There is a phrase that gets overused these days but is no less true in this instance: Game Changer…read more This school has been an absolute game changer for our family. We started with the preschool (which I encourage any family to try) and fell in love with the educational philosophy, the classmates and their families, the campus, and what our own family has become. If you are looking for a preschool stop your search now, it's absolutely wonderful. Continuing into grade school might be something to evaluate, but the preschool is a no-brainer.

I brought my children to Live Oak 20 years ago, moving to the foothills from Davis where my oldest…read morehad attended Davis Waldorf. She entered 3rd grade, my son started Kindergarten, and my littles were still... little. Since then, all four of my children graduated from Live Oak and have moved on to become heart-centered, insightful, intelligent adults. Through family ups and downs (including the loss of my husband), the Live Oak community has been the solid rock under our feet. In fact, my children often remark when they think of "home" or their "home town," they think of Live Oak Waldorf School.

My daughter has been enrolled here for over a year now and we absolutely love Emily!!…read more She had such a great connection with the kids in her care. My daughter loves her and looks forward to going here. This is a preschool only program, 3 hours a day. I can't express how lucky we are to have been able to attend this school.

Miss Emily gives Caring and Loving attention to each individual child. She provides educational…read moreactivities, celebrates birthday (in a Big Way) Her thoughtfulness to details is remarkable! My 2 grandchildren had pre-school and day care with Miss Emily and They were very happy to go to Miss Emily's every time. Outdoor activities in a safe, fun, learning atmosphere was outstanding. Plenty of things to play "with" and " on", plus, a little garden where the kids can plant seeds and watch them grow! Also provides healthy snacks and beverages. If You want a place that leaves You Happy and Content to Leave Your Child, Please Check Out Miss Emily's Apple Blossom Pre-School and Day Care

I strongly recommend Juniper Tree Enrichment Program for anyone seeking holistic learning and…read moreemotional regulation in a nurturing environment for your child. My daughter was in Juniper Tree from 2017 to 2021. She started Juniper as a replacement of a Waldorf school she had been attending. Looking back, the school director and teacher Yishan's combined approach of Montessori and Waldorf proved more effective for my kid's learning and overall development. The teachers' and staff's personalized attention to each child in a small group setting, a clean, relaxing and cozy atmosphere that comforts children to stay calm and focused, emphasis on children's emotional growth by teaching how to communicate are not what I could get in any other school including the Waldorf school she attended before. I feel privileged to have met Teacher Yishan since she changed the way my child communicates herself. She turns learning into fun each day where children truly learns and internalizes the subject and empowers each child to cultivate their self-esteem and communication skills. When I spot my kid in an emotionally charged situation, I remind her of what she learned at Juniper Tree and she articulates her feelings and reasoning even now after we departed from Juniper Tree. I am happy to see Juniper Tree growing each year. It will have to be since their educational philosophy and practices are genuinely beneficial for children.

A wonderful enrichment education program for homeschooler. The director cares deeply for the…read morechildren. 3 of my children took classes there for 3 years. We would have stayed longer if we had not moved. The community of people becomes more like a family and the atmosphere is kind. Everything is project based and inspires a love for learning. I wish Juniper moved with us!

