Linden Waldorf School in Nashville | Military Town Advisor

Posted: August 12, 2025

Our boys have been with Linden for three years, since preschool. We moved to a neighborhood in Nashville for the zoned public elementary, but were overwhelmed with the setting and leadership at Linden; it was an easy decision to transition into the Waldorf environment. The focus on the child, supported with data, meeting children where they are in their development vs the public model focused on testing with limited outdoor/free play, was the biggest driver in our decision making. We would not have selected another private school. We feel so luck to be part of this special community of families and educators. When considering other cities to live, we will forever seek a community with a Waldorf school to join.

Posted: August 12, 2025

Posted: August 13, 2024

We are having a great experience at Linden Waldorf. It is a special place that is constantly looking for ways to evolve positively.

Posted: August 13, 2024

Posted: July 20, 2024

My child attended Linden one semster: Spring 2024. Like four other students in the class, we will not be returning in the fall. (3 students left mid year.) I'm writing because I want to echo what some of the 2019, 2021 reviews. There is a tolerance for "violent play", a culture of secrecy, and an unwillingness to acknowledge the state of dysfunction. Like other reviewers, our experience at Linden has required us to focus on emotional & mental rebuilding for our child.

*Violent Play*
Several reviews noted aggressive students and bullying. I'll share my experience. My child came home several times saying they didn't feel safe and shared experiences of bullying, teasing and exculsion. So, I took a day to observe the classroom. Within the first 45 mins, another student crossed the room to yell into my child's face. Students tried to exclude them from Circle Time, until the teacher intervened. At recess, I observed lots of grabbing, holding, slamming & pushing to the ground among students. I also noticed two boys wrestling a girl to the ground several times. She popped up each time and appeared to be ok. But it was such a shock to witness the behaviors that are tolerated. So, I asked another parent to go & observe the class. This parent noted "violent play" and shared sadness/disappointment about the classroom culture. In my child's class, 6-7 rough & disruptive students set the culture.

*Poor Leadership and a Culture of Secrecy*
I documented & shared my concerns with the Head of School multiple times during parent meetings. Each time, she intimated that I didn't understand the Waldorf pedagogy or dismissed my concerns as being new to Linden. Before making my final decision not to return, I asked for data on student retention. The Head of School instructed the Admissions Director not to share that information. She later emailed saying that she "will not be publishing those numbers, as they are internal...and [she] would be our point person for all communication." I understood that an attempt to isolate our family & obfuscate information.

*High Student Turnover*
Several reviewers noted that 3-5 students leave EACH CLASS, EACH YEAR. Agree.

*Kind & Caring Teachers*
I want to echo what other reviewers said about the teachers. My child's teacher cared deeply & did her best in an impossible situation.

If history holds, there will be a flood of positive reviews following this one. But the harm Linden has caused our family (and so many others) remains.

Posted: July 20, 2024

Posted: October 3, 2023

We love Linden Waldorf. We have our child here and it's a special, wonderful place!

Posted: October 3, 2023

Posted: November 28, 2021

I was a student from pre-k to 8th grade . I have had a lot of mixed feelings since being in public highschool and college on how my education shaped both my education , success and general approach to life. When I went there the school was really small and it is still relatively small overall. This is kind of a pro and con . The community at that school regardless of grade will be much tighter than any public school and on par or better than well established other private schools in the area. The downside is that if you cant connect or have a problem with a teacher theres not much you can do about it since theres only one option for the primary grade teachers and they stay with the students till they graduate . As far as academics I felt that writing , languages , arts ,history and music programs gave me an edge in high school, while I struggled in math and science. Above all, the school has a great strings program and has gotten alot of my friends scholarships in high schools and colleges . Overall I would say that if you value a good community for your child to be apart of and want your childs education to be focused around the arts this school is one of the best options in the area . And despite my slight academic struggles in highschool , I dont regret going there because it was one of the happiest times of my life . Teachers and students there care about one another and are eager to learn . Compared to other schools I greatly admired almost all my teachers .

