East Bay Waldorf School is one of the most amazing thing that happened to our family :) ... The transformation we've seen ever since our older daughter started to attend the school 6 years ago was amazing !! She became more social, out-going, loving nature and most important ... growing up to be a healthy positive and happy young adult. She love going to school every day! She love learning ! Now we've signed up our younger daughter to start Kindergarten this year, and we're all looking forward for her start - I'm sure it would be an amazing experience for her too... I'll recommend this school, teachers, and stuff to ANYONE i know !! 5 Star !! read more

Wildcat Canyon Community School - Magical morning circle time ... What a great way to start the day :) - Elementary Schools Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Wildcat Canyon community school is an amazing and healthy environment for children and families looking for a like-minded community! Waldorf education is a world class education serving the children with a wide variety of subjects and languages, math and science all given through the arts. "Education from the inside out" the children are thought to freely think and with empathy and compassion for each other and the world. This is our fourth year at the school and our two children are loving it! Every year we fall deeper in love with the curriculum, teachers, and community members! Truly, a futuristic school that gives a Renaissance style of education with top-notch educators and holistic minded families. It would be in your best interest to take a tour of the school and then you will be able to see and feel the uniqueness for yourself! Don't be surprised if you see healthy children running and skipping and singing and climbing trees and gardening and playing games together just like schools should be producing healthy, open minded free thinking, individuals! read more

My partner and I had our child in East Bay Waldorf school for three years. EBWS shut down during the pandemic and some families, like ours, participated in "pods" with the EBWS teachers who were laid off. We contemplated participating in this "restart" but fortunately made the decision to send our child to another school. We made the decision to send our child elsewhere because this "restart" of EBWS under a different name is , unfortunately, plagued by the same cultish, administratively dysfunctional, and subtly racist practices that characterized the original EBWS. Without going into detail here, our child experienced a consistent pattern of discrimination and exclusion by both teachers and other Waldorf parents. The only regret my partner and I have now is that we didn't take our child out of this school sooner and go elsewhere. read more

Love this School! My son is in his second year here and we are very pleased. The teachers are very kind and educated. The days are full for the children and they spend tons of time in nature! There is hiking, outdoor games, gardening, chickens, sheep and local wildlife all around. If you want your child to thrive using their imagination and curiosity this is the place for you! The community of parents has been an amazing support for my son and I as I am a single parent and need many helpers. This place has saved me and my son from the undue stress of most traditional schools. I can't recommend the school enough. read more

I originally gave a bad review for this school because of my negative experience with racial insensitivity and lack of diversity and awareness, but I ended up having an incredible conversation afterwards with Maria Ramirez who restored my faith in this school! EBWS is so lucky to have her. She is extremely knowledgeable about diversity and inclusion, and is making a huge effort to make changes for the better. Tthere's hope after-all! read more

I wanted my son to have an education that was quite different from mine. There is so much research that shows children need so many hours of outdoor time and this is the perfect place for outdoor education. It is a beautiful, special campus. The teachers are wonderful and compassionate. The whole community is very welcoming. There are too many great things I can say about the curriculum and people. Definitely worth scheduling a tour to see for yourself. Many private schools make the claim that they focus on social justice issues, but this school walks the walk! I fell in love with this school and could not imagine sending my son any place else. My son is in one of the kindergarten classes. read more

This is the most beautiful and welcoming school that we have ever been a part of. We feel so happy and grateful to be here! The campus is expansive -- with wide open fields, creeks, and wonderful climbing trees. There's a garden and chicken coops! And oh my goodness, the teachers are so warm and loving. They genuinely care about the whole well-being of each child and family. We are staying in California for this school. We also love the governance structure of the school, which uses a collective model with shared leadership between teachers and families / caregivers. My husband and I feel so called to use our unique skills and passions. It's fun and participating is so fulfilling. Plus, we love that if there ever were a problem, we know that the school prioritizes conflict transformation and restorative justice. read more

This school is not prepared to educate children of color or special needs children. I have seen too much to not be able to say anything. After seeing the hurt they were​ causing both children and parents of color at the school, a group of us tried to make changes but we were​ met with deception​, lying and anything that they could do to hold on to power, which they accomplished very successfully. They say changes are being made but I never saw any change. We removed our children from the school, as a parent of white children it is my highest priority to raise them to see their privilege​ and to use that privilege to do the right and support those who do not have it. There is no way I will allow them to be educated and molded by those who can not even acknowledge​ white privilege​. Students are still doing onesided reports on Columbus for goodness sakes! Waldorf curriculum is very overtly racist. It won't take you long searching to confirm this. That means that teachers have to work hard re-writing curriculum and changing out texts, etc...to remove the racist content and don't get me wrong many schools do this with varying success but this is not one of those schools​. This school does not have the skills to support neurodiverse students. Their training hardly touches​ on neurodiversity and their model is that of fixing the child. This affects all the children in each class as students who are not having their needs met are often distracted and disruptive to others. This school knows that it isn't able to meet these students'​ needs (though they say they are) so special ed students are only given conditional acceptance that means it can be revoked at any time​. There are a few amazing parents that are working hard to make changes there but it is an uphill battle, ​to say the least,​ and will take many years and quite a lot of staff changes. read more

I have been a parent at this school for 13 years. My elder child began in first grade after attending Kindergarten at a Waldorf initiative, my younger child is currently in the 5th grade, and has been attending since Kindergarten. The East Bay Waldorf School is the calm in the storm of contemporary life. I can't imagine sending a young child to any other type of school. The teachers and administration see the children deeply, and cultivate a strong community. Academics are introduced gradually; there is a strong emphasis on the arts, creativity and play with the early child. The campus is beautiful, really beautiful. We live in the Berkeley area, and the land at the school is refreshing every time I visit. The children are surrounded by nature. Yesterday there were almost a dozen horses grazing on the land just beyond the fence... Waldorf is the only non-religious education that recognizes the spirit in children and works to develop that through encouraging creativity. I have heard it said that imaginative play in the young child is the seed of spirituality in the adult. Waldorf emphasizes a secular spirituality that includes a deep reverence for nature and observance of the seasonal cycles. Thus making it a good fit for families from a variety of religious backgrounds. This community is not mainstream. The families who are attracted to this form of education come from many walks of life and many backgrounds. There is diversity on the campus that I have not seen in other schools. I grew up in a big city on the East Coast where diversity was measured by how many "blacks and whites" there are in the room. Here you will see one teacher in a sari, another with a head scarf, another speaking in a German accent, a mother will be talking to her child in Spanish, and a grandmother will show up with an Irish accent. The families have cultural roots from all over the globe. The beginnings of Waldorf education sprung from a culture that was Christian, and there are elements of Christianity in the school. However, during the 8 years of grade school, the children study the major world religions. My family is not Christian, and I decided that this was a great place for my children to learn about the dominant religious movement in our society--seeing as they were not learning about it from me. We are a lower-income family, and we have struggled to pay for private school. The maximum scholarship that EBWS can provide seems to be around 40% off of full tuition. That said, they manage to keep their tuition down among the lowest in the East Bay. For us it has been well worth it. If you are considering this school, spend some time studying the pedagogy. It cycles differently than most schools. It is based upon child development rather than our expectations. You may find yourself explaining to friends and families why your child is not reading and doing math in kindergarten. (But take note: they are singing all the time!) For children with special education needs--you need to seek that outside of the classroom, and it costs additional money. EBWS is excellent in the Arts and Humanities, softer in Math and Science. In retrospect, I would have supplemented math for my older daughter. I found she was not quite ready for 9th grade geometry when she went to Berkeley High. Her 8th grade class did not finish Algebra 1. Others in her class took a summer program in Algebra before starting private high school (and they went to some high-achieving schools.) She was also lousy at taking tests. Tests are few and far between in the upper grades, and she needed to learn test-taking skills. Both of these things are easy to supplement in the later grades, if you know it needs to happen. The good news is that she is now a stellar student and getting into great colleges. I think with every school, and in every community you will find things that work for you and things that don't. There were times when I felt the administration to be difficult to deal with, and I laid low. My attitude was always to observe what I felt was best for my children. Then I try to drop my agenda, and make the best of the situation. It worked for me. The best school in the world is not going to meet every one of my needs. read more

This is our 4th year at East Bay Waldorf School and I can honestly say that it's been the greatest of blessings for our family. Having our child at the right school is just about the most important decision in the world - a decision that has weighed so heavily on me. I've diligently toured and compared a great many schools in the East Bay. There's no perfect school. Every school comes with pros and cons. Weighing all the various pros and cons, East Bay Waldorf School has come out on top for us. And I've been so thankful every single day of the 4 years that we've been here. No exaggeration. It's pretty much universally accepted that the best schools in the world are found in Finland. As far as I can tell, the EBWS is as close as you can get to that model here. Our school sits on over 11 acres and is surrounded by thousands of acres of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. And the kids are out in it all the time. You can't find another school with that level of natural immersion anywhere else in the East Bay. The organic garden is beautiful and expansive and surrounded by nature. I've looked at other school's gardens and there's no comparison. The idea of selecting another school feels like putting our kid into a box all day long as opposed to being immersed in an expansive and magical setting. The teachers hold our children with the very highest of intentions. The aesthetics are gorgeous. The care put into every detail is unreal. It's just priceless. In a world gone kind of mad, this is an environment where kids are safe and protected and allowed to grow up naturally. Childhood is cherished here. It's a little bubble of goodness that's so conducive to learning and growing. The last, and probably most important thing I'll say is that this school truly nurtures the whole child - not just their mind and intellect - but their whole being. I recommend this school wholeheartedly. It's a treasure and we're so so so lucky that it's here and we get to be a part of it. read more

My son is currently thriving in his 5th year as a student at EBWS. Their full faculty of subject specialists who support the lead class teachers bring a complete Waldorf education to the children. The campus is spectacular, the community is hard-working and enthusiastic, and the administration is responsive and professional. read more

Ridiculous! They don't teach your kid anything to prepare for mainstream school. They charge a ton of money to have your kid play around and develop motor skills until age 9 or 10 before teaching them reading, writing, and math skills! You can't let your kid wear logos or any type of name brand media nor can you let your child watch any type of media even at home! They say they don't teach religion, but a picture of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus is in the classroom! That's an establishment of religion! Yet, they say all religions and cultures are welcome! They charge you a very high non-refundable application fee as if you are applying for a college! They make you fill out a very thorough application before you can even find out if the school is the right fit for your child! After they accept your application, they set up an interview with you and the teacher to see if the school is right for you! What really pissed me off is when the pre-school teacher handed me some essays on Waldorf philosophy on education and asked me if I know how to read English! Just because I don't look White doesn't mean I'm not educated! read more

If you have a child enrolled here or have actually been to the school then you already know how wonderful and warm every teacher and faculty member is. This school supports the children on all kinds of levels ensuring every child feels free to be who they are, grounded and protected. They do a phenomenal job in addressing children who may be causing a disturbance and support them in another class room where the child's needs are better met in that moment, instead of sent away to the principles office or scolded. (Like my typical school did when I was a kid) Everyone is encouraged to be creative, express their feelings and to have fun! I personally know a few parents, teachers and students and I can say they are some of the most intelligent, caring and honest people I have ever met. East Bay Waldorf School is a community not just a school and they welcome everyone and anyone with open arms that cherish a Waldorf lifestyle or are newly embracing it. read more