This is a great school and a real community. It gets back to the heart of teaching and not just…read moretesting, and truly allows kids to be kids while reaching them where they are. Before switching my daughter from a college prep to AM WINN I scheduled a visit, did my research on the curriculum, and checked with some coworkers who grew up in a Waldorf education and found that there were so many beneficial aspects. The curriculum is based on what's appropriate for the age and fully submerges them in a subject. The kids learn actual life skills (think in the sense that most middle/high schools lost home economics, cooking, gardening, sewing, cursive, etc - these kids are learning it from K-8). All of the kids play an instrument each year. They transition through various handwork - finger knitting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. And after meeting several kids in the neighborhood I noticed they have such amazing temperaments and spirits and are so welcoming and joyful. I am truly glad that we found AM Winn as my daughter is blossoming in the Waldorf community and education approach. At first glance I believed Waldorf was something only "white, hippie people put their kids in" as I read some reviews on Waldorf education, but I was so wrong for going along with that belief, even if only for a moment. Consider that as adults we all learn differently and receive information differently - so why do we expect our kids to learn one way in school? AM Winn and the Waldorf approach reaches kids by incorporating every learning style. It's a holistic approach with a concern for the mind body and spirit of the child. They will not only learn about a culture/era, but they will build shelters, take a field trip to an exhibit, sing about it, write about it, draw it out, etc. Math is taught in a way for the kids to think through it in various methods, not just regurgitate information. It's age appropriate not where the district says they should be for their funding purposes. And I love that the school is VERY culturally diverse. Had I gone based on some of the school rating websites or testing sites I might have steered from the school, But I toured the school and fell in love. Some of the reports show that it's not diverse, the kids are far behind in subject matter, and it received some negative reviews - that I will say from my experience here that info is false. My daughter is multiracial, and she has a diverse group of friends that don't see color, she is just as knowledgeable in subjects as my step kids who attend another public school, thinks on a deeper level than they do, has developed a strong sense of empathy and justice for others, and we love it here. I've watched my daughter recover from some of the damage that her previous school did to her She previously attended a college prep school that I won't name but literally broke her spirit, and I've known many people who reported the same thing. The kids were expected to "slant" and sit perfectly still while others finished their work, she would get in trouble for READING in class or drawing because she wasn't slanting, and wasn't actually taught to work through a math problem only to memorize answers for timed lessons. There wasn't much play involved with only a tiny jungle gym in the parking lot - she didn't even have the coordination to do the monkey bars. Math was drilled in and time tested, without the proper attention for those that didn't understand. I had to make a change because my daughter who once loved school cried every evening and had anxiety with math. The college prep/common core was not actually taught in a way to solve the problem but merely to memorize and test well for funding. After making the change to AM Winn it was a drastic change in her. It took a moment for her to adjust but she loved it. She gets to be creative. She gets to be free. And most importantly she gets to be a kid- something that many children are missing out on in today's society as we push them to grow up quickly and test well. My daughter has become quite the artist, loves playing the guitar and singing, she's a great story teller and writer, an avid reader and reads 3 grades above her level. I say all of that to say this - just as everyone has their own taste in food, so too our children will have their own taste in learning. As a parent you have to allow them to satisfy that taste and not just force the norm on them. AM Winn might not be the best school for everyone, but for many of these kids a traditional public school that drills in information but doesn't address the heart of the child isn't the best for them. AM Winn reaches for their heart when material is presented and these kids WANT to learn because of it. So if you've made it through reading all of this it's because you're interested in the school and wanted a real opinion on it. I would say your next step is to visit and see if it's right for you and your child.

The community at AM Winn is kind, welcoming, and open-minded. Every teacher is dedicated and…read morefantastic. This is the underdog of the area Waldorf schools - we are scrappy, diverse, and creative. We have been growing every year. I moved my children here from another Waldorf school, first feeling like it was a risk, but my children and I are so happy we made the move. The low reviews seem to be from people who don't understand what waldorf education is, and are upset their children aren't getting drilled and rigorously tested. Your children will get a good education here, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. And the work may sometimes be disguised in song or helping the earth. Raising kind humans takes all those things.

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.

We really enjoyed the parent-toddler program here but it ended abruptly in the middle of the…read moresession because the teacher had to move to another grade. It has not restarted yet as far as I am aware. We looked into the preschool but they don't teach letters and numbers as traditional preschools do. They also have strict requirements such as no TV watching for the children except on weekends.

