Highland Hall Waldorf School

Our family has been very impressed with the quality of teaching and the breadth of curriculum at this school. The creativity that our children have gained through their years at Highland Hall always blows people away. There are so many aspects of this school that are holistic and beneficial to genuine learning. I only wish that more schools would take a look at the way Waldorf education educates children. Then maybe less kids would end up being casualties in our society.
--Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of a student who graduated from Highland Hall in the late 1990's, having spent 12 years in Waldorf Schools including the Rudolf Steiner School in NY and the Pasadena Waldorf School. Thus, I have experience with all three. In addition, I was actively involved with all three schools at many levels (although I was never a Waldorf teacher). Our/my daughter's experience with Waldorf education and HH specifically was very positive. I disagree that science and math are not emphasized - they are taught at a high and thorough level throughout the entire curriculum. My daughter is now a molecular biologist with a degree from one of the leading universities for her field, crediting her science instruction at HH along with what I consider to be a first class liberal arts education. In addition to being a successful scientist, she can sing, paint, sew, knit, and act beautifully. Most importantly, she learned values of cooperation, friendship, industry and kindness which are all emphasized in all Waldorf Schools, Highlan d among them. Building on the work of Piaget, Rudof Steiner inspired a scientific and effective educational philosophy and HH embodies the best of it.
--Submitted by a parent

Admittedly, the school has had some real problems in the past couple of years unfortunate, but from what I've heard, not that unusual in private education. What's been impressive, is the speed, thoughtfulness and sensitivity with which the problems are being addressed. Many excellent new teachers, a top notch administrator and consistent, transparent dialogue that includes the parent body. The Waldorf philosophy isn't for everyone (as evidenced by some of the negative reviews), but if you want your child to learn HOW to learn, indulge a true curiosity and become a well rounded, amazing individual, this is somewhere that you must consider. My two daughters (3rd and 1st grade) can't wait to go to school everyday and constantly amaze me with the depth and breadth of their learning. Memorizing facts and figures long enough to get a good grade on a test is really not the measure of learning. Kids who are immersed in the love of learning and are taught in developmentally appropriate ways blossom in this environment. Our recent first grade meeting asked parents what brought them to Highland Hall. The overwhelming response was they met a senior and wanted their child to turn out the same!
--Submitted by a parent

I understand that a Waldorf education might not be the choice for some parents; but, we chose to take our two children out of a very well performing public school and send them to Highland Hall. We chose Highland Hall because we wanted our kids to thrive in their education and be prepared for a changing world. They are much more engaged in school now and are excited to learn new things. They have much more confidence in their abilities as students and as people. They are creative in how they approach problem solving and we know that that is a direct result of the way Highland Hall teaches. The school is not an "artsy" school as some might think. The academics are quite rigorous as the child enters middle school and high school. However, in the younger grades the kids are not tested out of their natural creativity. In the times we live in it is important for our kids to grow up confident to make their own way in the world. They need to be entrepreneurs and trust in their own abilities. Highland Hall graduates well-rounded individuals who are not afraid to challenge themselves because their education has taught them to think creatively.
--Submitted by a parent

My 2 children are currently in the Early Childhoood Center which consists of nursery and Kindergarden. The Play area and the classrooms are simply magical. I haven't seen anything like it in other schools. The teachers are the most loving and nurturing people I've met and they are constantly helping us with the tools of raising joyful children thru monthly class meetings and individual meetings. This is a school that teaches children thru experience rather than memorization. My daughter started out in the parent/child program 4 years ago and within a couple of weeks, I saw a major difference in her play. My children's Imaginations in their play are incredible and I owe it all to the Waldorf education. This is a school that teaches the whole child and I highly recommend the waldorf experience to all children.
--Submitted by a parent

I am so grateful to have found Highland Hall. I cannot imagine my son, Noah, going anywhere else. He is in his second year of Kindergarten, had a year of preschool and 2 years of toddler classes. Each and every experience was exactly right for where he was in his development. His personal needs were constantly shifting and his teachers deftly evolved their care and nurturing and education as each movement arose. I could not recommend Highland Hall and their teachers enough. Every school of course is not right for every child. But I urge you... if you are looking, look into this school. It is a gem!
--Submitted by a parent

The strength of Highland Hall is in its community and its teachers. It is rare, in the middle of Los Angeles, to find a community of parents and teachers that so fully, and with an open heart, embraces every child with understanding, kindness and recognition of their value as an individual. Childhood is honored there and children are allowed and encouraged to be children. It is true that rigorous academics are delayed until the later elementary and middle school years, but this is done with a thoughtful, measured approach developed from a thorough understanding of how children develop and learn best. The result, for anyone who has had a chance to meet and talk to the delightful, articulate and self-assured high-schoolers and graduates is amazing. My son just began 2nd grade and he is supported not only in the area that he excels, academics, but in music, movement and motor skills, nurturing a love of learning and interest in the world around him, and in healthy social interactions with students and adults. I encourage parents to come to a tour or an event and experience Highland Hall for yourselves and learn about this highly effective method of educating the whole child.
--Submitted by a parent

My top 4 reasons for choosing Highland Hall for my 3 children: First, the parent/child class! What a wonderful opportunity for a parent to spend time with their young child in a loving, calm, and respectful environment. It nurtures the growth of the child as well as the parent child relationship unlike any other group. Secondly, the nursery and kindergarten classes are just delightful! They are full of wonder, opportunity for deep play, and experiences that prepare children not only for the abstract academic work of the grades, but build healthy habits that will serve them in their education and beyond. Thirdly, my oldest son has just begun the first grade and can be seen to hop out of bed in the morning excited about what he will be learning in school, beit reading, writing, math, German, Spanish, gardening, singing, movement, games, or handwork; he is excited. What more could a parent ask for! Lastly, parent education is a huge part of the experience at Highland Hall. Parents are held in such a way that not only nurtures family life, but allows the child to absorb the richness of the curriculum. I am proud to say that my children go to Highland Hall Waldorf School.
--Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of a 4th grader and 9th grader at Highland Hall, and we've been at the school long enough to see it go through crisis and positive change. The school had a string of less-than stellar teachers who are now gone due to a rigorous cleaning of house last year. I understand the pain of parents who reviewed the school poorly because they struggled with such teachers -- our family had the opportunity to experience both the best and the worst of them. I am so grateful for the changes that have taken place -- for the courage and integrity that the leadership of the school and the parents have shown in their rigorous work together to make this school as great as it can be. I am so happy to have my children here and there simply is no other school I'd rather they attend. I echo the other excellent reviews here of the school.
--Submitted by a parent

As parents of a High School Senior at Highland Hall, our experience has been nothing short of overwhelmingly positive. Our son started in 6th grade and had no trouble at all accelerating into the two foreign languages and music programs required and relished the math, science, history...well, all the curriculum was wonderful. After taking the college placement tests, he score well above average on the English,Writing ACT and SAT which is not surprising, as Waldorf students write essays daily...in pen. I waited to write this as we were interested (as most parents are, of course) in his college acceptances. He was accepted to every college he applied to, offered scholarships and decided to attend a very rigorous and selective college. The passion for learning instilled in a student at Highland Hall serves the students for life...they are not afraid of challenges because they are confident and knowledgable about themselves and their own goals.
--Submitted by a parent