YELP 100 CHALLENGE 2014 11/100 It takes a village to raise a child, Waldorf is that village. I am an alumni of EBWS. I attended a private Christian school from k-4th grade and then EBWS from 4-7th grade. I then decided that I wanted to try out public school and after testing the waters there, I returned to Waldorf in 9th grade and stayed until 11th. I remember my first day at EBWS so clearly, I was confused by the rose ceremony and was a little bit panicked to have my mom leave me here. That being said, it was those very ceremonies that I missed so terribly upon leaving the school. As a student, I loved the sense of family that was abundant here. Having the same teacher and more or less the same classmates year after year was a comfort. This makes Waldorf feel like home to the students. This sense of 'all for one' simply does not exist in other schools. At Waldorf, I felt a sense of community and belonging that i couldn't have felt anywhere else. This in itself is of major importance to children. I can't say enough about the ways in which I personally benefitted by the relationships that form here. Academically, they do teach differently than traditional schools but not in a bad way. As students, we took pride in our Main Lesson Books (the text books created by the students) and I still have mine to this day. Doing well academically was seen as 'cool' here and my classmates and I challanged each other to excel. I learned more at Waldorf than I ever could have elsewhere. They teach things above and beyond book smarts, like woodworking, knitting, sewing, archery, and stringed instruments. I would have never known that I like being able to speak german, or shoot a bow and arrow had it not been for this school. It has been so invaluable for me to have been exposed to so many different skills that I can now use in my adult life. In high school, the accademics are structured toward college style teachings. Once I reached college, I was completely prepared for what was expected of me and the way in which classes are conducted, that I was able to easily acclimate to the college culture. I fear that I would've experienced culture shock had I not attended Waldord high school. I can honestly say that 90% of my classmates have attended college and are all inteligent, succesfull people. Some may think that Waldorf teaches things that are not needed in the 'real' world. Or that they omit teaching things that are needed. But I say that in all my EBWS years, I always knew that I was learning about what really matterted. I learned about the fundamentals of life, how to brave the storm calmy. Looking back, I see that contrary to some belief, what Waldorf does is teach children for the Real world. It teaches them to be in touch with themselves, with nature, with the rythyms of the world, the ebb and flow of life. And these lessons are invaluable. Looking back on my childhood, Waldorf is a major part of it and I feel lucky to have that. I feel strongly that although my parents may have struggled with the cost of sending me here, it was the best thing they could've given me. As I grow older, I see more and more reasons as why this school makes so much sense. As a child, you don't see it all but it does come full circle. Every Friday, I now take my one year old son to the Sweat pea classes here and it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that I'm exposing him to such an imfluential place. To see him playing in the buildings that I once played in, is a special thing and to know that he is already begining to experience the magic that Waldorf teaches, it's amazing. Now I have to find a way to afford the cost of sending him here! read more

My daughter has been attending this school for the last three years, and we love it. The facilities are simple, and are showing their age, but the school is obviously well cared for. A restored path here, a well kept decorative garden there, a new fence or gate. The hills of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park rise up from the school's Southern border, visible through a stand of pine trees. It has almost a rural frontier feel. More wooden fences and brick or dirt paths. Less chain link and pavement than other schools I've visited. So it is fitting when the start of the school day is signaled by the clanging ring of a single large brass bell, rather than the brash alarm bell I'm accustomed to hearing in grade schools. Waldorf schools have a unique approach to teaching. The benefits and or drawbacks are far too complex to address here, but if you are considering a Waldorf school, you should definitely do some research and ask questions to make sure it will suite you and your children. EBWS, has a very active and involved parent community and has a strong financial aid program. read more

I have been at the East Bay Waldorf School for 3 years now. I love the school, staff and the community. The staff is very professional and nurturing to both parent and child. I highly recommend going on a tour and seeing for yourself all this school has to offer. My son is thriving here and it is just so beautiful to be apart of the Waldorf traditions. This is a very special place for my son and I. read more

I know this school well, and believe this type of education should be available to every child. Waldorf is really an amazing system that addresses individual children and different learning styles. And beauty for all! When I told a woman I met that my daughter in first grade was learning to knit, she asked, What do the boys do? Well, they learn too! Is creating art gender specific? Besides academics, children are taught many practical skills. And there is always an aesthetic .. I LOVE many aspects about the school. The rich approach to learning that involves many senses. The festivals are fantastic. The grounds are almost magical .. certainly different than other schools, and always the imagination is fed here, Other aspects of the school are addressed in other reviews here. Life is obnoxious enough as time goes on, so why not allow our children to be at a school that values learning, within a community of conscious adults. Yes, private schools are costly, but this school was well worth the sacrifice for us. It's not a school that attracts an elite, but rather fairly grounded people who get its value. Anyone who complains about the lack of technology has missed the point of how technology comes AFTER some development. A monkey can be trained to use a computer! And why should children have to look at corporate logos when in school? All of that marketing imprints all of us! It's the subtleness here that some don't appreciate. I also found it hilarious that there are filtered reviews here! In all of my years reading and writing Yelp reviews, I was never aware of filtered reviews. So that pops up here... perfect!! I found the Waldorf administrators and teachers filter a lot ...... They were a bit slow to acknowledge some deficiencies, and then respond to them. An old guard ran the school for years, and did not like change. (Who really does?) Teachers have different gifts, and sometimes need more support. It's absurd to think one teacher can be an expert in all subjects to all children in their care. I think the school is addressing those concerns better. Any parent should be aware of what is happening in any classroom in any school, and talking to other parents expands that knowledge. The parents here were terrific, and the experience certainly made me a better parent. Yes, no place is perfect, but this was as good as we could find. There are also home school curriculums that integrate Waldorf principles, but I wasn't that hardy to try that. read more