Posted: November 28, 2021

Posted: July 28, 2021

This "school" has been the worst experience ever. The teaching methods are non existent to the point it may take us 3 years of tutoring just to get our children caught back up. The board members have been unethical. One going so far as to having an unprofessional relationship with some of the parents. I can't believe this is even allowed, it's like an unsupervised zoo. The children are aggressive and so many are uncouth and bullies to the other kids.

Posted: June 24, 2021

We had a very bad experience at this school.

Posted: June 24, 2021

Posted: April 20, 2021

A previous review was full of things that "you should know." Following that approach for a minute, you should know that not all problems that kids have are the fault of the school they attend. Admittedly, no school is perfect. But our child happily attended Linden for nine years, then went on to thrive in a rigorous high school and is now thriving in college. The feeling in our family is that the LWS experience contributed not only to continued academic success but to a healthy worldview. There are many bumps along the path of any education, and possibly a counter-cultural approach is the one most fraught with skepticism or misunderstanding. But Linden has the courage of its convictions, and everything is designed to nurture curiosity, reverence for the natural world, a healthy work ethic, a sense of community. These are ambitious goals, and there are bound to be some frustrations and disappointments. I'm sure there are even some legitimate complaints. But overall this school is a gem and its mission is unlike anything else you will see at the cookie-cutter worksheet institutions. What Linden lacks in facilities and endowment it more than compensates for in its deep understanding of childhood and the beauty of its central purpose.

Posted: April 20, 2021

Posted: February 28, 2021

While you are reading the sudden influx of glowing reviews, you should know that there have also been a significant number of families with bad experiences at this school, but the office isn't calling those families to post their experiences on Great Schools, are they?

You should know that we sent 2 children to Linden over 10 years. You should know that Linden traumatized our child so badly that we have spent the past 2 years rebuilding self-confidence and restoring trust in educators. (If I hadnt experienced it, I would have a hard time believing this one myself.)

You should know that in 2019, 85% of the class of 2021 left the school. Of those, 35% left before the Spring semester even ended.

You should know that just a few years ago, the school had an enrollment of over 200 students. According to a recent news article, enrollment is down to 110. And if you think enrollment is down almost 50% due to COVID, then you should know that most Nashville private schools appear to be bursting at the seams.

You should know that LWS has a reputation with professionals in this town. Ask attorneys, doctors, therapists, and tutors if they have heard of Linden Waldorf School, and see what they have to say.

You should skip past the recent influx of good reviews and read the reviews from June 2019.

You should know that the Head of School has not changed since then; she just has a MUCH smaller school.

You should know there are many current and former families and faculty who have expressed that they do not trust the Head of School.

You should know that LWS has been approved for $804,320 in PPP loans, yet they apparently still furloughed teachers and cut salaries.

You should know that the faculty and staff at LWS are ultimately good people and have caring hearts, but they seem blinded by their dogmatic approach to the pedagogy.

You should know that a Waldorf child should come home from school filled with joy every day. But, if your child regularly comes home sad, withdrawn, demoralized, or crushed, you should consider if that environment is having a harmful effect on your child.

If you choose to send your child to Linden, I sincerely hope they have the joyous Waldorf experience they deserve. But you should also be prepared to pull them at a moments notice, especially as they progress through the upper grades.

These are my experiences, understandings, and opinions. If anything is inaccurate, then I would expect the school to post a clarifying response.

Posted: February 28, 2021

Our daughter has been at Linden for 5 years now and she is thriving. The Waldorf approach to learning is highly effective in achieving the most elusive and desirable quality in a student: curiosity. The small class size allows for a more individualized experience as well as creative adjustments on the fly such as building an entire outside campus during the Covid-19 pandemic. More diversity would definitely be a plus but to their credit, Linden is actively striving to achieve this with a strong outreach program. Our children don't need to speed up to keep up with our ultra fast-paced world; they need an approach like Linden Waldorf School's, where slowing down will help them develop the foundation necessary to thrive. We could not be happier at Linden!

