East Bay Waldorf School is one of the most amazing thing that happened to our family :) …read more.. The transformation we've seen ever since our older daughter started to attend the school 6 years ago was amazing !! She became more social, out-going, loving nature and most important ... growing up to be a healthy positive and happy young adult. She love going to school every day! She love learning ! Now we've signed up our younger daughter to start Kindergarten this year, and we're all looking forward for her start - I'm sure it would be an amazing experience for her too... I'll recommend this school, teachers, and stuff to ANYONE i know !! 5 Star !!

Wildcat Canyon community school is an amazing and healthy environment for children and families…read morelooking for a like-minded community! Waldorf education is a world class education serving the children with a wide variety of subjects and languages, math and science all given through the arts. "Education from the inside out" the children are thought to freely think and with empathy and compassion for each other and the world. This is our fourth year at the school and our two children are loving it! Every year we fall deeper in love with the curriculum, teachers, and community members! Truly, a futuristic school that gives a Renaissance style of education with top-notch educators and holistic minded families. It would be in your best interest to take a tour of the school and then you will be able to see and feel the uniqueness for yourself! Don't be surprised if you see healthy children running and skipping and singing and climbing trees and gardening and playing games together just like schools should be producing healthy, open minded free thinking, individuals!

If you want your child to be taught holistically, and if your kid's overall development is more…read moreimportant to you than only achieving high test scores, then the Waldorf School is for you. The academics are excellent. It is amazing to see and hear 3 year olds tell coherent stories, thanks to the way that arts and literature are integrated into the curriculum. My daughter has been going to the pre-school program, kindergarten, and is now in first grade. I'm delighted to see how she and her school mates are developing intellectually and artistically. It is also reassuring to see Waldorf School 8th graders that are smart, well adjusted, and do community work. The school doesn't feel or look like a factory, but is a pleasant, inviting place of learning and playing. If you see the interiors of the kindergartens alone, you'll be in awe. Feel free to sign up for a tour. The school is a strong community that supports each family that is part of it. I work full-time and feel very connected to the other families and the faculty. I also love the fact that my child will have the same class teacher from first through at least fifth grade (There are also other subject teachers throughout those years.) The teacher will really get to know the students and can guide their development tailored to their individual needs. I wish I was in first grade again at that school!

This school played a very large part in destroying my life…read more I attended the waldorf grades school from k1-8th grade and transitioned to the waldorf high school after (all while paying full tuition). Due to some unfortunate events based on false allegations I was asked to leave the waldorf high school during my sophomore year. I lost all of my friends, everyone i had known for the past 15 years where ripped away from me. I remember crying in the principles office not being able to accept the words she uttered.. I remember my mom driving me home, it was silent in the car except for the sound of my tears dropping onto my northface. Since that day I was an outcast to the community I once called home. The waldorf school ruined my life, but everyday, I am healing from the wounds it left me.

We are blown away by our shadow day/application experience at this school…read more First of all, let me say that gaining entry into private schools on the peninsula in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart. The process with all of these schools has been completely grueling overall, so I have nothing but love and deep appreciation for the schools who met us with kindness and handled our family situation with care. This school is a phenomenal choice. After struggling initially with a couple of private schools, we steeled ourselves and made it our mission to engage wholeheartedly in the process. We applied to five top notch schools and our daughter got into all five of them! It can be done. Alongside one other school, Waldorf was tied as top choice. The teacher moves through all grades with the class until 8th, and wow--Mrs Sykes is a quintessential teacher!! The arts program is so powerful and strong, and kids emerge deeply talented and capable. Childhood is kept intact, and academics are rigorous. This school produces well-rounded humans, no doubt. It was painful to decline the offer, but we ultimately decided that another school fit our family's current journey slightly better. Marginally. Finally, I want to acknowledge Jaime in the admissions office. She was so responsive, kind, knowledgeable, and passionate! I wish I knew the name of the other two women we interacted with--one beautiful human behind the desk in the front office, and another who sat through our parent interview. Again, simply lovely humans. I am including he body of the email we received in response to declining. This is such a classy, humble, kindhearted, and generous way to respond. I'm sad to say that we now know firsthand that this is not the way that all private schools in this area treat people--not even close. We are so grateful! Please check out Waldorf!

Our family has had a wonderful experience at Waldorf School of the Peninsula. My son started in…read moreNursery and is now in 5th grade, and we're planning for him to continue all the way through 12th grade--that's how much we value this school. He genuinely loves going to school every day, which says so much. The teachers truly care about the students in front of them--not just academically, but as whole human beings. They are attentive to each child's development and also thoughtful about the class dynamic as a whole, creating a supportive and nurturing environment. The curriculum is incredibly rich and diverse. From math and English to music, gardening, handwork, world languages, arts, and games, the education is well-rounded and engaging. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a real love of learning. We feel very grateful to be part of such a warm and inspiring community and highly recommend WSP to families looking for an education that nurtures both the mind and the heart.