I chose Camellia Waldorf very intentionally for my daughter. I loved the Waldorf philosophy and…read moretruly thought this would be a school and community we would be part of for years. It was also a significant financial investment for our family, one I was willing to make because I believed in what the school represented. Unfortunately, our kindergarten year ended in a way I never expected. The turning point was when I witnessed my daughter's teacher, Ms. Olga, physically pull/drag my daughter by her legs out of the classroom and leave her in the hallway. After talking with my daughter afterward, she told me this was not the first time Ms. Olga had pulled her out of the classroom that way and left her in the hallway. As a parent, that was extremely upsetting to learn. The school told me they investigated the incident. When I later asked about the outcome of that investigation, I was told the details were private information, but that Ms. Olga would no longer do that. I understand there may be privacy limitations regarding an employee, but being told essentially that it wouldn't happen again left me with more questions than reassurance, especially after learning from my daughter that it had happened before. I wasn't asking for anyone to be fired or trying to create a huge issue. I simply asked that my daughter be moved to another kindergarten classroom for the last six weeks of school. They offered Ms. Haley's class, but that class still shared time and activities with Ms. Olga's class. I asked for the other kindergarten classroom so my daughter could actually be separated from the situation, and the school would not accommodate that. My daughter ultimately stayed home for the remainder of kindergarten. What disappointed me even more was what happened afterward. My daughter and I were initially invited to the Fly Away Ceremony. After I emailed the school expressing my disappointment that they couldn't find another classroom for her, I was told it would be best if I did not attend. As a parent, I should be able to respectfully question a school's decision and advocate for my child without feeling like that makes me unwelcome. There are things about Waldorf education that I still love, and I know other families may have completely different experiences. I can only speak about ours. I just wish that when something this serious happened, there had been more accountability and more effort to find a solution for my daughter instead of her losing the last weeks of her kindergarten year.

We recently had my daughter's 2nd birthday here. Naomi was a fantastic, attentive and sweet host…read more She made hand made clay Minnie Mouse's for our daughter's sensory bin. This space is truly magical. & your kids will love it! Support this local mom! There are stay and plays that you can attend on Friday!

If I could leave 6 stars, I absolutely would! We celebrated my daughter's third birthday here, and…read moreit was pure magic from start to finish. Naomi is truly an artisan when it comes to creating beautiful, imaginative spaces for young children. I was completely blown away by the setup, the activities, and the thoughtfulness that went into every detail--and all at such a reasonable price! I had asked for a Frozen theme without the overly commercial feel, and wow, did she deliver. The space was enchanting and perfectly tied into our theme in the most tasteful way. The mud kitchen, sensory station, painting area, customized scented play dough, potion making station, fairy garden, child-sized table with custom mushroom stools, teepee house... there was something special for every single child. Even my ten-year-old had a blast exploring the sensory play stations! What I loved most was how intimate and personal everything felt. Our guests couldn't stop talking about what a wonderful venue it was. Absolutely perfect for a three year old's birthday party. This day is something I will cherish in my heart forever. Thank you for making my girl's birthday so incredibly special and helping us create memories we'll never forget.

With right children and right parents, no other school is like Waldorf. Absolutely the best…read moreinvestment if parents seek children's happiness.

I have a problem when a teacher(now fired) uses duct tape on my sons mouth to keep him quiet. There…read moreare other methods.

We love this school. My son has thrived here. He loves the extracurriculars and also the emphasis…read moreon whole child learning. We love the community and the special events that make this school such a special place to be a part of. Lots of great field trips and hands-on learning!

