Of 5 preschools that my kids have been through, this is definitely the worst. There appears to be…read moreno modern early childhood education in action, no conflict resolution taught, preschoolers are sent home or isolated within the school for saying unkind words and pushing verbal boundaries... I won't go into specifics to protect my and other kids' privacy, but message me if this is raising red flags for you... I would never let my kid set foot there again. Very rigid. Should have looked more into the approach of the director (who we never even met until there was a "problem"). Note that most of the positive reviews are quite old when it was under different leadership. Two stars just for the beautiful setting and farm animals, which really drew us in (but turned out to be superficial and far less important than how children are treated - obviously).

We have felt moved to share our experience at BWK because it has truly changed our life. Our son…read morehas attended since he was 2.5yrs old (he is 6 years old now) and our youngest has just started at 2 Years old. We feel very grateful to have been introduced to waldorf by chance. We live just down the road and discovered it by driving past the quaint adobe school building and huge , peaceful, tree covered play yard with goats and chickens roaming about. From an outside perspective , it looked like an extension of home; and it has proven to be just that. The teachers are people of integrity, authentic, kind, and nurturing . They hold the kids so beautifully and create days full of wonder and beauty. It becomes obviously quickly that the priority at BWK is To nurture the children from a young age to be confident, curious, gentle, and intentional beings. There is a huge emphasis on social emotional learning and development and the entire faculty support the children and families to create a joyous environment where all are treated with respect and kindness. Now that we have been a part of the school for four years, with kids in two different classrooms , we can attest that it truly feels like the "village" that we have lost in this society. Recommend sending your child at any age if you are seeking a welcoming and safe school, with a strong and connected community of parents and faculty

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.

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.