Seattle Waldorf School

I am thoroughly impressed with the Seattle Waldorf School! From the moment you walk onto the campus, you can feel the warmth and community spirit. The faculty and staff are knowledgeable, attentive, and truly care about the well-being and success of their students.The school offers a unique and comprehensive approach to education that focuses on developing the whole child - intellectually, emotionally, and creatively. They have a strong emphasis on art, music, and movement, which helps students to develop self-expression and creativity. The curriculum is also designed to encourage critical thinking and independent learning, which prepares students for success beyond the classroom.The campus itself is beautiful and well-maintained, with plenty of green space for outdoor activities. The classrooms are cozy and inviting, with natural materials and a warm atmosphere that promotes learning and creativity.Overall, I highly recommend the Seattle Waldorf School to anyone seeking a holistic and enriching education for their child. The school is truly a gem in the Seattle community and is definitely worth checking out!

Not a healthy school

Nice people and good educational program !

As a parent of two daughters who have attended Seattle Waldorf School, being a part of this community has been a gift for our family. Our older daughter attended the school from parent-tot through 5th grade, and our younger daughter from parent-tot through middle school, which she attends now.While some worry that Waldorf’s age-appropriate approach to introducing formal academic subjects holds students back, we have not experienced this. At SWS, our daughters have developed a facility in play, social harmony, movement and artistry that compliments and integrates with academic subjects as they have been introduced appropriately through the grades. After 5th grade, our older daughter was accepted to a competitive 6-12 school where she currently excels academically, thanks in large part to the well-rounded nature of the education she received at Seattle Waldorf school.SWS’s early childhood program is a magical realm of reverence, beauty, meaning, rhythm, work, play, mud(!) and adventure. Our children’s time in this program, particularly Briar Rose Kindergarten, was among the finest and most profound school experiences we have seen anywhere.Our younger daughter is currently enrolled in the 6th grade at Seattle Waldorf School. We continue to be impressed by the way this education (thanks in part to the excellent class teacher who remains with the class from first through eighth grade) is shaping our daughter into a curious, capable, thoughtful, and engaged young person. Through the strings program (every 4th grader is handed a string instrument which they continue to play in ensemble through 8th grade), she has developed a love of the violin. She has developed a keen eye for color, materials and art in general, which has become her principal pastime. She takes pride in the athletic program at the school and her ultimate team. From the earliest years, Waldorf education engages the students in a class in group kinetic movement practices, a part of traditional Steiner education for decades, that help the class function in unison. The long-term cohesiveness and harmony of the students is their “secret weapon” in the game of ultimate, and has helped propel this small school to national championships more than once over the years.Another aspect that sets Seattle Waldorf School apart is the emphasis on the whole child. Rudolf Steiner believed that children should be educated in a way that addresses their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in ways that are consistent with their developmental age and their spiritual unfolding as humans. This is evident in the curriculum and approach of Seattle Waldorf school. Children are engaged in activities that promote creativity, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the world around them, and they are encouraged to develop a sense of empathy and social responsibility.At SWS, there is also a strong emphasis on community and connection. The yearly rhythm of festivals (Michaelmas, Winter Fair, May Faire, the Shepherd’s Play, the school musical, etc.) brings the whole community, including children, siblings, parents and grandparents, together as a village. Teachers work closely with families to ensure that each child receives the individualized attention and support they need to thrive, and there is a sense of mutual respect and collaboration between students, teachers, and parents.I would recommend Seattle Waldorf School to any family that is looking for an education that will de-emphasize the consumption of crass, vulgar and materialistic media and screen time, and will endow the child with a reverence for the natural world and their fellow humans. The education that our daughters have received here has been life-changing, and we feel grateful to be a part of such a warm, supportive, and spiritual community. If you are looking for an education that values the whole child, fosters creativity and critical thinking, and prepares students for a meaningful and purposeful life, then Seattle Waldorf School is the perfect choice.

A beautiful school with a profound way of educating the human being in an age appropriate way!

I just love it

Seattle Waldorf School is a great school. Our kids have attended several Waldorf schools, and this is the most organized and professional with the finest set of teachers. The level of commitment from teachers and staff is at the highest level. Waldorf education isn't for every kid or family, but SWS is definitely worth a visit for pre-K to 8th grade.