Our daughter is beginning her third year at the school, and I can't recommend it enough. The campus is stunning, as far as I know the most beautiful campus in the Bay Area. In these disconnected and materialistic times, I'm so happy that she is receiving an education infused with meaning, with loving, individual attention from her teachers, and that she spends so much time in nature. The academics work on a slightly different schedule but are quite rigorous and thorough, a classical education adapted to modern times. The students learn how to learn and think and thrive as social beings. read more

Our two daughters (ages 6 and 9) have been attending EBWS for the past two years and we have nothing but positive things to say about our experience. The campus is sprawling, natural and wild, the faculty are warm and intelligent, and the positive gains seen in both our girls are very apparent in all that they do. This is a school that cares deeply about cultivating empathy, inclusiveness and independent/critical thinking in all grade levels and I only wish that I had the opportunity to attend when I was a child. read more

We love the school and the teachers, Preschool especially (and yes, they are licensed)! Our kids are sad on the weekends when they can't go to school...what more is there to say? The campus is stunning, the teachers and administration are responsive and open and committed to communication with families. Check it out for yourself. read more

We have been acquainted with this school for three years now and simply love it. Our daughter loves her school and it has never been a day when she has said that she doesn't want to go to school. The best thing that I like about this school is that our child does not have the pressure of academics compared to other schools around us. She is able to learn a lot at school without being burdened by loads of homework and heavy school bags. The school places an emphasis on overall development of the child and the children are taken on weekly hikes, given music lessons, taught eurythmics, taught an additional language and have opportunities to participate in community gatherings. The teachers are exceptional, providing children with love, care and attention. We are truly blessed to have our child at this school. read more

I enrolled my child in the preK class this fall and witnessed an incredible lack of judgment on the part of the main teacher in hiring and standing by an assistant who was cold, unkind and outwardly abusive to the children. The preK program was operating without a license and they have received a Type A violation from county licensing. I would never recommend sending a child to this school. These issues are concerning and what is more concerning is the administration's attempt to undermine, silence, divert and distract parental expression of deep worry around these issues. read more

My daughter has been attending this school since kindergarten, she is now in the 7th grade. My son is now in 1st grade here and attended kindergarten as well. We have been very happy with this school, the environment and the Waldorf style of education. I love the emphasis on art and beauty and keeping the surroundings and the work beautiful. I love how the education meets the child where they are developmentally instead of cramming a lot of facts and figures into them which are soon forgotten. My daughter's math, reading and writing skills are excellent. Her handwriting and drawing skills are beautiful. Her whole class works together so well and when issues come up they talk about them together and work them out and it's taught her a lot about how to work out issues outside of school too. When we started at the school I didn't know much about Waldorf education, but now I really appreciate all that it does. read more

We attended the toddler class for 2 terms. It's not the type of school that teacher will teach the kids something, but gives you feeling of warmth and peace that called home. I believe that warmth, freedom and natural rhythm play the most important role in their early childhood. That's why we are here. Also I like the location on the top of the hill, nice view if you attend the outdoor class. read more

