Chicago Waldorf School

My experience is very bad with this school. The principal is very rude and do not understand student feelings. No teaching at all. They are completely wasting students time. I would rate this school as Fail. Never recommend

My son had 3 boys standing on toilets looking at him while in bathroom telling him I can see you then they spit on him & think that an apology is enough these boys should be suspended . I went to the school & asked to speak with the principal or vice principal but they didn’t have time to come talk to me but they were able to come down & have a conversation with police . They try to quietly deal with situations & seem to just sweep them under a rug instead of properly disciplining behaviors. Looking at someone on the bathroom is a crime as well as spitting on them but all we seem to get was a I’m sorry .

The worst school there is. Thank God I graduated from this school, but I wish I graduated from a different school, they did nothing for 8th graders, other schools took their students to six flags, New York, Washington, etc. they took us to the zoo. There are some good teachers but majority of the teachers just gossip, I personally overheard P with another teacher badmouthing the principal how she has no idea how to run the school and how she doesn’t know what she’s doing, even though she was not wrong, I just thought that conversation was inappropriate in front of students. Parents out there don’t bring your kids to this school, fights happen daily and almost always by the same bad students that face no consequences.

I was really excited to put my toddler in the early childhood program 3 years ago. His first year in Mrs. Erika's class was great. However, the next preschool class year included my child being in a mix class which turned out to be a nightmare. He was 4 years old in a mix class with 5 and 6 year olds. The mix class sounded great, I imagined all the great things he was going to learn and friendships that he would build since his previous class was great. However, the lack of supervision in the class was horrible. A few of the 6 year olds boys were teaching my 4 year old a bunch of inappropriate behaviors, exposing private parts consistently in class setting and outdoors while playing. My child was coming home with inappropriate behaviors and questions that were concerning to his mental wellbeing. I brought this up to his teacher, who barely did anything. Then I brought it up to the counselor, then the school administrator, who did absolutely nothing. The teacher told me that "exploring" in a safe place is "okay." I took my child out of there so fast. I'm sure not all the teachers think the same way, but you never know which teacher you will get. Kids go to school to get an education, play and learn to be kind not to learn sexual behaviors at 4 years old! I found out later that one of the 6 year old boys in the previous year was in a class with another kid who was doing the same thing. The school did not care to do anything, they tried to blame me for asking my child questions at home about what goes on at school. I would never let a child go here especially in early toddler years.

We’ve had a fantastic experience at Sacred Heart for our two children. The academics are rigorous, there are so many sports and activities to choose from, and the school community is so warm and welcoming. I wasn’t sure how to feel about single-sex education, but the proof is in our children, who have been growing into confident and capable people at Sacred Heart. This school is really extraordinary.

I want to share my family's experience with NCA during the 2024-2026 school years. When the school year began, our daughter, then three, became anxious about attending school and frequently expressed fear about her classroom environment.One notable incident occurred during a field trip. When my daughter felt uncomfortable and stepped out of a group photo another parent wanted to take, the lead teacher reacted harshly, getting to her level and warning her that if she couldn’t follow the rules, I wouldn’t be allowed on future trips. This upset my daughter and intensified her fears. Another troubling incident involved a bathroom accident. My daughter asked to use the restroom but was told to wait until the class finished eating, leading to an embarrassing situation at the start of lunch. Then calling me at work to pick her up or clean her due to her negligence.The classroom environment was overly rigid with a militant approach. While structure is important, play and social interaction are crucial too. Children were restricted to one center for 45 minutes, and lunch had to be silent. As a room parent, I saw how much the assistant teacher was admired by the kids for her warmth, which encouraged our daughter to attend school.On a positive note, my daughter’s PreK 4 teachers during the 2025–2026 year were exceptional. Their kindness transformed our daughter’s experience and made her feel valued.However, the previous year’s lead teacher, along with the principal, continued to create an unwelcoming atmosphere for both my daughter and me.During my short time at NCA, I was saddened by the departure of many dedicated teachers, raising concerns about the school climate. I witnessed unresolved student conflicts and parent concerns, with bullying not consistently managed. I often was disrespected by the principal, especially when I began advocating for my child, which led to being labeled as a problem rather than a partner in her education despite volunteering over 550 hours. I perceived favoritism within the community and teachers.Overall, my experience raised serious issues about leadership, communication, and school culture. The school felt cliquish, which contrasted sharply with the sense of community described in other reviews. My hope is for meaningful changes to ensure all students and families receive the supportive experience they deserve, starting with improvements in leadership.