My children have attended The Waldorf School of the Peninsula for the past four years. While many…read moreof the teachers are caring, dedicated, and deeply invested in their students' growth, the same cannot be said for the school's leadership and administration. Unfortunately, the administration is dysfunctional, lacks transparency, and demonstrates poor alignment in priorities and resource allocation. The school has a large population of neurodivergent students, yet the current educational support structure is alarmingly inadequate. This year, the entire "educational support team" for the Mountain View campus (grades 6-12) -- consisting of ONLY one learning specialist and one counselor -- has been stretched even further to cover the Los Altos campus (grades Kindergarten-5). The administration claims to have a "robust educational support team". However, a staff of 2 people is far from robust and is completely insufficient to serve the needs of the entire school (Kindergarten - 12th grade). Despite my repeated efforts to raise this concern with the administration, they failed to take any meaningful action. While the teaching staff genuinely care about their students, the lack of administrative competence and adequate support services significantly undermines the school's ability to meet the needs of all learners. There are many excellent public and private schools in the area that are far better equipped to support diverse students. Your child deserves that level of care and commitment.

I am a student who attended multiple private schools and public schools, usually,…read morepublic school: 6th grade: 6th grade math, pre algebra if you pass skip test 7th grade: pre algebra, algebra 1 if you pass skip test 8th grade: algebra 1, geometry if you're good enough private schools, like stratford and challenger: 6th grade: pre algebra 7th grade: algebra 1 8th grade: geometry waldorf: 7th grade: pre algebra 8th grade: algebra 1, pre algebra if you fail too many test or is struggling so Waldorf is clearly behind in math. They just give a book to read for English, and they don't give you a standardized curriculum for testing , and most topics like grammar(phrases, part of speech), reading comprehension and vocabulary is not included. They don't even have history class. Science class is just doing science experiments that don't follow a standardized course. Not only they don't have a standardized course but the experiments are usually something to learn a long time ago, eg refraction or reflection. On top of behind in most classes, they also spend too much time on arts, music, dance that are optional classes to take in high school. And they have a fundraising thing for 8th grade that took up all the time for learning and it is mandatory. So Waldorf, therefore is not a good place to spend your time and money on if you're serious about education, GPA, and getting into a good college

We are a new Waldorf family and my son's a 9th grader. What an amazing experience WaldorfHS has…read morebeen for us. When we visited last year, I felt the curriculum and opportunities(foreign exchange, class trips) sounded wonderful but still wasn't sure how my son would fit in- as the school is smaller. However- the school's been fantastic on all fronts- including the social aspect. Though smaller, there's a welcoming & friendly vibe between all students. I think my kid has MORE friends than he would at a much larger school where he'd hang with the same 2 or 3 kids daily. Teachers care about the kids and "see" my kid for who he is. The academics are amazing & yet the workload isn't overwhelming. Meaningful project assignments & plenty of available support from teachers when needed. HW load comparable to most privates- but not excessive. He has plenty of downtime & isn't staying up until 11pm doing HW. I'd absolutely recommend this school & SF Waldorf HS school has surpassed expectations.

I don't know if the word negro is a joke within books being produced out loudly. If this is about a…read morebook, teaching or not, the word negro shouldn't be replaced with anything else or misused. This truly misguides student who are not Black and encourages them even more to think that word is okay while being used in school books and teaching context.

We have had an absolutely wonderful experience at Santa Cruz Waldorf School! The nurturing…read moreenvironment and dedicated teachers truly set this school apart. From the moment we stepped on campus, we felt welcomed and inspired. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to foster creativity and critical thinking, allowing children to explore subjects in a meaningful and hands-on way. Our children have flourished here, academically in math, writing, and languages, as well as more broadly with the arts, music, gardening, outdoor education trips, and more. If you're looking for a school that encourages a deep love of learning, I highly recommend the Santa Cruz Waldorf School.

Santa Cruz Waldorf School has been a good fit for my children. The kinder program is magical! Being…read moreable to play and learn to connect with peers and teachers AND nature is just what my children needed at that age. Over the years, we have learned reverence and rythm and the beauty of slowing down from our time at the school. Their love of festivals and community connection is unmatched. I appreciate the deemphasis on screen time as well. The Waldorf practice of teacher looping was something that was quite new to me and at first I was a little hesitant about. I have grown to see the process of keeping the same teacher from grade 1-8 as a true gift. It has given my children time to be seen and understood to learn most effectively. If you are exploring elementary and middle school alternatives, SCWS is a great option to consider!