We are happy, satisfied second year parents at EBWS. Steiner's philosophy resonates for us. The timeline for what is taught in the early years is very different from public school. It's important to be aware so you are making an informed choice. One reviewer here criticized the lack of readiness for main stream school. Waldorf is not attempting to prepare children for mainstream school. Their system is k-12. It is Whole and complete. Children graduate fully prepared and in most cases better prepared than their public school peers. Transitioning into public school in the early years would be bumpy since they teach skills at different developmental times. We love the EBWS campus (11 bucolic acres) and have had only positive experiences in our two years. We stand by the preschool teacher criticized in reviews here as she was our daughter's kindergarten teacher last year. The school added a second preschool class this year. Anyone familiar with licensing knows that hiccups happen during expansion. They may well have had violations to fix. That's not very unusual at all. To characterize it as an unlicensed preschool is an overreach. I don't know more details about these parents complaints beyond what's been said on this forum, but I'd recommend the school without reservation. I am a former public school teacher. I taught elementary, middle and high school. There is no comparison. Waldorf is the real deal. Take a tour and decide for yourself. We are all passionate about our kids. I don't want to disparage anyone's experience, but rather balance it with my own. I'm grateful for EBWS. My daughter is a kind, thoughtful, enthusiastic participant who loves her school, teachers, and classmates. EBWS gets a lot of credit for shaping who she is. read more

Huge fan. We love the basic philosophy - directly tying curriculum to the child's different stages of development, the devotion and passion of the teachers as well as the beautiful 11 acre setting. We have two children in the school and could not be happier. While it may take a short journey to grasp some of the intentions and methods of the school, the more my wife and I learn the more committed we are. read more

People come to Waldorf full of hope for a beautiful childhood. For our family, those hopes were fulfilled. My son spent four wonderful years there, and is thriving in high school. I'm incredibly grateful for his teachers and the rich curriculum. I can't imagine having it any other way. I hear adults ask him all the time, "How old are you?" because he is so well-cultured and able to engage ideas. read more

If you are thinking about sending your child here, do yourself a favor and ask about issues with discipline in the last year and how well the school is able to react to challenges. There has been a rash of bullying behavior and the school administration has been terribly slow at responding. Families have left as a result. The Waldorf method can be nice for the students but it seems to be an excuse for a lack of clear policies. The school had serious trouble for similar reasons about 5 years ago and it seems to be going through a crisis again. It just seems unstable compared to simalr private schools in the East Bay. We pulled our daughter out of the school after a year and a half, it was very difficult to make a transition, but better than staying in the environment at the school. read more

I have had 2 children attend this school - we have been there a total of 14 years. The school is a definite departure from what one might expect in a typical, traditional model of education - and my wife and I couldn't be happier about that. There are to many things about the school itself and the Waldorf methodology that we appreciate to enumerate here - suffice to say our daughter is thriving in high school, excelling academically and fully discovering her artistic side, which i'm pretty certain would have left by the side of the road years and years earlier. Is it a perfect school? No, but of course perfection doesn't in reality. But a warm, nurturing community that really allows for a child to develop organically and be the fullest expression of them self? Absolutely. read more

Our family has a combined 10 years' experience with Waldorf education. At the East Bay Waldorf School (EBWS), the campus provides a rare daily experience of play and learning in nature. There are several experienced teachers at the school including in the early childhood and grades, as well as subject teachers in German, Eurythmy, handwork, and music. Prior to our leaving to choose another school, EBWS was still working out several administrative systems and issues with communication (delayed or absent follow-through, lack of awareness at certain times of class location, for example) that added to the stress of parents. Some issues were left to fester while others were dealt with seemingly abruptly. Overall, the school has a lot of potential but needs to have integrity from the administration through to the teachers and staff and in relationship with parents and students, starting with better communication. read more

We moved to Berkeley 3 years ago and started sending our oldest daughter to the East Bay Waldorf School and our experience has been fantastic. The teachers are highly-trained (Waldorf teachers need 3 years of Waldorf teacher training), the children seem incredibly happy, the parents are involved and seem very satisfied; so it's really hard to square my experience with the negative review I saw here. Waldorf education emphasizes helping each child reach their potential. They use multiple methods to really educate children, not just "instruct" them. The teachers are trained to really know their students and work to develop them to their highest potential, intellectually yes, but also helping to develop their will and social skills so that they can attain their highest goals and find their place in the world. We love the emphasis on play in the early childhood years, the natural setting, wholesome foods, beautiful 11-acre campus, and the diverse community. For anyone looking for an educational model for their child that really sees their child for who they are, tracks along with the developmental stages of childhood, and helps to develop their skills and thinking ability in the broadest sense, this is a preK-8 school worth visiting. We commute from Berkeley and it's much easier than I anticipated. There is also an active carpooling community. I also have to add that one of the things I value most as a parent is the teachers' depth of understanding of the developmental phases of childhood. It has been the source of invaluable parenting guidance. read more

