that she is a teacher and repeats with her puppets what she did and learned in the school. Although she had a hard time with divorce between me and her mother, the school gave her stability, joy and purpose. If you want to have a good experience and best results with any waldorf school, it's necessary to understand it's core principles and foundation and cooperate with that. It's hundert years approved pedagogy with great results in the whole world, but it needs cooperation. I am grateful and happy, that my daughter can be educated in WSOC!

We started this year in TK, so we have been in this school for about 6 months now. I have to say,…read morewe love it. Now let me just start by saying, this school is different and I truly feel lucky that we got in. Also, I have to say this school might not be attractive to every parent ok.... Please take the intake seriously, because you could be taking a lottery spot for someone who truly wants to be in a Waldorf school. How would I describe our experience so far ? If you or your kid loves the outdoors (sun, rain, moon, stars, ocean) things that grow and live in gardens, nature walks, learning how to care for Mother Earth, etc. then this is your dream school. If you or your child enjoy playtime in mud, dirt, don't lose your mind over stains, love rain boots, umbrellas, etc. then this is your dream school. If you or your child enjoy all things magical/wholesome make-believe, like fairy tears, knights, puppets etc. then this is your dream school. Ok I think you get the point :). Reminder , this is a review of my experience in the kindergarten program... where my child learned how to write her name, craft, knit, cut vegetables, set the table, do chores, sing songs, explore, pick up worms, and much more. I like and admire our teacher and her aid. They are extremely experienced and are really good with the kids. I don't need to be the teachers best friend, I just need to hear from my child that she loves her and is excellent with the kids, that's all that matters to me, and she is! The school is small, which I love, it feels old fashioned in all the good ways... like in ways that will remind you of your childhood school days. It is truly a Waldorf school, so make sure you research that and know what you are signing up for. I love it for our family, I personally couldn't imagine my child anywhere else. It's a little gem and I'm so glad it exists. Also, there are things they ask for like, no Disney/characters on clothes, no fancy nails, hair color, makeup, stuff that could be competitive/distracting and I'm sooooo grateful for that. They really want them to have this beautiful slow childhood. There are also so many resources for the parents! So if this all sounds lovely to you and your family - Best wishes and good luck on lottery day!!

My child was enrolled for TK/K for about 3 months in 2024, at which point I pulled my child…read more Journey is a bit of a co-op school that relies very heavily on parent participation for campus upkeep, festivals and volunteering - so if you enjoy being really active on a school campus, this school has plenty of opportunities. I throughly enjoyed this aspect. They are Waldorf-inspired and the festivals are charming and educational philosophy enchanting. The time spent outdoors is a gift to young children. The classrooms, or at least the TK room my child was in, was exactly as you'd expect a Waldorf classroom to be set up: low stimulus, intentional, curated to fit the rhythms of the day. The communal table and shared snack and responsibilities (my child came away loving bean soup) are things I fondly remember. But in our brief, but intense experience, this school is neither quipped nor (it seems) interested in becoming equipped to provide meaningful and impactful support to children who are different: neurodivergent, learning differences, or just struggling - even temporarily. It is a school of choice and the position of top level administration, in my opinion, is one of complete indifference in the hopes that doing nothing will get you to leave by choice. Which is what happened with us. And was likely for the best. At orientation they stressed that this school may not be for all families. But my impression is that what they are trying to convey is that it may not be a good fit for families who want, for example, a rigorous academic curriculum, or heavy technology use. What they don't say is that it may not be a good fit for families whose children may struggle - either socially or academically or behaviorally. And I think that is what they need to share. Given that this is a public charter, I'm still sort of amazed that they operate with what seems absolutely no understanding of how to identify and support students who struggle, when all other public schools have pretty typical and standard supports in place. The school also seems to struggle with bullying management - or another way said, they seem to place very low priority on intentionally supporting, in age appropriate ways, social and emotional development and guidance. I was hoping for an inclusive experience for my child but found the opposite. Between what I witnessed on the playground at drop off and what my child shared, teasing and bullying are at best ignored and at worst enabled. For such an aspirational educational program, it felt like the social and emotional development of young humans was totally absent. I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but the only way I can describe it is it felt like the preservation of childhood was at the expense of who these kids would eventually be as adults. Two years in to attending our local public school, and watching how seriously and intentionally bullying is dealt with (conversely, how much emphasis is placed on social and emotional development and guidance) I feel some guilt for allowing my child to stay here for as long as they did. When we received a spot in the lottery we felt very lucky. The lottery is intense and the waitlists are long. We had high hopes for a positive, experiential introduction to education for our nature loving, inclusive, friendly child at the TK/K level. We committed to a commute that we would not otherwise undertake because of what it seemed to offer. In the end, our nearby public school turned out to be the fit for our child, with services and supports abundantly available when and if needed, and high levels of inclusivity, positivity and interest in the well being and development of future adults.