Water and Sunshine is super great! My kid started here when he is 1.5 years old. He is a super…read moreactive and energetic boy. I was quite concerned before we sent him to daycare, cause he is always running and jumping in our home, and I was afraid he might hurt himself, and I was not sure if teachers can really handle him well. Water and sunshine amazed me that the teachers there are super patient, and things just went smoothly. And it is amazing that your little one get to do artwork, gardening, food project, etc. My favorite part about water and sunshine is that the owner respond fast to my messages, phone calls, and I got a ton of lovely pictures and videos from her. Definitely recommend this place!

Our son attended for 7 months and just graduated. He definitely loves his time here…read more The lead teacher, Cindy, is incredible. She's warm, professional, and our 2-year-old was always excited to see her and can't wait to hug her. I love that they prioritize healthy / organic food. Handmade bread is always our son's favoriate. They are very open for communication and taking feedbacks. There is a great variety of cool activities every day, and weekly themed projects to keep active toddlers busy. So glad we found this place for our son!

Wonderful school! My two children attended the Lower School, as well as the High School. Their…read moreclass teachers were extremely knowledgeable about educating children holistically. I feel a deep gratitude for both of these talented teachers. (Both still work at Summerfield.) Summerfield High School has the best teachers. The teachers push the students to put their best self forward. The coursework is rigorous. The students frequently use art to express themselves. In my opinion, this is a beautiful and logical way to educate children. I feel grateful that we found Summerfield. I appreciate all that these exceptional teachers did for our children.

I attended Summerfield for thirteen years, and my education prepared me exceedingly well -- not…read moreonly for college and law school, but for life itself. In many ways, SWSF served me better than higher education: the academics were rigorous in a way that required genuine thinking and original ideas, rather than the passive reproduction of others' thoughts. I learned how to collaborate with people different from myself, a necessary skill in any job. My teachers challenged my assumptions and helped me grow as a writer, mathematician, and scientist -- and as a human being. The arts and music, although no longer central to my daily life, broadened my perspective and made learning feel beautiful and meaningful. I am deeply grateful for this education and for all the paths it has allowed me to travel.

My children have only attended the SWS high school, but we love it. They are focused on learning…read morefor a lifetime. It is a college prep curriculum and, as our children have been going there (we have been part of this community for over 7 years, but Waldorf educated family for the past 14+ years) I have noticed a definite shift from the "artsy" reputation it may have had in the past. It really is a college prep school, yet stays true to the Waldorf curriculum in terms of human growth. And, as with all Waldorf schools, the arts are very alive with fine arts, theater and music all well integrated into the program. This is not your average high school: there is no football team, no cheerleading squad, few electives. It isn't typically American in those ways. Waldorf has enriched our family in endless ways: I will forever be grateful for this education. Update: November 2013 My oldest has been graduated from the high school and on to college for about 2 1/2 years now. She is now actually thanking me for this schooling: she realizes what a blessing it has been to her. That says so much about Waldorf education!

I want to be clear that this review is only for the summer camp, as my daughter attended two…read moreseparate weeks at Sacramento Waldorf School throughout the summer. Her first week was absolutely packed with fun activities. They did tie-dye, a color run, and even took a hike to the park. She absolutely loved it, and it felt like there was always something going on. The second week was a little different. There didn't seem to be as many planned activities, and she mentioned having quite a bit more downtime. It wasn't necessarily bad, but after such a fun and activity-filled first week, I think we were both expecting a little more. The campus itself is really nice, and one thing I appreciated was that there weren't a ton of kids in her camp group. I want to say there were around eight kids, which made it feel smaller and more personal. They also had a really fun potluck, and I've heard they sometimes take bike rides to a local coffee shop, which sounds like such a fun little adventure for the kids. Overall, my daughter enjoyed her time there, especially that first week. I just wish the activities had been a little more consistent from week to week. If both weeks had been like the first one, this easily would have been a 5-star experience. Helpful tip: If you're signing your child up for multiple weeks, just know that the activities may vary quite a bit depending on the week.

As a heart and soul centered educator of multiple decades, Linda brings depth of presence and…read moreauthenticity to each child and family , every moment of each day. I witnessed Linda with her school community first hand , every day, while I had the joy and honor of being an assistant teacher and a part of her school community. Your child is in the most quality care with Linda and this visionary care school. Linda's school is a one-of-a-kind gem. The world would benefit beyond words with hundreds of more of teachers and schools like Linda and the Morning Song School.

My grandson started his first experience with school at Morning Song last year. It has been a…read morewonderful opportunity for him to learn how to socialize with other children and learn in such a creative environment. I totally recommend this preschool!