Clairbourn School

I’ll admit, I had my reservations about progressive education. I wasn’t sure what it would look like in practice or whether it could truly support both academic rigor and childhood wonder.But Walden School has exceeded every expectation. The thoughtful integration of childhood and curriculum here is unparalleled. Students don’t have to choose between joy and depth, they get BOTH! Learning is purposeful, inquiry-based, and steeped in real-world connections, and yet it still honors the magic, play, and imagination of childhood.What I’ve come to appreciate most is that progressive education at Walden isn’t a trend or a talking point. It’s a deeply intentional way of being: where teachers know children well, where leadership is visionary and values-driven, and where growth, intellectual, emotional, and ethical is the goal for every member of the community.As a parent, I couldn’t be more grateful to have found a school that sees children as whole people and learning as a lifelong, transformative experience.

My kids (3rd and 5th) love this school. We started kinder during Covid and this school did an amazing job teaching the kids online. 6 years later, my kids are thriving and love their school so much. The teachers do such an amazing job teaching the children while having fun. The academics are so high that my children have always scored two or more grades higher in the STAR tests. Aside from academics, the school does an amazing job focusing on the child as a whole. My daughter needed help with boundaries and her teachers and principal really did a good job helping her find that confidence and navigate these growing pains in a safe learning environment. My son needed help with focus and the teachers did an amazing job accommodating his needs to help him succeed in the classroom. All the teachers know every single student in the school which makes the kids feel like they belong. Every teacher goes above and beyond to make sure the students truly understand the curriculum. If a student needs more help, the teachers are always ready to support the child. The principal is the cherry on top. She knows every student by name. She is always present during drop off/pick up ready to greet everyone. She is present in the classrooms, recess/lunch, and knows everything that goes on in her school. If you have something to discuss with her, she already knows what’s going on because of her heavy involvement. The students and families are so welcoming and friendly. We have grown into our very own SSFP family through the years. It’s so nice to know that your children are around other children who are being parented in similar ways/moralsas you. The alumni success speaks for itself. They all graduate ready to move onto other prestigious high schools. When you talk to them, they really stand out. The way they carry themselves and talk to adults is the product of being an SSFP student. All of them say that SSFP set the foundation for where they are now. As a parent with my children still at SSFP, I can see exactly what they mean and how my children are being prepared for successful paths. As a former teacher and someone who still works with children, SSFP exceeds all my expectations for everything I look for in a school. It speaks volumes that the teachers are always so happy and look like they enjoy what they are doing. That joy spreads to the children they work with everyday creating such an amazing environment for the kids to learn and have fun.