My child was at Golden Valley River for 2 years. After recently going back through his 2024 IEP,…read moremeeting notes, and the emails from that time, I decided other parents of children with IEPs deserve to know about our experience. In 2024, during our first experience with the IEP process, a Special Day Class was presented to us as the recommended placement for our son for first grade. We were told to research our options and decide how we wanted to proceed. We signed the IEP believing we had options. What was never clearly communicated to us was that GV would later treat that signature as meaning our son could no longer return to River. When I realized that was their position, I objected immediately and in writing. I explained that the SDC had been presented to us as a recommendation, that we had been told to research and decide, and that neither my husband nor I had agreed our son could not return. I specifically asked them to show me where the IEP said that. I never received a direct answer to that question. Instead, GVs Director of Special Education responded in writing that River was "unable to meet [our son's] needs," that he had been "recommended for a special day class," and that because we had signed the offer, we needed to contact our district of residence. But that wasn't what I was asking. I knew an SDC had been recommended. I was asking when and where we had been clearly told that signing the IEP meant our child would no longer be allowed to attend the school he had been at for 2 years. Had someone looked us in the eye during that meeting and said, "If you sign this, Golden Valley's position will be that your son cannot return to River," we would never have signed it. And this wasn't something I suddenly decided I misunderstood months or years later. I raised it immediately. I asked for clarification. I demanded answers. I put our disagreement in writing. I asked them to show me where we had agreed to this. We had another meeting because we wanted to revisit the decision and discuss our son remaining at River. We still did not receive a straightforward answer to the questions we raised. Instead, our signature was treated as though it settled the issue. Looking back at GVs own documentation makes the experience even more upsetting. The IEP notes list multiple options the team considered, including continued enrollment at the charter school with accommodations, general education with accommodations, etc. Yet the documentation we received does not explain why the options that could have allowed our son to remain at River were rejected. His IEP also states that academic interventions had not been tried because Golden Valley's kindergarten program was play-based and formal academics were not introduced until first grade. We were never provided a separate Prior Written Notice explaining that Golden Valley's position was that our son could no longer attend River or why alternatives that could have allowed him to remain were being rejected. I still have the IEP. I still have the meeting notes. I still have the emails. Two years later, I don't have to rely on my memory of what happened. I can read what I wrote while it was happening. We were parents navigating our first IEP. We trusted the professionals sitting across from us to explain our options clearly and make sure we understood the consequences of what we were signing. They did not. But what I find even harder to accept is that once I explicitly told them there had been a serious misunderstanding and demanded clarification, we still couldn't get a direct answer about when or where we had supposedly agreed that our son could no longer return. Looking back, I feel manipulated by a process we did not yet understand. We felt pushed out of a school our child had attended, and we felt that our lack of knowledge about the IEP process worked against us once our signatures were on the document. Parents should not have to become experts in special education law before they can trust that the professionals sitting across the table are being completely transparent about what they are signing and what it means for their child's education. If your child has an IEP or may require accommodations, ask everything. Ask exactly what every signature means. Ask whether your child can continue attending the school if you accept a placement recommendation. Ask what supports and accommodations have been considered. Ask why other options were rejected. If something doesn't make sense, say so. If the answer isn't clear, ask again. And get everything in writing. I can't change what happened to our family, but I can make sure another parent walks into their first IEP meeting knowing the questions I didn't know to ask. I wish someone had done that for us. We trusted GV with our child. When he needed additional support, we were told they didn't have the resources for him. That is how our two years at Golden Valley River ended.

We called at the end of last year to put our kids on the waitlist. We thought we were good. When we…read morecame in to tour the school towards the end of the day at the beginning of this year, we came in towards end of the day and waited for awhile until other parents were done picking their kids up. Then, we were told that we need to come back another time because they didn't have enough staff as some of them were sick. (That's fine but I wished they either gave us a call, as a courtesy, or told us right away to come back another time). We called them another time and were told we have to submit the paperwork to put on the waitlist (I wish they told us earlier) and decided to give them another chance and came back another time to give them our application for 1 of our kid. We knew the waitlist was long and came back another time to give them another application for our 2nd kid. As of now, we haven't heard back from them. Of course, we were lucky enough to find spots at other daycares who accepted 2 of our kids. However, we felt like we were profiled and ignored. That's quite unprofessional. I talked to another parent who had good experience with this daycare but we did not.

Looked good when we toured the school and has a convenient location but they didn't mention…read moreanything about having the TV on several times a day, which we found out only after starting there. Teachers smelled of smoke and we often saw them smoking right outside the school when picking up. We quickly went elsewhere.