My daughter got into Waverly via the ISA Scholarship, so if you are concerned about tuition fees, this is an option for students who have the academics to get in. She has only been there a month or so, but she has already begun to bloom as a person, which is what we wanted for her. She has the grades and the work ethic to do well at any school, but we felt Waverly was right for her because of its commitment to a progressive and inclusive community (not just the curriculum, but that's a big part of it). Kids will not be left behind if they are introverted or neurodivergent, or are from a different socioeconomic background, or a different ethnicity or are part of LGTBQ+, all of which can be factors that lead to isolation at other schools. Not at Waverly--here, they are nurtured and encouraged to develop into themselves without any sort of judgment that you'd find elsewhere. Classes are small and full of tremendously interesting material. Kids get experience with arts and literature they would never have heard of at other schools. Ok, and my daughter texts us from time to time about the long lunch times she gets; she considers that a huge plus. I have been asking the school teachers and administrators some questions on my own, and they are true experts in their fields. Anyhow, that's what we have experienced so far in a nutshell. I wish I had known about this school earlier! read more

I didn't think it possible for middle and high school years to be as calm & joyful as our experience at Waverly --though fair warning: if you want your MS & HS students to have 3-4 hours of daily homework, Waverly is not the right school for you! -Small class sizes -Progressive learning (--not endless tests and excessive homework!!) -Teachers who know your kids and what they need - adapting their workload to push them at the right pace and depth of learning -Supportive engaging sports program (-not intensely competitive & exclusive) -12th graders who voluntarily hang out with 9th & 10th graders -Head of School in 2nd year making thoughtful changes -$4M donation led to buying building next door -Strong tuition assistance program -Organic farm for education and fun Our first daughter joined in 6th grade and enjoyed it so much our other two daughters joined the next year. We are in our 3rd year at Waverly and love the teachers, administrators, students & families in this community. read more

So thankful that we found this school during our search for progressive education schools in the area. Waverly is a place where both of my children feel supported by their teachers and the staff of the school. The head of the school is an inspirational force that is thoughtfully planning how to make the school an even better place. We have been at Waverly for over three years now and we still feel like we made the right choice. read more

We had been at Waverly since our daughter was in preschool. The experience was amazing. Her teachers have been great. They have encouraged her to develop as a whole person and to focus on her own strengths. We highly recommend the school. read more

My boys began their Waverly journey in kindergarten and are now in 6th and 9th grades. They have had a terrific experience at this school. I strive for balance in raising my children and Waverly is the perfect fit in this regard. Pertaining to social & emotional wellness, Waverly promotes and strives for: Community Autonomy Kindness Compassion Inclusion Empathy Trust Waverly's curriculum is stimulating and balanced with both left and right brain lessons. Children work in groups and individually in all aspects: math, writing, arts, gardening, science, history, dance, music, sports, etc...all while being supported in their individuality. They are seen and respected for who they are. My children are confident, loving, ambitious, creative and deep thinking individuals; I believe Waverly's teachers, staff, and community have everything to do with this. read more

How do you review a school on yelp? I suppose you start with first impressions. After touring several schools we were desperate to find a school that saw our young son as an person and treated him with the respect that he and all young people deserve. That was the relationship we sought, how we wanted our child to engage in learning. It was evident when we heard the Head of School speak during our tour that Waverly could be that place. So we applied, fingers crossed. We didn't get in, we got on the waiting list. But then I started telephoning the admissions director asking if a spot had opened. I called every day, trying to keep it light, but also hoping against hope. These daily calls grew, accumulating into a conversation and after many weeks a spot opened, we jumped at the chance and have never looked back. It was a great choice. Our son will be graduating next year. We have discovered Waverly to be a school that fosters curiosity. From first grade through middle school and into high school our interactions with teachers and the administration have prioritized student learning in a deep and substantive way. If you want your child's education to be focused on learning, as opposed to testing, this may be the school for you. read more

This is our first year and it's been the best experience for my son. He loves The Waverly School and they love him too. One of my favorite things about this school is the communication. They let you know what's going on every step of the way and I enjoy that. I also love that they allow children to be children all while learning not sitting behind a desk all day. The bonus is the farm where the children can go multiple times a week and interact with the chickens that lay fresh eggs, check out the pond, all of the plants, all the trees and learn how to take care of them. The school has a love for its community and the environment which is amazing as well. We love The Waverly School and as a parent it eases my mind and heart knowing I made the right decision for my sons education. read more

We toured Waverly and felt very excited about the school, having been on the hunt for a progressive education for our son for quite some time; and being unhappy at our sons current school (private and expensive) where he is yelled at often. Waverly seemed like the right fit on the surface - multi grade classrooms, project based learning, inclusion of arts and music in their program, etc. However, their application process is what threw us off. From the get go, it seemed we were sort of cast aside by the admissions director - from ignoring our emails and phone calls, to off putting comments during our son's "observation day," and ultimately a denial in admission to the school. Now, it's not the denial of admission that was the turn off. It was the process as a whole. They charge to apply, they charge to apply for financial aid; they want teacher recommendations; they want to observe your child. For a school that boasts on inclusivity, makes you wonder. The day we took him to the school for his "observation day," the admissions director mentioned to my husband that our child seemed to have experienced some school trauma. We had explained to her prior to the visit, that he gets yelled at a lot by his teachers at his current school. We also told her that he was very nervous about his Waverly visit. She then asked my husband if we considered any public schools. Jaw drop. Really? We put in all this effort to apply to this school, including participating in their application process which included putting our son in an uncomfortable situation of being "observed." It seems like they are trying to create some weird utopia rather than an actual school that focuses on an inclusive progressive education. The place is just weird. If you want your family to be put under a microscope and pay to apply here, then Waverly might be the school for you. But they certainly turned us off in a major way. read more

We have been at Waverly for 9 1/2 years and feel so lucky to be a part of this community! Our kids are now in high school and we continue to be blown away by the exceptional faculty and staff. The teachers know their students incredibly well - both academically and social-emotionally - and are proficient at supporting, challenging and at times nudging them out of their comfort zones. It is notable that our two sons are very different across all domains and both are thriving, growing and evolving into pro-active learners who are willing to question themselves and others - critical thinking in action. We are very grateful for finding this gem and will miss it so much when our kids move on!! read more

If you have kids that are exploring their gender/sexual identity and you are looking for a safe place that encourages this exploration at a profound level without judgement, then this is the school for you. The teachers are great in supporting and encouraging woke gender ideologies as early as pre-school. In fact, the sex education in this school is so encompassing and thorough that my child is very comfortable interacting intimately with all genders. Our child has never been happier now that pronouns are prioritized and emphasized based on one's gender preference, instead of the very rigid and traditional metrics of academic education that one would find in other schools. Some may say that the school accepts every child, even those with behavioral problems, ADHD, and learning disabilities, but that is because this school believes in fostering inclusivity and equality, unlike other private schools that discriminate and practice exclusivity. I know that the high school is having some racial issues relating to teacher retention but students are encouraged to protest and have their voices heard. The teachers, administrators and the trustees are very supportive of activism at all levels. We love the Waverly School, which is why we are still continuing on in high school. read more

Our child is about to complete his third year at Waverly, and he still loves being there, every single day. As a family we are still regularly impressed at the level of support from the faculty and administration. We feel very fortunate that our child attends Waverly and are looking forward to many years of a meaningful, progressive, education for our kiddo! read more