My son is graduating from EBWS after having been here since Kindergarten and I also have a daughter in 3rd grade. We first came to this school after much research, soul searching and on the recommendations of others. One such recommendation came from a neighbor whose 3rd grader daughter was completely burned out from the rigorous curriculum at her school and switched to Waldorf. Burned out in 3rd grade! The other parent who recommended Waldorf to us has two sons. His first son did not attend Waldorf but his second son did. This parent told me that his first son was highly successful and a student at an Ivy League University but that he was not happy and had no clear direction in his life. His second son graduated from Waldorf and would attend a less prestigious college than his brother, but he was happy and had a clear sense of self and his goals. This parent relayed to me that he wished he had sent both of his sons to Waldorf. I also reflected on my own experience as many of my friends growing up got burned out after undergrad at top Universities and consequently did not have the desire to go to grad school. I attended a smaller less prestigious UC undergraduate school, However i received an excellent education and was able to work closely with my professors, i attended graduate school and am successfully working in my chosen field. I found after taking a few trial classes as an undergrad at a so-called top UC that the classes were very large, that my professors did not know me and that many of the classes were taught by TA's. Also the stress level was causing some kids to attempt suicide and harm themselves and that the education was more of a grind than a great educational experience because the UC's focus was on their graduate students and undergrads were pushed mercilessly to compete and perform. I didn't want my kids to get burned out from learning in a grind you up, force you to memorize and vomit up information that you "learned" type of environment, so we chose Waldorf and are very happy we did. Waldorf education allows a child to breath and learn by doing and experiencing the world around them. Dropping our kids off at the kindergarten when they were little, the classroom was so beautiful and inviting that I did not want to leave! Now I see my son maturing into a young man with such grace, intelligence and good sense that I know the choice was the right one for us. My son applied for and has been accepted into top high schools based on his Waldorf education. His scores were mostly average with some areas of excellence, but his applications shined because of who he is and his many talents which he learned at Waldorf such as his excellent composition and musical skills. Also it seems that many high schools love waldorf students for what they bring to the student body. Our daughter, unlike our son, is not reading as proficiently as our son had at her age, which at one point made me a bit worried. But after seeing her act in her school play, I was astounded. She has incredible acting and story telling skills, which no doubt were fostered by and are flourishing at Waldorf. The rest is and will be falling into place. I highly recommend looking into Waldorf education at any age. My experience with Waldorf education reminds me of the story of the tortoise and the hare. Mainstream education today reminds me of the hare, with all the testing and the hurry up and learn mentality. But what is the point if you can savor your education and learn to love learning and get there happily (and first) like the tortoise anyway? That to me is a question worth asking. (Waldorf also has a financial aid program). read more

I have a 3rd and 5th grader at EBWS. What I value most is that my children are being educated from within. They are not just being smothered in tests and academics that quickly fade away, they are being raised to be good human beings, caring for others and showing reverence for beauty and nature. The teachers LOVE the children and are available to consult about any issues that may arise. The campus is breathtaking and the children tend a garden in third grade and bring the bounty to their cooking class, learning the immediate connection between growing, harvesting and nourishing. To me, that is of fundamental importance to anyone living on this planet. Writing and math have come exactly at the right moment for my children. As a result, the learning of it has been smooth and not forced. Therefore, the dynamic is a hunger rather than a fight. Having experienced 5 Waldorf schools intimately, I can easily say that this one is rich in diverse backgrounds and the teachers welcome cultural sharing in the classroom. I am relieved that there is not an emphasis on computers. They are so easy to learn and the children can get to that in high school. Now is a time for using their hands, learning to work together and being creative both in mind and body. read more