Our 3 year old daughter has loved her time at this school. Westside Waldorf has been an amazing experience for our family. The school's approach to learning through creativity and exploration is so refreshing. Our child looks forward to each day, and we've seen such positive changes in their confidence and social skills. read more

Westside Waldorf School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

My son is finishing his first year in the nursery, and after considering many options and touring 13 excellent programs, I could not be happier about choosing Westside Waldorf for him. Beautiful Early Education Team! Beautiful Campus! We receive the most consistently sweet morning greeting by Diego or Yonni at the gates, (key pieces of the security team) and a warm farewell each day from them as well. Following that, a peaceful journey begins at the nursery. In the mornings, parents gather with the children to ease them into their day away from home. I often miss this 15 minutes of community fellowship, but I love the days that I do make it. My son sees everyone at campus and just goes right into playing. He is a very social, confident and friendly personality. I love the calm, peaceful energy that he is met with by his INCREDIBLE teacher, Archer. His teacher was also a Waldorf student and has dealt with every challenge faced from parents and students with grace and with intelligent responsiveness. He has been consistent in his temperament while meeting the varied demands of each child with flexibility. The daily snacks are apparently delicious according to my 3 year old's accounting. He wants me to make oatmeal and rice and beans the way they make it at school. He has also been known to request several servings of vegetable soup at snacktime! The thoughtfulness of the program and the creative arts is reflected in the best gifts that the children make for us parents for several occasions Not to mention the sweet festivals that feel like utopian moments carved out in time With my son at Westside Waldorf, I enjoy a peace of mind that is invaluable. I know that he is safe and happy, nurtured and building upon his natural gifts while maintaining his confidence and joyous nature. I am so happy that this is a place of peace where my son can thrive and his teacher and the team around him can focus on that work without the residue of drama and trauma that create hostile environments in so much of the world. This place is not ofcourse for everyone. Children must be mostly potty trained when they start at 2.5 years old. Parents must have a commitment to a sense of peace and calm, value a natural rhythm and nature and be commited to allowing this pedagogy to thrive by letting it flow rather than inserting some of our more mainstream worldly ways and ideas. read more

Westside Waldorf School - Springtime Garden maintained by Nursery and Kindergarten students and teachers. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This school is beautiful, wholesome and a welcome alternative that aligns with our family's values. We have two kids in the Early Childhood program, 3.5 years and 6 years, and they are thriving. Safe, healthy and above all they are learning important skills in their development. read more

We are not new to the Waldorf community as our child has been part of the early childhood program since turning 1. I can't imagine a better community of nurturing and loving educators... He is so happy to see us after lunch and shares all the discoveries of the day on our car ride home-- by far my favorite! Thank you Westside Waldorf for the peace of mind we walk away with every morning at drop off. read more

Our family has been with WWS since 2012. I don't know another school on the Westside of Los Angeles where children are allowed to enjoy childhood with lots of outdoor time, hands on experiences and freedom from inappropriate political agenda of adults. read more

We started our son his second year of kindergarten at Waldorf and now he's in Grade 2. In the time he's been at Waldorf we've seen his confidence and leadership ability soar, while his love for learning thrives inside & outside the classroom. It's powerful to witness how insatiable a child can be for learning when it's presented with the foundations of this Waldorf school. And most importantly his imagination and ability to PLAY is still alive and well! It's a blessing to be amongst like minded community with teachers/staff deeply invested in the development of our child. My wish is that every child have the opportunity to learn this way. read more

We have been with WWS for over 7 years. We now have one child in the grades and one in the early childhood. You won't find more loving and dedicated teachers anywhere else. Waldorf education is a wholistic method that sees the child as a whole and meets them where they are in their development. My children LOVE to learn. They are happy, curious, and inventive, with a huge love and respect for nature. The community is open and warm. Parents are involved with the school and when we first joined we felt welcome from day one. read more