Posted: February 28, 2021

Posted: February 16, 2021

I have several children who attend Linden Waldorf School. My children are all very different, and the school has worked well for them. I really appreciate the creative problem solving skills my children have learned. They really enjoy learning. Linden uses a variety of methods to teach that often involve body movement, music, and art. It seems to really help the kids encode the information more effectively. In middle school the academic rigor increases, and my middle school child is developing great writing skills through the many essays she writes. All the teachers love what they do and the kids sense that. I love the model of keeping the same teacher for eight years. The teachers really get to know the children and how to best work with each child.

Linden has managed the challenges of running a school during a pandemic very well. The children seems to be thriving in spite of the current challenges of the pandemic.

One of my children has some learning differences, and Linden has worked hard to give him the extra attention he needs.

Posted: February 16, 2021

Posted: February 9, 2021

We moved our daughter from a highly rated public school to Linden, so that she could be in outdoor classrooms during the COVID pandemic. She has thrived and loves her school! The staff and teachers have an incredible understanding of my daughter's development both academically and socially even in the short time she has been there. They care deeply about her personal development and confidence and are wonderfully communicative with us. They work hard to make it feel like a community--and it does. We were attracted to the school originally because of their innovative approach to outdoor classrooms and had heard great things from other parents, but we will be staying at Linden for the profoundly original, enriching and effective approach to teaching the whole child.

Posted: February 9, 2021

Posted: February 4, 2021

Our son joined the first grade two years ago because "the light" in his eyes for the love of learning was starting to flicker and wane. Now that light has fully returned, and it burns just as brightly in our daughter's eyes now that she has joined the first grade, as well. This school has really stepped-up and faced the challenges of in-person learning this year with the pandemic by engaging their parent volunteers before the beginning of the school year by constructing outdoor classrooms for every grade. Although the appropriate protocols have limited on-campus access and the ability for parents to regularly interact with faculty and staff, the school has not only met, but exceeded, a very ambitious annual fund goal. As one of the smallest private schools in middle Tennessee, I feel this accomplishment is a truly well-deserved endorsement. Even though the curriculum might be considered "non-traditional", there is a certain level of comfort and trust I now have which has been directly supported and underwritten by the alumni who have easily transitioned to well-regarded high schools and universities. I would, however, like to see a bit more diversity within the student body, as well as the fulfillment of much-needed open staff positions. While every school has its challenges and idiosyncracies, Linden Waldorf School has successfully "met" the needs of my childrens' particular styles of learning, and more than anything else, they come home with smiles on their faces ready to talk about what they learned from their extraordinary caring teachers.

Posted: February 4, 2021

Posted: February 3, 2021

Our son has been at Linden Waldorf for the last two years after he was struggling with keeping up at the public school he was attending. It has been a refreshing change and positive experience for him and our family to be at Linden. Their whole hearted curriculum teaches through story telling, play, movement, music and art and caters to our child as he developmentally grows, which we found to be a much better fit for our son. The teachers and staff are caring and compassionate and always available to listen and resolve any issues we have. We also appreciate that his main room teacher moves with the class so she really gets to know him as he grows. Our son also needs extra help with spelling and writing, and having a reading tutor at the school for extra support has been amazing. We really feel part of a wonderful community here and the staff, teachers and parents have been nothing but supportive. Though it's been a challenging year, due to Covid to socialize as much, Linden has gone above and beyond in building and providing outdoor classrooms! This in itself has made a world of difference for our son, to be able to go school and enjoy being with his friends without having to be in front a computer doing virtual class all day. We are very grateful to have found Linden and are so happy our son is thriving here!

Posted: February 2, 2021

This is for certain a great school. The learning environment is ideal and the teachers are excellent. Lindens star is rising in Nashville!

