Walden Community School

Wonderful school, great teachers, caring and energetic owner/administrator, all in a cozy, low stress home away from home environment. Most classes have 2 to 3 students. Aside from the much sought after SACS accreditation and AP courses, an exciting variety of electives are offered. The small size and extremely low student/teacher ratio provides an ideal environment for individual learning, whether extra support or an accelerated program is needed. My son is working 2 years above grade level and participated in an intro to calculus course while in "6 th" grade. For the right student, this school provides opportunities not found in any other school in the greater Orlando, Winter Park area. A great school, indeed.
--Submitted by a parent

A superb school for bright students in grades 6-12 who love learning. Nothing in Central Florida can compare to it. Imagine a teacher to student ratio of 1:4, accelerated academics, a great group of motivated students in a cool, relaxed environment. Besides the stellar teachers and great core courses, they also offer AP classes, drama, art, and so much more. The tuition is half the cost of many other private schools, the stress is low, a dream for both parents and kids alike. If you can think outside the box, and you want a happy kid with high self-esteem, send them here.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family moved to Orlando from New England and my son had always attended small schools. When we first moved to Orlando he attended a public school that had almost 3000 students. The classrooms were large and he did not get the individual attention he was used to. After seeing him struggle to succeed I moved him to Walden Community School. I have seen a 100% turn around in his attitude toward school. He enjoys going to school. The teachers are energetic and enjoy teaching the students. The classroom size is very small which means each student gets the attention they need and will never slip through the cracks. Everyone at the school has such a positive attitude and is willing to help in any way they can.
--Submitted by a parent

For the right kid, this school is paradise. All the work is individualized, so students work at their own pace on their core curriculum. They work on laptops in an environment that's more like a cozy house than it is a classic school setting (well, a cozy house with a lot of white boards and tables). An ever-changing set of electives are taught by visiting teachers who come in for an hour or two a week, on subjects such as engineering, philosophy, drama, dance, community service and much more. So far this year, they've planted a butterfly garden, gone to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, worked on a student film and created Rube Goldberg machines. (It's mid-November.) For parents and students who like to think outside the box, Walden is incredible. All that said, it's not for everyone--enrollment is currently low (although they're hoping to expand) and all current students (in 2010) are in middle or high school. If sports or social life are the most important things about school for your student, it's probably not the right place. But if creativity and critical thinking are important to you, Walden can't be beat.
--Submitted by a parent

Walden Community School, accredited by SACS and Advanced Ed, is committed to providing academic excellence and unique educational experiences for elementary, middle and high school students in a non competitive environment.
--Submitted by a teacher

I have 2 children at the school. We homeschooled for 2 years, then started coming part time, and now are full time. I love the multi-age relationships, the focus on teaching for understanding, and the community atmosphere. My children are thriving. The teachers are great, and the other parents are suppportive and involved.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter's first year at the Walden School. She is a high school student who has always attended traditional school. Walden offers her a broad experience, feeding her curiosity and motivating her to 'learn how to learn.' She is truly happy. The community of the school is a family. The staff is deeply committed to helping each student reach their full potential in a non-competive environment.
--Submitted by a parent

Walden is an amazing school. It has given my daughter the opportunity to expand her natural abilities in an environment where learning is a more natural, authentic process. The concept of a 'school without walls' allows the school to partner with the community to explore learning outside of a traditional classroom. She experiences learning now versus being a passive participant in the process. As a non profit school, I know that the administrators are truly committed to creating a positive learning environment. From tennis, to dance, hands on science, math, history, reading, writing, art and music my daughter is having a truly enriching experience, learning more than she has ever learned before.
--Submitted by a parent