Waldorf School Of Saratoga Springs in Saratoga Springs

Posted: May 28, 2026

The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs has been the perfect environment for our two daughters, in both the early childhood programs and the Lower School. The most obvious first impression is how deeply well known our children are there in both their preferred learning styles as well as their emotional well-being and tendencies during these critical years of childhood. I have been beyond impressed with the outcomes from the classroom and find it quite enjoyable that my first grader does not have homework. She has been learning proficiently and the homework battles can wait! I am also grateful that there is no battle around screens here. This is a top priority for us as parents. Screens at home are fine when I can maintain oversight and set limits, but screen-free learning at school is crucial, and I am so grateful we have this option.

Posted: May 28, 2026

Posted: June 3, 2025

We feel incredibly grateful to be part of this school community. Both of our children have truly thrived since joining. Our second grader has grown tremendouslythanks to the small class sizes and thoughtful guidance, they've been able to navigate challenging social situations, build meaningful friendships, and grow in confidence. Our youngest is in the kindergarten program, and it's exactly what she needs at this age: lots of outdoor play, purposeful work, and so much love and support from both the teachers and the wider community.

Both of our kids have had experiences here that we dont believe they could get anywhere else. The opportunities for learning and growthsocially, emotionally, and academicallyare truly special. Its also inspiring to see the school itself growing in beautiful ways. This is the most loving and supportive school community weve ever encountered, and we are so thankful to be here.

Posted: May 4, 2024

We love the school. Our daughter has been attending early childhood program at the Forest for several years. The program is outstanding: the kids are outdoors every day in every type of weather, encouraged to free play with mud and materials found in nature. They garden, care for the animals, help make bread, assist with cutting vegetables and are exposed to lots of singing, art and imaginary play. The Waldorf approach to discipline is gentle, but firm. The kiddos walk and play in the woods almost daily. They have quite a few special events throughout the year, which parents get to attend and participate with their kiddos. Those events are quite special. The Forest program provides wonderful warm daily meals to their students. We are looking forward to remaining a part of the school, when my daughter continues into the Lower school.

Posted: May 4, 2024

Posted: May 3, 2024

The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs is a fantastic school, and I can't recommend it enough. It is a verdant oasis in the desert of public school academics. Students learn to work with their hands, absorb information with their minds, and know that they are here for a purpose higher than the material world. The school balances the formation of the individual child with the importance of belonging to a community. Teachers live their vocation as educators, always modeling patience and warmth while also instilling curiosity and a love for learning. In addition to following the holistic pedagogy designed by Rudolf Steiner, WSSS is strictly a no-tech school. This is reason enough to choose this school over others, given the recent reports about how other schools are losing the battle with cell phones in classrooms. Waldorf students are knowledgeable about technology because they get exposure outside of school, but it's the parents that get to decide how much screen time their kids get at home. The no-tech environment combined with the unique, head, heart, hands approach to education makes this a wonderful place for children to learn and grow.

Posted: May 3, 2024

I am a parent and not a teacher. I am not employed by the school....which I mention because someone leaving a negative review made the claim that all many parent reviewers must be teachers at the school.
My daughter attended the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs from pre-school through 8th grade. We transitioned her to public high school for 9th grade because it is a very, very small school and we didn't feel like the insular environment was going to adequately prepare her for real life as an adult, with other adults. After about a month at her public high school she was moved into all of the AP and honors classes because she was so bored. Not so much because she had already learned the information....though that was the case now and then.....but because at the Waldorf School they teach in a very in-depth way. They explain the how and why, not just the who, what and when. In the basic classes she was just memorizing facts. In the AP classes they dig into the material.
My son is currently a 5th grader at the Waldorf School. He has been there since pre-school as well. He is autistic. He has been receiving special education services from the school district, at the Waldorf School since 1st grade. The Waldorf School has a special education teacher that is employed by the school district, that is assigned full time to the Waldorf School, and that is where her office is. He had a 1 to 1aide from 1st grade through 4th grade, meets with a social worker at the school, and has had a lot of support.
All of the faculty at the Waldorf School have been wonderful with my son. The foundation of Waldorf Education is to meet the child where they are....and they have truly done that. His class teacher has had to work with students of all academic levels, keeping them interested, while challenging them, and somehow no one feels left behind or bored.
The selling point for us was that they include movement in almost everything while the children are young. They don't expect 7 and 8 year olds to sit still at a desk all day. There is no standardized testing. There are no tablets or computers in the elementary grades. The whole school is low tech, though with the closing of the high school there are plans to implement a program to prepare the eighth graders for a high tech high school experience. I truly can't recommend this school enough.

Posted: May 3, 2024

The teachers at this school are very involved in the learning of their students. They work hard to provide enriching material that is integrated with other subjects, including woodwork and art. The know all students in the building and collaborate well with each other. You can see it in students' faces that they enjoy coming to school. There is a positive relationship with the parents and community, creating a well-rounded educational experience for everyone.

Posted: May 3, 2024

Posted: May 18, 2023

On the surface the school appears to have a beautiful and lovely curriculum. The truth is the school is running in major financial deficit, and is on the verge of imploding. Parents just received the shocking news that the high school is closing, and theres no plan for the students already enrolled. The administrator just quit. The school appears to be on the verge of collapse. The board was not upfront and honest about the schools financial difficulties, and the school intentionally misled parents in order to continue collecting tuition money. Extremely poorly run, high school closure was handled irresponsibly, no support was given to the families for transition away from the high school, and schools unable to pay bills. The quality of education here is not worth your money. Look at SIS instead!

Posted: May 30, 2021

School had declined since I joined; it went from a unique learning experience to a political indoctrination camp that discriminates against students on the basis of how they think. I don't even want to know what has been going on since I left.

Posted: May 30, 2021

Posted: August 5, 2019

I have studied child development and education. I find that Waldorf Education best meets the child where they truly are developmentally. I appreciated that the arts and movement are integrated into the academic curriculum. My children have attended this school for 11 years and I am happy to say they are well rounded and ready to meet the world with interpersonal skills that are so strongly supported by this model and needed in this world. The graduates are not just exceptional academically but exceptional human beings.

Posted: August 5, 2019

I appreciate that homework is slowly added as the child advances in age.

Posted: August 5, 2019

This is one of my highlights of my experience with this school. Waldorf does this better then any other educational model.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Learning through different modalities and understanding there are different learning styles is a hallmark of Waldorf Education

Posted: July 23, 2019

This school prepares students for college and beyond by teaching crucial critical thinking skills, observational skills and the ability to form conclusions and hypotheses on their own. The approach to homework is common sense and age-appropriate. Teachers are caring and invested in all aspects of school life. Challenge the status quo and strive for more through Waldorf education.

Posted: July 8, 2019

We feel so pleased that our daughter graduated from this school. She had such a rich experience and she has emerged as a very articulate, vital young woman. She learned critical thinking skills which we believe will be a gift for her throughout her life. She also has the love of learning which we believe was truly developed at Waldorf.

Posted: July 8, 2019

Clear objectives given to students.
High level of support if student runs into difficulties.

Posted: July 8, 2019

My overall experience is that Waldorf of Saratoga teachers are passionate and committed to their mission. They are student focused and learn their students well.

Posted: July 8, 2019

Waldorf students are true individuals and this is amplified rather than discouraged.

Posted: July 8, 2019

Their responses to issues that emerge are timely, effective and aligned with their principles as Waldorf educators.

Posted: July 8, 2019

The staff was always accepting and supportive of our student's learning differences. There was an optimistic approach to working with our child's abilities and gifts in a way that was self esteem enhancing for her. Far more focus on what she can do well versus what she is challenged by. And finding the challenges to be opportunities rather than setbacks.

Posted: July 8, 2019

Any issue of students not behaving well or treating other students with dignity and respect were managed quickly and effectively.

Posted: July 6, 2019

Self-reliance, strong sense of who they are, self-confidence, creativity, capable, interested in many facets of the world- some of the skills we see in our graduates over and over.
In a world full of anxiety and stressors, the Waldorf school works very conscientiously to give the students as young as preschool: predictability, warm and understanding care, strong academics (from multiplication tables right from Gr 1 to Mechanics in highschool, and a wide variety of subjects for all to take), through a very strong artistic way of teaching. The result: well-rounded, curious and strong individuals!

Posted: July 3, 2019

The teachers take the time to really understand and support each child.

Posted: July 3, 2019

This in my opinion is what sets WSSS apart from other schools in the area. Waldorf kids are poised and self-assured. They are able to look other adults in the eyes and converse with them confidently.

Posted: July 3, 2019

There have been some changes in leadership over the past few years and that has been challenging.

Posted: July 3, 2019

Children with IEPs get the support they need through the public school district, while still getting to reap the benefits of this unique form of education.

Posted: July 3, 2019

Bullying of any kind is not tolerated at all.

Posted: July 3, 2019

Overall, I have been extremely happy with the school and I see the positive impact it has had on my children.

Posted: July 3, 2019

Homework is rarely given in the very young grades, which is appropriate. By the middle grades, kids have homework almost every night but it's a reasonable amount. It's not 3-4 hours every night.

Posted: May 28, 2019

I think all schools struggle with identifying and meeting students whose needs fall outside of the norm. I think this school is getting better each year at meeting the needs of these kids. I have two children who have learning disabilities and the school has always worked closely with me to make sure their needs are meet. I think parents have to also advocate for their students. And sometimes educate the school along the way. We are all learners in this regard.

Posted: May 28, 2019

I have not ever had a situation that dealt with bullying so can't really comment.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Very High. I have been a member of this school community for over 15 years. There is nothing out there like it in regard to how it develops the whole child seeking to educate the head the heart and the hands. The caring and love for the students is genuine. Students develop a strong moral compass, learn to be compassionate caring members of society, and have learning opportunities that push beyond their comfort zones to grow in ways you cannot imagine. It is a wonderful education and too few know about it or have the privilege to experience it first hand.

Posted: May 28, 2019

The philosophy at this school in the early grades is not to give a lot of homework. Students do not get much homework at all until around 6-7th grade. This is because the belief is "kids should be kids" and not be over burdened with 3-5 hours of homework which causes a lot of stress. The High School however is very rigorous, home work every night and in grades 10-12 students have reading, writing, math and other work at least 2-3 hours a night.

Posted: May 28, 2019

In the early grades at this school the focus is on the whole child, I can't stress this enough. Children move and learn to be in their bodies, they learn art, music and sing. Their social and emotional health is first and foremost in the early grades and academics is taught at a developmentally appropriate age. The Teachers at this school know how to meet the children where they are at as individuals but developmentally physically, mentally and academically.

Posted: May 28, 2019

I have a graduating senior this year who has been at the school since he was 4 years old, he is strong, dedicated, kind, passionate, articulate, talented...the list goes on. While I would like to take credit for his character, I can say without a doubt that this school has cultivated these many gifts in him.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Leadership is open to parent involvement and feedback and welcome and encourage it. Parents really feel like part of a community.

Posted: May 28, 2019

No supervision. Children left in dangerous situations

Posted: May 28, 2019

Children are left to fend for themselves

Posted: May 28, 2019

Teachers do not care about bullying and turn a blind eye when it happens

Posted: May 28, 2019

Horrible and traumatic experience. Negligent teachers. Zero supervision leading to inappropriate situations. Children are left alone in the woods. Administration does not care and teachers are not held accountable for terrible things that happen to children. My children are now in counseling because of what has happened here.

Posted: May 7, 2019

Leadership is collaborative, which may make it hard for parents to figure out if they are used to top-down. But thinking about what kind of teachers this leadership style attracts -- this is exactly the kind of person I would want teaching my children. The teachers share responsibility for the flourishing of the school, so they couldn't be more invested.

Posted: May 7, 2019

It depends. Some might be better supported in public school. Some might thrive better at this school than elsewhere. Ask a lot of questions and be totally up front. If your child has lost his/her love of learning because of frustration over learning differences, this would be a place to re-spark their passion.

Posted: May 7, 2019

We haven't encountered any bullying. Normal social issues, yes. Social problem solving is part of the curriculum. My kids have brought those lessons home and apply them in daily and family life. Unfortunately, when issues arise, parents sometimes intervene in unhelpful ways.

Posted: May 7, 2019

One of the biggest difference between our Waldorf and public school experiences. Homework at this school is not busywork. It is a time to consolidate what was learned in class, and explore the topic further in a directed way. We went from doing homework as fast as possible to putting heart and soul into it.

Posted: May 7, 2019

Some are more effective than others, just like at any school. But there are quite a few extremely effective teachers who get to know the individual children deeply and as a result can really meet their needs, inspire them, and stretch them when appropriate.

Posted: May 7, 2019

Integrity, compassion, and respect are core values. They are very conscious about it. Plus, the classes stick together from one year to the next and do lots of group trips and experiential learning, so the students learn character skills through daily experience working with others.

Posted: May 7, 2019

Very positive. We are fortunate to have this option in the area. I love the curriculum, the educational philosophy, and the warmth of the school.

Posted: April 24, 2019

This is at the core of its philosophy--at the center of almost everything in the education. The stories, the assignments, the curriculum itself are based on reaching and inspiring the inner aspects of the person. The education is experienced-based...meaning that it's all about absorption of the material for oneself. What's the point of learning something if it's just for a test and immediately forgotten? Waldorf education values deep internalization.

Posted: April 24, 2019

The school is cooperative run. This does not mean it's run as co-op...there's much more form and a philosophy behind it. If parent's don't understand this philosophy, they can't see how decisions are made and the care behind those decisions. The school does a poor job at educating people to its workings. It's a two-way street of course, but somehow they have to make this happen.

Posted: April 24, 2019

Every student gets exposed to academics, but also to theater, fine arts, movement, handwork, community service, and internships. Through this multifaceted curriculum, all types of learners are reached and inspired.

Posted: April 24, 2019

Bullying is complicated. The school attempts to follow the "Social Inclusion" models for dealing with bullying.

Posted: April 24, 2019

I love this school. It's not perfect, like anything. There have been problems and like a marriage, some days are better than others. However, the commitment to truth, cooperation and the spirit and health of the students are never in question. My children love school, even as a teenager and pre-teen. I have learned a lot of the philosophy and while I don't agree or follow all of it, I see how the education meets my children and how they are growing into healthy, caring adults. (Of course, they're still a lot of work!) I can't see going anywhere else.

Posted: April 24, 2019

Homework is limited in the early grades. How do you get a student to love homework? ANSWER: Don't give them any too soon! Both my children couldn't wait to get homework in the third grade. There's so much research that supports that when it comes to homework, less is more! Check it out: edutopia.org/article/whats-right-amount-homework

Posted: April 24, 2019

The school is not for everyone and people should be more discriminating in their research to see if it's a match. Too many parents are attracted to the surface and don't learn the deeper aspects and then leave upset when it's not what they thought it was. It's a private school with a unique philosophy--a wonderful one, but not typical. My children are developing into well-rounded individuals. The student teacher-ratio is so supportive. The attention to their needs has been incredible and the way the teacher moves with the class from year-to-year in the lower grades is a unique gift--they truly have become partners in educating my children...no one and done here.

Posted: April 22, 2018

Very poor. The school is badly run and does not put forth well educated, well-rounded people into the world. If anything, they put children and their families into a "Waldorf bubble" that is so not a part of this world that children cannot participate once they become adults. I have had my children in 4 different Waldorf schools and this one is so "philosophy integrated" that they are ineffective as an educational institution.

Posted: April 22, 2018

Only the children who basically teach themselves or whose parents/tutor teaches them do well here.The teachers are ineffective by and large.

Posted: April 22, 2018

The leadership is so poor. The school board does not run this school. A self electing board called the collegium runs this school and they are so inbred that they can't see the forest for the trees.

Posted: April 22, 2018

Be aware that the "parents" writing reviews are likely teachers and admins who are, of course, parents because their children attend the school. The kindergartens at this school are really wonderful, however, they are designed to be "Waldorf light" and encourage people to send their children to the higher grades. Once in the higher grades, this school becomes very cultish. Little communication, lots of religious references, little actual education.

Posted: April 22, 2018

This school is very poorly run. There is little communication and too much obfuscation. They are far, far more concerned about "spiritual development" of children than academic development.

Posted: April 22, 2018

These people are not teachers. Most do not have teaching degrees, but art, social work or psychology degrees. They are not qualified to teach.

Posted: April 22, 2018

The teachers and administration of this school are not qualified to address learning differences.

Base	Distance
NSA Saratoga Springs	2 mi.
Watervliet Arsenal	24.9 mi.

Waldorf School Of Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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Waldorf School Of Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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