Posted: December 31, 2020

We have two children at LWS, both very different in terms of their learnings styles and needs. Both started in a highly-rated public school. The light in my sons eyes began fading pretty quickly in first grade at this public school, where he received two hours of homework his first night and was given worksheet after worksheet after worksheet. In my rear view mirror each morning, I saw a boy exit the car with dread for another day of school. We switched him to LWS, because we want our children to have a love of learning and a reverence for the world around them - LWS has so far achieved this. Our daughter would have continued at the same public school (shes a self-starter and can handle all the worksheets) had it not been for COVID. We saw the writing on the wall and didnt want her first grade experience to be sitting in front of a computer for virtual learning. LWS very thoughtfully and strategically responded to the COVID crisis by building outdoor classrooms. Our kids are thriving. This is a small community. Any poor communication, I believe, is due to a lack of resources. All of my requests for information are responded to immediately. When our son started at LWS mid-way through first grade, he had difficulty making friends at first and feeling a part of the team. The school addressed this situation beautifully and compassionately - the community of teachers were all made aware and watched for opportunities to build relationships between the boys. Two months later, our son felt like LWS was his school and he feels deeply connected. My daughter is missing a hand and we knew that LWSs limited resources meant we might need to proactively problem-solve and think through how she could fully participate in subjects like knitting. So far, her teachers pre-empt our efforts, creatively thinking through accommodations.

Posted: December 31, 2020

Posted: May 26, 2020

Our child who needed extra support was able to get it promptly internally with on-site after school math tutoring. This is not a special needs school, although the addition of a reading specialist has been amazing.

Posted: May 26, 2020

Its hard to find the words to express our gratitude for this school and our school community. I cant imagine any other place where we our children would be as loved, known, and seen for who they are than at Linden. We wouldnt be anywhere else!

Posted: May 26, 2020

Our children did not experience bullying here. Not that they never got their feelings hurt by a friend or hurt anybody elses feelings along the way, but childhood brings some of that with it as a universal truth. My Linden alums and their friends down say theyd go back to middle school here if they could, and thats saying a lot.

Posted: May 26, 2020

I found that the approach to homework has been balanced and age-appropriate, ramping up necessary in the upper grades to prepare children for high schools. We have been at the school for several years and the progression to increasingly more demanding work out of school has been balanced and consistent.

Posted: May 26, 2020

Our experience has been FANTASTIC! With 2 alums and young child still at the school, we have the longer view of how incredibly lucky we are to have had this group of skilled, talented, dedicated group of educators help us raise our children. And our high school children are so grateful in retrospect for their childhood here, too.

Posted: May 26, 2020

Have a conversation with any Linden graduate and see for yourself. Even our childrens high school teachers comment that Linden kids are in a league of their own and they stand out from the crowd. They embody resilience, confidence, empathy, and a comfort in their own skin that is too rare in most early high school-aged kids. They value relationships.

Posted: May 26, 2020

Weve found the leadership team, including the head of school, to be accessible, open to feedback, and willing to make and communicate difficult decisions while carrying the vision of the school. The transition to online learning was executed about as flawlessly as any school could and kudos to the leadership for having the foresight to prepare and launch an amazingly rich distance learning plan with the teachers all on board on very little notice.

Posted: April 30, 2020

We have had our child at Linden Waldorf for years and counting now. We moved from CA, and were looking for a special environment that would both nurture and educate our son. When we did the walk-through tour of the school, my husband and I cried tears of gratitude that a place like this existed in Nashville. The classrooms and the children, the teachers and the grounds... it is all designed to equip the head, heart and hands of a child. Their multi-dimensional approach to raising up children - not just to be educated, but kind, present, curious, dynamic - has done wonders for our boy. I've recommended this school to any parent mentioning they are looking for a new school for their child. It is a small community feel with a big heart, a place to dig in with your child and grow together.

Posted: April 30, 2020

Posted: March 29, 2020

The school is aware of how much support they can provide the student with learning differences and offers that support as needed.

Posted: March 29, 2020

Outstanding! Being out of school, due to the Covid-19 issue, has deeply saddened me and my daughter. We love this school!

Posted: March 29, 2020

Linden helps students learn the difference between being in "conflict" with another student and being "bullied" by another student. With that, they are able to redirect behavior and work through the Issue.

Posted: March 29, 2020

homework is given to augment the learning in the classroom, not in place of the teacher's work

Posted: March 29, 2020

Teachers are effective in sharing their knowledge with the students and cultivate a love of learning within the students.