My son attended this school from Aug '23 to Dec '23 while my son was 3-3.5 years old (pre-k class). We left after he was able to GET OUT OF THEIR GATE FIVE TIMES IN ONE DAY as well as other incidents where he got out of the gate on other days as well. They have a gate with a push-bar to open it in the yard where there youngest kids play. This gate goes out directly into their parking lot where there is a motion-sensor gate that goes out directly to Sunset Blvd. It is unbelievable to me that they allow this gate to be in the yard with the youngest children! I met with the administrators about it and brought several solutions to them. I suggested better coverage of the yard while the kids were out there. For example, I came to pick my son up one day and his entire class was out in this yard while both of their teachers were inside the classroom, with zero visibility on the children whatsoever, cleaning up the mats after rest. At least one of those teachers should have been focusing on the children! I also suggested they move the push-bar gate to an area that is away from the youngest children. They said they couldn't move it because a fire marshal had told them they couldn't. I have seen many schools where the push-bar door is not accessible to the children, so to me this is just an excuse. Their responsibility is our children. They need to latch the gate, get better coverage, or move the gate to a better spot. The school brushed off every solution I brought to them. Their teachers are sub-par. I really liked his teacher, but he was not suitable to be a lead teacher. My son was with this new teacher for about a month (the first teacher that started with us at the beginning of the school year suddenly left after only being there a month...) and the teacher asked me what my son liked to do. My son loves cars, blocks, magnet tiles, trains, puzzles, etc. He likes all the usual stuff. It just seems to me that your teacher training should have told you how to educate and entertain a child. They also have these weird, culty puppet shows they make you go to at night. The children certainly aren't interested in them at all, as two teachers just go up in front of everyone and walk homemade dolls around make-shift scenery. If the children participated or sung the songs along with the puppets and the teachers, that would be one thing, but not one child seemed to even recognize what was going on. We are incredibly disappointed with this school, as we had heard wonderful things about the Waldorf experience from people who attend schools in other states. I really hope other people don't have the same experience. read more

This is an incredible school- such dedicated, hardworking teachers and staff. My children have grown exponentially in the best way possible with this very holistic and caring approach to education. The teachers at WWS cultivate earth centered, multimodal experiential learning with an awareness of natural systems. read more

Westside Waldorf School - The teachers at WWS cultivate earth centered, multimodal experiential learning with an awareness of natural systems. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We sent our children here starting in 2012, we now have a 5th and 7th grader, our third child will start in 1st soon. As a computer scientist and having been a Google product manager in its early days, I, along with my wife wanted our children to have a screen-free education. We discovered the school from a NYT profile with the name "A Silicon Valley School That Doesn't Compute" - I recommend Googling for this article. read more

My two children thrive at Westside Waldorf! The school has a warm, involved community and the teachers deeply care about each child. Its holistic, hands-on approach to education has been very positive for my children's growth. As a former Waldorf student myself, I know how valuable this education is and I couldn't have found a better place for my children. read more

Our daughter started 3 years ago at the Santa Monica campus and then moved to the Pacific Palisades one to start 1st grade. Both campuses are magical, teachers are incredible and very dedicated to the kids and their needs, and the community feels very special. I could not recommend this school more! read more

Both of our children attend Westside Waldorf School. They started in early childhood and are now in the grades. Their teachers are incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable. They guide creative educational experiences with a rigor that has fed a deep love for learning and promoted social and emotional growth. We also appreciate the active parent and caregiver community at the school! read more

We've sent both of our children here for Early Childhood and it is such a beautiful program. Our children and parenting have been so enriched by the Waldorf philosophy and its emphasis on nurturing daily rhythms, spending time outdoors and cultivating wonder. A wonderful school! read more

our 9 year old daughter has been at the West Side Waldorf since early childhood, minus a 3 year interruption when we moved away. Moving back now and reconnecting with the teachings, community and inspiration this school provides has been really wonderful! Not only has our child blossomed and become more confident in her skills, socializing and her ability to learn hard things, I am very grateful too to be held by the schools philosohy and guidance, on how to nurture and support my growing child in each phase of her life. So much gratiutde for this school and Steiner's perspective. read more

Absolutely fantastic education. Teachers are awesome and the pedagogy is solid and time-tested.