I cannot thank Shining Stars enough for being that safe learning space for my baby. I have never…read morehad any complaints with the experience/teachers there & best part is they use an app so you can see what your child is doing throughout the day to give you a piece of mind! Ms. Aurora gives you the highest quality care in the infant class, Ms. Mystik & Ms. Bella are the best duo which made learning fun for her everyday, & Ms. Drea is the most sweetest caring person that will treat yours like her own. They provide homemade meals on site, host cute holiday/family events, field trips & have picture days! We truly love all the teachers & can't wait for her to continue her preschool experience there definitely consider them extended family & could not thank them enough!

I've had a wonderful experience with this daycare. I really appreciate that they use an app to keep…read moreparents updated throughout the day. It's so nice to know their schedule, what activities they're doing, and how my child is doing. The staff are all kind, caring, and welcoming, and it's clear they truly care about the children. I highly recommend this daycare to any family looking for a safe, loving, and well-organized place for their child.

We love little acorn! The teachers are angels - they truly love and encourage development and…read moregrowth in each child. My son loves going to school now and doesn't even look back when I drop him off. He has made sweet friendships and loves learning from his teachers. Would recommend this school again and again!!!

We originally signed our 3 year old daughter up at Little Acorns just for a short two month summer…read moresession, thinking she'd go back to her play-based school in the fall. But she has loved it here so much, and we've been so impressed, that we decided to keep her at Little Acorns for the school year instead. She comes home every day happy, calm, and excited to tell us what she did. We've seen such a difference in her behavior at home. She's more independent, more focused, and not picking up any of the bad habits we'd seen at previous schools! The teachers, especially Ms. Marzia, are so kind and nurturing, and the environment is warm and positive. The other kids are respectful, and clearly happy to be there. As a military family who's moved around and experienced a few different schools, we can honestly say this one is the best fit we've found. We're so thankful to have discovered Little Acorns!

We enrolled our daughter at the Copper Nest when she was 2 years old. The teachers there provided a…read morebalanced and thoughtful experience for her. While I am not fully educated in the Reggio Emilia and Waldorf methods, I am happy to see how the Copper Nest incorporated the learning techniques into a very productive and meaningful space for my daughter. She has bonded with other children, become more outgoing and verbal and I can clearly see the enrichment since when we started. The space itself is very carefully curated and bright, clean and welcoming for the children.

I can't say enough amazing things about this program because it's so much more then that. The…read moreCopper Nest is love, care and thoughtfulness all wrapped up into a beautiful package for your child to explore and unwrap. The creative and thoughtful ideas in this program have beyond exceeded my expectations. I feel so blessed our daughter was able to have this experience with such inspiring educators who have such a passion and love for what they do

If you have kiddos that love to dance and you're close to the Oceanside area, look no further! This…read morestudio offers all variety of dance and technique classes. They also offer recreational level classes as well as competitive classes. We have been to a few different studios in the area and have really found that North County Academy of Dance has been the perfect fit for them. The instructors are very motivating and friendly. My dancers have really improved in the last year that we have been here. The atmosphere is very positive and the families that hang out in the lobby are very welcoming. We recommend this studio to anyone that is interested in taking their dancing to the next level!

Attempting to see grandchildren in performance was a hassle, rude people in charge. cue outside in…read moreSun, refusing to let people enter to use a restroom. If I wanted to be treated as such I would have gone to New York City.