City of Lakes Waldorf School

It is truly astounding to see how happy the middle schoolers are at this school. And they get admitted to the best schools in the city for high school. I am so excited that my elementary aged children will get to attend junior high here. A parent with an 8th and 6th grader here says that her 8th grade son has not once had a problem getting out of bed to go to school. Her 6th grade girl just told her that she likes school days more that the weekend! City of Lakes Waldorf School is an antidote for the popular image of checked out, disinterested in adolescents. I am just glad to know that possible!
--Submitted by a parent

I have a graduate who attended PK through 8th grade and two students currently at CLWS. My 9th grader is excelling at a college prep private school, driven by a love of learning and self motivation that I believe came from her early learning experiences at CLWS. My other 2 love school, love to read, love to learn and are excelling academically. My mother is amazed when they come to her house after school that they both sit down and do their homework first thing and without any prompting. It is my opinion that Waldorf education, focused on the whole child - head, heart, and hands - in a curriculum that meets children at their developmental level, fosters a love of learning. Instead of teaching to a test, learning supports creative thinking. For example, in math the question isn't "what is 5+4?" It is "what makes 9?" This opens the student to think not about what the 'one right answer' is but what the possibilities are. I would highly recommend CLWS based on the results I see in my children. I would also note that the teachers and staff are incredible and make this a special place - as all Waldorf schools are, this school is teacher led.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an amazing school and children who go through its program thrive. Teachers' salaries are meager compared to their public school counterparts, yet they are able to instill a sense of wonder and curiosity in their students that enables them to be lifelong learners. The negative comments in this post are from parents whose children had special needs that the school staff could not address. I just don't believe you can blame the school or its staff for their issues.
--Submitted by a parent

When my son started in first grade at CLWS, he had come from a public charter school with traditional academics. He came to me one night and asked if he could call his previous teacher at the charter school. I asked why and his answer was that, "I like the way they teach me at this school better... At the old school we had just letter and black lines. At this school, I like the colorful letters!" Both of my children, K and first, are developing a strong, articulate vocabulary and listening aptitude, reverence for what is good and beautiful, physical development woven into learning, love of natural world, care and attention to detail, fine motor skills through crafts and games that they love, care for their classmates, ear for music, poetry and stories, ear for other languages, in a sense of safety and security. My first grader has never asked to stay home from school. Sometimes they want to stay longer. We have had babysitters from this school and met other grads and are always impressed with their poise and ability to connect with us, and they seem successful at their current school/work. We plan for our family to continue at this school for the full course through 8th grade.
--Submitted by a parent

The Good: The Waldorf pedagogy requires a happy motivated way to master powers of observation & analysis. Its a child centered environment encouraging critical thinking through power of play, classic study in literature, history & celebration as they interpret the studies through visual & tactile creations. Teachers, parent community & admin know well & ACTIVELY encourage a child's gifts. Ours has been a dramatic positive increase in our child's academic, self confidence & inner grounding from public school & its teaching to the test. The Bad: Because children stay with their teacher as a journey, the expereince is dependent upon the skill/intelligence/openness of their teacher. Some are good- others marginal and unpredictable. CLWS lacks many typical facilities and student services. Home field, cafeteria, MDH classroom health standards, science lab, adequate gym, real school counselor. Math only 3x /week -highly depends on teacher. Orchestra & Admin. is loose (office geared to protecting Waldorf). CLWS is $ - relentlessly asks for $ & HEAVY parent involvement - incompatible with business hrs. Never saw anyone tell a misbehaved younger child to keep hands off others.
--Submitted by a parent

Our child attended CLWS for three years. Preschool was a charming experience from start to finish. In Kindergarten, we started to have a lot of trouble. Our child started coming home with bruises and even a black eye. She was bullied on the play yard and the teacher did very little to address it. She told us that our child was tired and told our child to lay-low and not run away from her attackers. I have spoken with numerous parents that had the very same problem. I am speaking out because although Waldorf has its numerous charms they need to enforce their anti-bulling policy and listen to parent's concerns. We have switched our child to a charter school and she has never been happier. If your child is at CLWS and puts up a huge fight every morning when going to school ask about bulling. I wish I'd known sooner and had not made my child endure a full year there.
--Submitted by a parent

We left a high functioning Minneapolis Public School for City of Lakes Waldorf School four years ago and have never looked back. Our two children have been challenged academically on every level and more importantly they have been challenged to be of the highest quality in their deeds and intentions toward others. They demonstrate a profound curiosity that their extended family members and others notice. We have found the staff and faculty to be high quality and open to any concerns or questions we may have. This school is one of the things in my top five list of what I'm most thankful.
--Submitted by a parent

We love City of Lakes Waldorf School! My three kids have been here since Kindergarten, and we have been with the school for eight years. The school has been a wonderful learning environment for our children, a lovely parent community in which to form lifelong friendships, and a place for our family to grow. The teachers are deeply committed to the children and their learning with a developmentally appropriate curriculum which focuses on the whole child. We have been impressed by how well-rounded our kids have become -- academically, artistically, musically, physically, emotionally, in every way they are healthy and thriving here at CLWS.
--Submitted by a parent

Love, love, love this school! My child is so sad at the end of every day when it's time to go home. That tells me everything. He loves it and he has made lots of good friends who will move alongside him through the grades. What a lovely, nurturing way to educate a child! The teachers are so dedicated and truly wonderful people. And the administrative staff work very hard to address issues as they arise. All schools have their challenges, but City of Lakes truly works. I feel blessed that we found this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I moved my children from this school due to many issues with the administration. The Waldorf curriculum itself is very lovely, but this particular school is run very poorly. Poor personal behavior is hushed up and the school seems very involved with it's adult community needs at the expense of the children. This is said behind closed doors and privately, but in classic dysfunctional fashion, it is never addressed directly. I would not recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent