Frequently Asked Questions

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Founded in Germany in the early 20th century, Waldorf  Education is an independent and inclusive form of education based on the insights and teaching of the renowned anthroposophist, artist, and scientist, Rudolf Steiner. Evolving from a profound understanding of the human spirit and human development, Waldorf Education is regionally adaptive and has grown to include nearly 1,200 Waldorf schools in 64 countries and more than 1,800 Waldorf Kinder programs in 79 countries.

Waldorf Education offers a developmentally appropriate, experiential approach to education. It integrates the arts and academics in Early Childhood programs through 12th grade. The aim is to inspire life-long learning in each student and enable them to fully develop their unique capacities.

Waldorf Education has its foundations in Anthroposophy. At the heart of Anthroposophy is the belief that humanity has the wisdom to transform itself and the world, through one’s own spiritual development. To that end, Waldorf Education holds as its primary intention the ideal of bringing forth—in every child—their unique potential in a way that serves the further development of humanity. The curriculum, pedagogy, and teaching methods are designed to nurture this potential.

The Waldorf  and Montessori approaches began with a similar goal: to design a curriculum that was developmentally appropriate for each child that addressed the child's need to learn in a tactile and intellectual way. The philosophies are otherwise very different. Consider scheduling a short classroom visit to experience for yourself the way our teachers weave movement, art, and academics into a comprehensive and lively main lesson.

We are a non-sectarian, non-denominational school that compassionately educates all children regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. The pedagogical method is comprehensive, and as part of its task seeks to bring about recognition and understanding of world cultures and religions. 

The school is not part of any church and espouses no particular religious doctrine, but is based on a belief that there is a spiritual dimension to the human being and to all of life. Our families come from a broad spectrum of religious and non-religious traditions and interests.

Teachers must hold a bachelor's degree (preferably in education) and have either earned or be working toward earning a Waldorf teaching certificate.

The passivity that is inherent in watching television or playing video games is increasingly recognized by educators and parents as counterproductive to the process of learning and growth in young children. We follow the Waldorf educational approach which has long been at the forefront of the movement against excessive screen time.

It should be stressed that we are not opposed to electronic media but feel that electronic media are counterproductive for healthy childhood development with grade school children. In order for your child to receive the most from our education, we strongly  encourage no electronic media usage during the week, including Friday and Sunday evenings. 

If your family does utilize media, we suggest it be limited to Saturdays. This allows our students to carry what they have learned and experienced during school into their sleep, and wake up ready to bring their own sense of imagination and creativity to the next school day.

Our Waldorf-trained teachers believe the appropriate age for classroom and individual computer use is in high school. It is more important for students to have the opportunity to interact with one another and with teachers in exploring the world of ideas, participating in the creative process, and developing their knowledge, skills, abilities, and inner qualities. In this way, we foster in students a love of learning, an ongoing curiosity, and an interest in life. As older students, children quickly master computer technology.

We approach all aspects of schooling in a unique and comprehensive way. The curriculum meets children at their various developmental levels. Faculty are dedicated to creating a genuine inner enthusiasm for learning that is essential for educational success.  

In early childhood, children learn primarily though imitation and imagination. The goal of our Early Childhood Program is to develop a sense of wonder in the young child and reverence for all living things. This creates an eagerness for the academics that follow in the grades. For more information, see our Early Childhood page under Our Program.  

Elementary and middle school children learn through the guidance of a class teacher who typically stays with the class for eight years. Our interdisciplinary curriculum is rich in humanities and sciences, integrated with art, handwork, music and movement. For more information, see our Grade School page under Our Program.  

Traditional education in our Western society focuses primarily on the intellectual aspect of the human being and has chosen largely to ignore the other parts that are essential to our well-being. These include our life of feeling (emotions, aesthetics, and social sensitivity), our willpower (the ability to get things done), and our moral nature (being clear about right and wrong). Without developing these qualities, we are incomplete.  

Waldorf Education recognizes and honors the full range of human potential. We address the whole child by striving to awaken and enable all the latent capacities. The children learn to read, write, and do math. They study history, geography, and the sciences. In addition, all children learn to sing, play a musical instrument, draw, paint, model clay, work with wood, speak clearly, act in a play, think independently, and work harmoniously and respectfully with others. The development of these various capacities is interrelated. For example, all children learn to knit in first grade. Acquiring this skill develops manual dexterity, involves arithmetic, and requires problem solving and resilience to complete a project.  

Our teachers prepare children for life in the "real" world by teaching art and life skills alongside traditional academic subjects.  In this way, we strive for the ideal of the well-rounded human being; a person who is knowledgeable about the world and about human history and culture, who has many varied practical and artistic abilities, who feels a deep reverence for and communion with the natural world, and who can act with initiative and in freedom in the face of economic and political pressures.

We are registered with the State of North Carolina as an independent, private school and have been granted non-profit status by the IRS. Our faculty have either completed or are in the process of completing their Waldorf certification and are wholly inspired by the Waldorf approach.  We are actively pursuing accreditation through WECAN and AWSNA.  Our Early Childhood Program recently earned Associate Status with WECAN.

Teachers typically carry a class from first to eighth grade. When a teacher holds a class in this way, the teacher and children come to know, understand, and value each other in a deep way. The children, feeling secure in a long-term relationship, are better able to learn. The teacher, knowing each child's strengths and weaknesses, is able to use that knowledge to tailor daily lessons. The interactions between the teacher and parents become more meaningful over time, forming a partnership to help guide the child along their developmental path.

A Waldorf classroom functions as a community.  As the leader of that community, a teacher experiencing a conflict with a student must assume the responsibility to honestly evaluate the situation and make changes to better the relationship whenever possible.  The teacher, working with the support and good will of the parents, will often successfully resolve the conflict.

If this fails, the conflict may then be brought to The College of Teachers to study the situation.  Again, the teacher, parents and the child  (if appropriate) will be brought together to resolve the conflict. In the rare event differences are irreconcilable, school leadership will determine if our faculty can best serve your child. 

Yes! Please visit our Tuition & Enrollment page for full details.

Our students' health and safety are always a top priority.  Please see our Immunization Policy for full details.

Our young school has limited resources for meeting specialized needs. However, we are willing to meet with families to assess whether we are able to meet the needs of any child with special requirements. Applicants for admission with a diagnosed learning disability and/or a current IEP will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if we are able to serve and support the student at the level they need to thrive and flourish. For more information, please review our full Educational Support Policy.