My 3 years old son is attending Westside Waldorf school for the school year 2023-2024. He is in the Daisy class. He loves his teachers Mr. Archer, Miss Lina and Mr. JP. I am very grateful to the teachers, Miss Brenna, Miss Chiara, Miss Estee and all the Team at Waldorf. They all helped my son to feel loved and special at school. I am also very grateful for the little friends that my son made at school. I enjoyed all the playdates and birthday celebrations we had; And, getting to know very kind and generous parents at the Daisy class was very inspiring to me. We will always be grateful to the Waldorf community for the love and service provided. read more

I am the mother of four sons - currently 25, 22, 18 and 10 years old. All were Waldorf educated at a variety of Waldorf institutions (in Nashville, Berkeley, and LA). All are thriving in a complex world. Westside is the best of all the schools I have encountered in my decades of parenting. My youngest son, Ed, is a rising 5th grader at Westside - and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has become the enriching and joyful epicenter of our life. He is excited to arrive at school each day. He is equally NOT exited when I arrive to bring him home. If you are not already aware of the ways in which Waldorf education differs, dramatically, from most other education models - I encourage you to VISIT OUR CAMPUS over reading on the internet. Nothing online can capture the "magic" that Waldorf offers. All of my sons are happy, active, generous, peaceful, successful individuals and I have Waldorf to thank for that. Check it out for yourself and your children - it will be the best decision you make as a parent. read more

I recently moved back to LA and have put my son (7) and my daughter (4) into Westside Waldorf and I have seen the most incredible growth in them both mentally and emotionally. They play together at home soo wonderfully, soo much imaginative play it's just incredible. My son has made huge leaps in the math and writing departments, and comes home to teach us what he has learned from his Mandarin teacher. It was a international move which is always challenging logistically and the teachers and admin have been so helpful and supportive to both the kids and us as parents. Waldorf is just a magical way of educating children which fosters soo much joy and aww in learning. Kids have to spend soo many hours at school......at this school they enjoy being there.....what a gift to give them. Thank you Westside Waldorf we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. read more

A truly special place with teachers and staff who care deeply about each child. We are grateful to be able to give our children an experience that honors their development, unique interests, and academic abilities. When my son left WWS at 3rd grade to enter public school, he was above grade level in both math and language arts at his new school. His new teacher also commented on how thoughtful and intentional he was with his work in class. There is a fundamental sense of respect and integrity woven into the curriculum at WWS for all things in a child's life: the school work, their classmates, their teachers, and our natural environment. read more

TERRIBLE SCHOOL. We had many ethical issues which were not dealt with. Poor teaching skills. Poor communication with us as parents. We regret the experience we had. read more

For the parents who know about Waldorf education and are seeking that experience for their children, I do not recommend Westside Waldorf School. This used to be a lovely vivacious school with parent education and involvement and with happy children, parents and teachers. Over the years and especially with the Pandemic, the enrollment has decreased and the leadership has grown away from the ideals of a true Waldorf experience. Most recently due to lower enrollment the board brought in a corporate director who knows nothing of the Waldorf concepts. He was hired to cut costs and increase enrollment. To his credit, he has done the cutting, but in the process the entire school that was so vibrant has become sad and empty. The teachers in the school are truly amazing and are trying their best to keep some of the joy, but it is difficult with no budget and no support. So I feel at this point I am being generous to give one star to the school as it exists now. If you truly want a Waldorf education for your child there are better options. This school has lost its way. read more

The most magical and special pre school experience you can give your child! Your child will be loved and cared for and will also experience tremendous indirect learning that makes the child well equipped for any private or public Kinder around town. That's if you don't fall in love with the sophisticated and beautiful waldorf way of teaching and have your child continue through the grades :-) The teachers at this school have tremendous experience and wisdom ( many degrees and hands on experience 20+ years) and care very deeply for each child and family. This is a child first program (no afternoon programs when children need rest, fancy hang outs for parents) with handmade organic snacks provided by the teachers (if your child won't eat vegetables they will now) and the children have a blast so much so that they will ask you to go on the weekend. Our teachers always checked in when our children were sick. I am so impressed with this school and how deeply they care for my children. read more

I've been a parent at Westside Waldorf for more than 6 full years, when my son began his first year of kindergarten. He's now in grade 4. A fabulous reader and writer. Starting cello this year. So curious. Kind to strangers. My daughter is in her first year of kindergarten after two years of parent-and-me classes and one year of full time nursery school. Finding Waldorf was a happy accident in our lives. We didn't intend to send our children to private school. But friends suggested we check it out, and we are deeply happy we did. We had to cut a lot of things from our budget, but we're glad we do if it means giving our kids this education. Waldorf teachers meet the children on their level and hold great regard for them. The teaching makes sense if you take the time to learn about Waldorf education through their parent ed classes or guest lecturers. My children are happy to go to school each day and come home happy (most LOL) days as well. They love their teachers. They love school events, music recitals. As long as they are thriving, I'm happy with the education and experience they are receiving. It's where they spend most of their time outside of home. read more

We've had our 2 daughters in this school for about 3 years now, started in kindergarten, they're now in 2nd and 3rd grade. All the teachers we had have been excellent, both in kindergarten (we spent 1 yr at the 15th street campus and 1 yr at the Pacific Palisades location) and in the grades. They show a genuine care and love for the children. I'm not an expert in the educational method the school follows, but I definitely like how they're opening up creativity and a sense of purpose in the kids and teaching most subjects in a way that kids are engaged in a creative, playful way, engaging their 5 senses continuously (as opposed to just sitting behind a desk and listening to a teacher 8 hours a day). This is something that's missing in most adults' lives today as conventional education does not generally include or care for those things. The school also promotes working with and understanding nature, the kids work with wood, wool, paint, garden, compost, etc. The other families we've encountered have been great, most are forward-thinking, environmentally conscious, spiritual and overall just cool people. Definitely happy we found this school. read more

Wish I could give them ZERO STARS !!! I had an ABSOLUTELY AWFUL experience !! This used to be a super sweet school with lots of nice people, but when I returned after attending a different school for four years, this place has turned into a nightmare, and the root cause of this nightmare IS one of the leaders of the school LISA PROFUMO ! Lisa mentored all of the abusive, horrible teachers I had and I believe she should NOT be allowed to be around children. WHY SHE WAS MADE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL I DO NOT KNOW !!! My problems started at Westside after I was there Five years and they made the wrong choice in first grade teachers. I was in a class where the teacher would walk kids up to the front and hit them (not me). The school didn't believe us so we left, but about six months later they eventually fired him. then went to another Waldorf school in the area, where the teacher had anger management issues and would throw a coffee cup full of hot liquid. I was scared constantly and ended up having severe anxiety. My parents then decided to give WSW another try so i went back for seventh grade. My teacher was totally incapable of teaching middle school, and when she felt that you were starting to figure that out she would humiliate you saying you knew too much, or try to give you a lecture on how drops of water are not the same as water drops. I use to try to help other children in my class with organizing their desks, homework... and my teacher would often ask me why I was wasting my time on them, or she would tell me they would never be able to get it. She also humiliated me in front of my class, often calling me the worst drawer in the class. The math program needs a lot of work too !! One time I was wearing clear nailpolish, and they made me take it off in front of the head of school, while she gave me a lecture on how it is harming the imaginations of the younger children. SEND YOUR CHILD TO A SCHOOL WHERE THEY WILL GET A SOLID EDUCATION WITHOUT THE ABUSE. read more

I have two adult children in their early to mid 20's and an almost 11 year old that has been attending Westside Waldorf since pre-school. While my older children attended Canyon Charter and New Roads Schools, if I had the opportunity to do it again, they too would have attended Westside Waldorf. The value of allowing our children to unfold naturally disconnected from the stimuli of our hectic fast paced world, nurtures and encourages them to be the children that they are meant to be. Our teacher is Ms. Profumo and we feel blessed to have her. read more

The greatest gift I ever gave my daughter, was Waldorf education at Westside Waldorf School. She started in parent- toddler and graduated 8th grade. She is now a sophomore in High School. I can definitely say it was an easy transfer to High School in that she got all A's and a B last year. Not only did she receive a beautiful education at WWS but she will have life long friends. There is no educational program that is perfect but WWS even with some of its challenges is far better than what is out there. If you want your child to love learning than Westside Waldorf School is your best option. read more

I can't say enough how much I love this school. The teachers both in early childhood and the grades are fantastic. The children learn so much without the pressures of a typical school. The curriculum meets the child at what developmental stage they are going through at that age. I could go on... If you have any interest in this school, go on a tour and see for yourself. Oh and this year they have increased the number of educational support teachers and the parent education also has been dramatically increased. Really an amazing place for families. read more

All 3 of my children attended this school, how the children are treated and the quality of teachers here is the absolute best in Los Angeles. My children have received nothing short of life enhancing education through art, music, movement, plays, and one of a kind experiences. I have taught at other schools and in comparison WWS is far above anything I've seen and experienced. Try a tour and just walk into a classroom and you tell magic happens at this school:) read more