Posted: March 29, 2020

The school expects the best out of their students and their teachers. There are many ways to bring forth the best in the community,.

Posted: March 29, 2020

Tricia Drake listens with her whole attention and resolves issues in a way that best suits the student and the family. Kim Robinson has brought a light and joy to her role and that permeates the entire school.

Posted: March 10, 2020

The curriculum is built to support many learning styles and the school has 2 on staff academic support faculty members.

Posted: March 10, 2020

We are so pleased with our childrens education and experiences at Linden. We know older kids who have graduated from Linden and gone on to great public and private high schools and moved on to excellent colleges with scholarships. You may not be a fit if youre looking to compare your kids education year by year to a traditional school model curriculum, but at the completion of the curriculum (1-8) these students are lovers of learning, independent thinkers, socially mature, and incredibly capable.

Posted: March 10, 2020

Linden supports students in working through social struggles independently and has a specific plan in place for steps of intervention. We find that it is important to encourage and support kids in communicating through social issues before jumping in. This prepares them for adulthood. We havent experienced it ourselves but have seen teacher jump in when necessary if it is clear that the students cant work out a social issue with support.

Posted: March 10, 2020

Homework at Linden is intentional. Younger grades arent sent home with busy work worksheets. The school respects that time decompressing with family is valuable and they can fit all of the childrens learning into the 35 hours a week that the students are in school.

Posted: March 10, 2020

We have had a great experience with Linden educators. We love that the main teachers stay with the students from grade to grade. Theyre only with the kids for main lesson blocks 2-3 hours a day, the rest are specialized subject teachers. But having one teacher who knows the students personally for years has served our children well.

Posted: March 10, 2020

One of the primary reasons that we chose Linden is because of the focus on emotional intelligence alongside intellectual intelligence.

Posted: March 10, 2020

Linden changed its leadership structure to the Head of School model 2 years ago and the change has been fantastic for the school. The leadership team has listened to the concerns, desires, and praises of the parent body and is steering the ship well.

Posted: March 4, 2020

We were encouraged by friends to consider Linden, and we first approached the school with a healthy dose of skepticism. (In addition to having experience with several excellent public schools for our kids, we also now have a child at USN which we also love.) We were very impressed by what we found, as we obviously chose to move our child here. My child's love of learning and his capacity for imaginative thinking has expanded. His physical skills (including handwriting (print and cursive), movement, violin playing, needlework and abilities in the arts) have been expanded and/or greatly improved. Knowledge of a range of subjects from traditional academic subjects to in-depth study of topics ranging from ancient literature & cultures to farming & cooking to effective math techniques will make him a more sophisticated scholar in my opinion. Having a great teacher stay with the kids also adds to the effectiveness of the learning. In our past experience, the school year could vary depending on the teacher they received that grade level. Now, we are confident in our excellent teacher and her consistent understanding of the class including each child's strengths and areas that need improvement.

Posted: March 4, 2020

Homework is phased in throughout elementary school and further increased into middle school. I have done research on the damaging affect of ineffective homework piled on at early ages and have been very pleased that their policy mirrors current academic findings. As kids enter middle school, they take on larger and impressive projects.

Posted: March 4, 2020

I have been very impressed with the quality of the teachers. My son has rediscovered a love of learning. He was at an excellent public school and though meeting all the marks academically, he was starting to dislike school on a regular basis. I feel that his math, writing (including spelling), language and other skills are progressing as quickly if not faster at Linden, and he loves being at school.

Posted: March 4, 2020

Yes! My son has thrived at this school and I feel has learned to be a compassionate friend. Each day starts with lining up politely at the door to greet your teacher with respect. The kids also learn to speak, sing and perform confidently in front of groups of people. They learn to work independently and in groups.

Posted: March 4, 2020

I have had a positive experience with the leadership and they have been open to feedback.

Posted: January 27, 2020

Children with learning differences are better served in public school where resources are made available and the staff is trained on how to teach children with learning differences.

Posted: January 27, 2020

We didn't see a lot of bullying, but when we did it was not quickly resolved.

