Santa Fe Waldorf School

This is a school that will not make accommodations or modifications for learning-different children. It relies heavily on the Rudolf Steiner philosophy rather than incorporating modern, research-based models for learning/teaching. This can lead to challenges for the relationship between the teacher and students. Students are taught primarily as a group, rather than individual and thus individual needs are rather secondary, which is probably fine if you have a self-motivated, verbal-linguistic oriented child. Girls seem to fare better than boys overall, especially in upper grades (6th and above). Weaknesses include challenges in staff to parent communication, allowance for bullying issues to go unresolved, and rigid adherence to Steiner tenets. Strengths include a reverence for the arts (music, handwork, watercolor painting) and nature and the outdoors. Teachers are generally dedicated but not trained to deal with 21st century children (use of computers is frowned upon, even as an educational tool). In addition, teachers are generally expected to be with the same group of kids for grades 1-8.
--Submitted by a parent

Waldorf education draws out what is in the child rather than trying to stuff in information
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent whose child has attended a few different Waldorf Schools, including this one, I am continually impressed at the quality of thinking, the enthusiasm for life and for work, the interest in others and the capacity to engage with people that I see in Waldorf grads from this school and others as well. The ups and downs of any particular teacher through the years is vastly outweighed by the accomplishments of the curriculum, the celebrations and festivals each year that the children, teachers and parents participate in, and the values that the school embues--respect and appreciation for Self, others, Nature, Life in general. This is a dynamic school community with the usual growth joys and challenges that come with any organization striving to work collaboratively.
--Submitted by a parent

Waldorf curriculum is very specifically based on the educational theories of Rudolf Steiner. There are more than 1000 of these schools internationally. Teachers stay with the class from 1st through 8th grade with 'specials' teachers teaching the enrichments. This is amazing when it works, a disaster when the teacher in not up to the job. Teacher qualifications are sketchy, some are enormously qualified, others alarmingly under trained. I have two students at this school. One is getting all the magic and learning that is promised by the best that Waldorf offers. The other child is being sorely under served by a very poor teacher. Love the concept, love it when it works. This school is going through lots of growing pains. It is all about the teacher. By all means do check it out but be sure you get to know the teacher before you enroll.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a school run by faculty,a board of trustees and parents. It's 21 years old, is focused on the children learning from their inside out, a head, heart, hands approach, where their whole self is allowed to develop, not pushed or hurried. This is truly a place of fostering reponsibility and respect of self and respect towards others. The curriculum is focused on three stages that culminate in a foundation of freedom to think,feel, and express oneself. This is started with the will in the first 7 years as necessary importance. In the second 7 years the growing awareness of the feeling self is the focus. In the third 7 years the fostering of critical thinking allows for the student to find expression for new found freedom as they enter the world at large. My daughter has attended this school since Kindergarten and feels safe and eager to go to school each day. From first grade through eighth grade she has the same Class teacher for main lesson, along with several other subject teachers who she enjoys. The school encompasses now preschool through highschool. Because the school embraces the value of the arts, expression, freedom, a reverence for the earth and all who are on it, it matches our family spiritual values.
--Submitted by a parent