I attended Shining Mountain Waldorf School from K-9 and cherish the magical experiences. I fondly…read morerecall the excitement of seeing new chalkboard drawings and hearing captivating stories in the cozy classrooms. Now, my son attends Kindergarten there and formed an instant bond with his teacher (not something that came naturally for him in preschool). Mrs. Cherie exceeds expectations by attending to each child's unique needs. All teachers offer individual care through home visits, parent nights, and meetings. Beyond being a great school, the parent community is enriching, and we're forming lifelong friendships. Some worry Waldorf's academic approach might not prepare students well, but my brothers, also Waldorf graduates, are now a urologist and a researcher at the Max Planck Institute. I'm a life coach with my own business. Success stems from joy in learning, which Waldorf fosters. I urge you to schedule a tour or email me for more insights at wovenwords [at] gmail [dot] com.

Being a part of Shining Mountain Waldorf School's Early Childhood program has been an exceptional…read moreexperience for my daughter and our entire family. My daughter has blossomed into a confident, playful, curious, and adventurous 5-year-old in the loving care of her teachers. The beautiful campus, nestled in the foothills, offers ample opportunity for free play in nature and daily walks to visit the school chickens, gardens, and a nearby lake. Inside the classrooms, natural materials of wood and silk create a beautiful and comforting space to learn and play. Kindergarten classes provide nourishing, organic food to the children daily. Overall, the school has a rich tradition of meaningful festivals that build a thriving school community. We couldn't be happier at Shining Mountain and look forward to continuing through middle school and high school.

We left traditional education in 4th grade and haven't looked back. We joined Friends Middle…read moreSchool in 6th grade, and our son has blossomed into a confident thinker with a positive attitude on learning. The smaller environment has enabled our 'different' thinker to adapt and produce work he is proud of. He's with a great group of kids and enjoys the schools flexible use of 'know yourself', wonderfully creative with learning ideas and encouragement for kids with dyslexia, ADD, etc...has made a world of difference. Only one more year before high school, but we see his connections with teachers and peers and are pleased to watch his progress.

Our daughter LOVES her school! She's in preschool and has a passion for learning and Friends has…read morestoked this passion. She enjoys seeing all her classmates (she hated not having school over winter break), singing, playing "family", and running all around the giant outdoor play area. The teachers stay in communication weekly and keep us up to date on class activities, parent learning opportunities, and the progress of our daughter. I appreciate that the snacks are healthy and that they are proactive about allergies. Her teachers are so kind and highly experienced and give the children the tools and the space to develop their interpersonal skills.

We love Snow Lion very much! Our kids have been there for a year and we could not be happier. They…read moreare thriving there and are each able to delve into what interests them most. The teachers all love and value each individual child. Their handling of conflicts is excellent and they are building lifelong interpersonal skills in our kids. The students are encouraged to check in with themselves and others in a way that teaches both compassion and self-care. Our kids have very different personalities and they are both getting just what they need at Snow Lion, whether it is creative art projects or active outdoor play. Their relationships with the other kids and with their teachers are very positive and caring. The community of parents is close knit and I have made several great friendships as well as having a fun group for playdates. While being a play-based school, there is simultaneously a lot of intention behind the activities, run by deeply experienced and wise teachers. Parent nights offer incredible food for thought as we all travel together along this amazing journey of raising happy, empowered and compassionate children.

From the owner: At Snow Lion Preschool we nurture the process of self-discovery and loving kindness towards oneself…read moreand others. Just like the children and families in our community, our school overflows with joy, compassion, generosity, and self-reflection.

Harmony is the best. I know my kids learn to be kind loving and compassionate to all of their…read more"friends" (what they call other kids at harmony) and are stimulated with the rich learning environment and fantastic teachers. The pedagogy and climate is excellent. I looked far and wide and Harmony is the best preschool we found. The Harmony community is also fantastic.

From the owner: At Harmony, we believe children grow and develop valuable skills when their classroom experiences…read moreare geared to their natural level of development. We accommodate the uniqueness of young children using a developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning materials for each individual child. At Harmony, we avoid adhering to only one philosophy and instead choose to combine several philosophies, thus creating a special and unique atmosphere for each child's individual growth.