Posted: January 27, 2020

Homework is subjective. Our child had 2 teachers while at the school. The first teacher gave homework beginning in 3rd grade with weekly homework. The second gave little homework for middle school. The children were not having grammar or spelling corrected and as a result most of the kids have struggled in high school with these subjects. Math was similar, but did get better with the hiring of a new teacher for the subject. Dictation was still the primary means of transferring information at the middle school level and little in the way of original writing (essays, etc.) We heard about this site and wanted to share our experience, which had so many blessings. However, the consistent academic struggles and social struggles the kids experience in high school has made us very reflective on the academics our child received. Our child's second teacher did not support or build upon the academics from the first teacher. The lack of maturing in the academics from elementary to middle school is evident when they get to high school, speaking as an alumni parent.

Posted: January 27, 2020

This is difficult. Our child's early teachers were effective. Many of the subject teachers that were well versed in Waldorf education are now gone. Though many were effective in the classroom with their art, lack of classroom management training made it difficult to be effective. The lack of consistency and the ability to do what they want with little oversight is why the reviews are so inconsistent.

Posted: January 27, 2020

This was true at one time, but our child's middle school experience and what we have witnessed since from friends with younger children would tell us that is no longer true.

Posted: January 27, 2020

The door to the administration is revolving with many administrators through the years. They seem to be at a loss when confronted with bullying, bad behavior, consistent disregard for dress code and with one of the hallmarks of Waldorf eduction - media. They are especially at a loss when a teacher has harmed a child whether it is emotional or academic. One one head of school has ever taught in a classroom and that was for one year and none have ever been a school administrator prior to being hired.

Posted: January 27, 2020

There is a beauty and sweetness to Waldorf and when executed well in one of the older schools, it can pay off. But, in Nashville it is somewhat isolating for the kids. Waldorf schools attract some good faculty and some who probably should not be working with kids, like all schools. Our child developed a love for things like music and woodworking and proficiency in handwork, but has told us several times was lost during the freshman year of school in nearly every academic class. There was no essay writing taught, the ability to spell is non-existent (thank goodness for spell check), grammar (what's that), had never handled a microscope (yes, microscopes were around when Rudolf Steiner lived). The mental math is great, but they have to be able to show their work in high school. Ask hard questions if you are considering this. Really look at the class sizes as a reflection. Even ask for test score data (test scores can be your friend and give a baseline.) Waldorf students should be AHEAD nationally in math and at least on par or middle range for language arts after the 4th grade or 5th grade.

Posted: January 5, 2020

The school makes clear that it is not a school equipped to handle students with certain learning differences. Sometimes parents of students are not open to hearing that messaging.

Posted: January 5, 2020

We continue to feel so grateful for the experience Linden has provided for our son. He loves learning and never wants to miss a day of school. He knows that he is loved and supported by his teachers. The school administration has continued to work to improve organization, leadership, and communication and deeply cares about the students and their families.

Posted: January 5, 2020

Homework assignments begin in 4th grade and students are eased into it. By 5th grade, my son received detailed reports from his teacher explaining what outstanding work /corrections to work remained. For each book assignment, at the outset the teacher provided a list of when chapters had to be completed and any additional work that was expected to be done with the reading. Deadlines for homework were always made clear.

Posted: January 5, 2020

My son is in his 8th year of attending the school and has had excellent teachers, including lead teachers and assistants and subject matter teachers for handwork, Mandarin, Spanish, woodworking, music, and strings. We feel blessed that he has the opportunity to learn from talented, skilled teachers who love what they do.

Posted: January 5, 2020

From the time we joined the school 8 years ago, we have heard people describe the strong character of the children who graduate from the school. Through the years, we have gotten to know older children and alums at the school and completely agree. Adults outside of the school - particularly teachers and coaches at other area schools who know my son through sports and camps - constantly commend him for his focus, respectful attitude, and leadership skills.

Posted: January 5, 2020

The school listened to critical feedback regarding leadership over the years and has worked tirelessly to make changes, including a new structure of governance and assembling an effective leadership team.

