Seattle Waldorf School

We have been a part of the Seattle Waldorf School for three years. We made the decision to move our son to the school when he was in 5th grade. If I were to articulate the main reason we needed a change, we were looking for a school where our son would be fully "seen" by the teachers and the community and not get lost on zoom calls and standardized tests. We were also very interested in SWS's curriculum and experiences. Our son has thrived at SWS. His confidence has grown, he is excelling in his classes, and his sense of self has become more defined through curriculum, class experiences and with support from the amazing teaching staff. Our son did not start in kindergarten but has quickly caught up with the other students with his strings practice and all of the arts. I have been astounded by how quickly he has absorbed new skills and the pride he feels when learning something new.The SWS school does an amazing job providing hands on experiences for the class. When my son did his first 3 day camping trip at Mt. St. Helen's with the trip, he had never been in a sleep away camp. He has since done multiple trips every year and comes home leveled up in his confidence. The school creates positive interactions where the children learn how to work together, how to get along, how to learn and appreciate their differences. I am grateful for this and have seen first hand how it has helped my son grow. SWS has a genuine sense of inclusivity and kindness that permeates the school. We were so happy we have also moved our daughter who is in third grade. She just did her first overnight camping trip on a working farm and loved it. SWS has been transformational for our family. We are so grateful that we found SWS and that our children are in an environment where they are happy and thriving intellectually and emotionally.

The Seattle Waldorf School (SWS) is a truly exceptional educational institution. At SWS, students are nurtured and challenged to develop their full potential as individuals. The Waldorf curriculum is holistic and experiential, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning, nature, outdoor immersive learning, the arts, and social-emotional development.One of the things that makes SWS so special is its commitment to creating a warm and supportive community. Teachers and staff are deeply invested in the well-being of students, and build relationships based on trust and respect. Educators follow their class through multiple years - a pedagogical approach that has been found to support better and mroe equitable education outcomes for all students.The Seattle Waldorf School is an outstanding educational institution. I highly recommend SWS to any family looking for a truly unique and transformative educational experience for their child.

When looking for a kindergarten, we wanted a place where our daughter could continue being a child, be outdoors every day and feel taken care of. 9 years later, we are still with Waldorf. It has enabled a carefree and a stress-free childhood full of joy, and the ability to grow up in a supportive and loving community. Waldorf educates the whole child and every intelligence within each child (academic, emotional, social, mathematical, linguistic etc.) and as a result you see a campus full of happy and joyful students, even the teenagers. They have all learned an instrument, a foreign language, they spend a lot of time outside and in nature, they learn to make things with their hands, to conduct science experiments, to move their bodies and be mindful. They learn subjects in an engaging way and as a result become extremely capable, and lifelong learners who can take on any challenge. They are aware and mindful of their peers and the community around them. They experiment and challenge their thinking, and excel in problem solving. Waldorf students grow up to be conscious human beings and critical thinkers who have the tools to make a difference in this world. The school has been the best decision we’ve made while living in Seattle. The world today can be a busy and harsh place where the competition starts at a toddler age. Waldorf allows everyone to be who they are and develop as their own person, away from peer pressure and atmosphere of only focusing on tests and performing. It shows a world most grown-ups have forgotten, and a way we would all benefit from. I highly recommend.

Two days ago, we were asked to leave Seattle Waldorf by our teacher with no prior communication with the school's administration around this topic. Our six and a half year old daughter had escalating behavioral issues in her kindergarten classroom, and while the school tried to accommodate her within their structure, they struggled. We went to Waldorf knowing our daughter had these issues after it was recommended to us by her preschool teachers, saying she would do well in an outdoors based school. We ended up falling in love with the Waldorf ethos, and felt like we'd come the right place for our family. At the beginning of the school year, I reached out to her teachers offering the support of our daughter's occupational therapist that we pay for out of pocket and asked for regular care conferences. I was turned down at that time, the teachers telling me that they could work with her with their methods. As the school year went on, the issues mounted. Knowing that there were larger issues at play, we paid out of pocket again for a neuropsychological assessment, which let us know that our daughter had ADHD. Early this January, the teachers finally agreed to let our OT come into the classroom and to have regular care conferences. However, the communication was inconsistent, and the administration was never involved (looking back, this should have been a clue). One teacher said that they believed they could work with our child, giving us one schedule. Another said something different. Trying to work with them and support our daughter in school, we agreed to earlier and earlier pick up times, keeping her home when certain teachers were absent. The day our OT finally came to work with our daughter in the class, I was told by her teacher that we were being asked to leave the school. The head of school has apologized for how this all went down, but it has been unbelievably hurtful. Fortunately, Seattle Public Schools have been amazing. Our daughter only missed one day of class before joining our neighborhood school, John Rogers. The John Rogers staff warmly welcomed us from the moment we reached out to them. I got the immediate sense that my kid would not be labelled as "the problem child"--ironically, one of the reasons we went to a private school to begin with. If you have a neurodivergent or differently abled child, I would think twice about SWS no matter how lovely their philosophy and campus is. Their structure simply doesn't allow for accommodation.

I love how Seattle Waldorf School is educating my children. I'm 9 years into my journey with Seattle Waldorf School. SWS intentionally creates connection, collaboration and big-picture thinking in students. I have seen how having a close connection with their teachers over multiple years has supported their learning and growth. They're learning to persist through challenges by learning subjects which might not be a strength for them, and feeling a rewarding sense of accomplishment from sticking with it! Perhaps most importantly I see them learning how to ask deep questions and developing critical and innovative thinking skills.