Posted: October 10, 2019

Certain types of learning differences are effectively diagnosed and dealt with by the teaching staff via extra lessons, procedural modifications, or other intervention strategies; others may require interventions that are beyond the capabilities of this school, and these are referred out to professionals. When this happens, there is often frustration out of a sense that the school should be able to handle everything "in house", and this usually results in a parent being frustrated AT the school. I believe this is unfair - a school with fewer than 200 students cannot be reasonably expected to handle the entire vast array of different learning challenges that it might encounter, but it suffers for having the directness to inform parents that a particular intervention is both necessary and beyond the skills of the staff.

Posted: October 10, 2019

Again, due to the familial nature of the classes, bullying is notably lower at this school than at other K-8 schools. It is not entirely absent, as kids are kids. But for several reasons (screen-free / media free policy, social inclusion teams, buddy system, and the "class family"), it's practically non-existent compared to public and most larger private schools (where bullying is often tied to perceptions of class or status).

Posted: October 10, 2019

They believe that homework is generally not helpful if it's piled on high; most children in Grades 3 or lower have no homework at all. From 4th grade up, homework is extremely manageable and assigned with weekly due dates instead of daily.

Posted: October 10, 2019

The students who attend this school for a substantial period are of notably different character than kids who attend other, more internally competitive and less close-knit schools. The fact that a class is formed in 1st grade and stays together as a unit, with the same teacher, until 8th grade, makes a huge difference in the development of empathy, compassion, integrity, and conflict resolution / interpersonal skills.

Posted: October 10, 2019

This is a great school. Every school has challenges, and many of the negative reviews on this site are from families that undoubtedly "shop around" or "cut and run" when the going gets tough. Our family is tremendously thankful for everything that Linden has given our children, and I cannot imagine our kids attending and being as well-rounded, well-adjusted, balanced, relaxed, and well-met at another school (public or private).

Posted: September 30, 2019

Excellent! Our daughter is in college now, but she still appreciates her Waldorf education. She and her classmates respected each other's strengths and accepted each other's limitations. They all met new challenges every year, which developed their willingness to try the unfamiliar and built confidence in their own capacities. This beautiful process continues to unfold now, according to plenty of people I know with children there.

Posted: September 30, 2019

Most of them make a great effort to get to know and understand the students in their care. They continually learn and grow.

Posted: September 30, 2019

Posted: August 23, 2019

Like most private schools, Linden is not prepared to address significant learning differences.

Posted: August 23, 2019

We did not deal with bullying, specifically, in our class. That said, I am aware of other families on campus who have had problems with bullying, some of whom received adequate help on campus, others of whom did not. It is not uncommon for one student to regularly pester, touch, aggravated, etc., another student or group of students with little or no serious action on the part of the teachers or admin. These behaviors are sometimes allowed to become just another part of the classroom culture, expected and often overlooked. I think there is a tendency to see even middle graders as too young, too innocent, too socially unaware, to be capable of ill intent or capable of understanding the seriousness of their actions and/or words. Too much focus on intent and too little focus on impact. Kids at Linden enjoy lots of recess time, which is wonderful. That said, play can be pretty rough, sometimes too rough, with little or no intervention from teachers. It was not uncommon for several children to report the same recess incident to their parents only to have a teacher claim not to have seen it. This happened often enough to beg the question, whos actually watching and paying attention to the kids on the playground?

Posted: August 23, 2019

LW has a strong (in theory) Code of Compassion, and they have received training from Kim John Payne around creating healthy, respectful, compassionate, learning environments. I do not think that the training has been effectively implemented, however. Theres a lack of consistency in how challenges (behavioral in particular) are met and managed. Teacher discretion allows for great variance in how policies are enforced and in how individual children are treated. The children are aware of this, of course. If one child is allowed to behave disrespectfully, on a regular basis, toward classmates or teachers with little or no corrective action taken, the children are aware. If only one child is singled out for correction all the time, the children are aware. If some kids are allowed to behave poorly year after year, the others are aware. So, though the school professes a Code, its implementation is less than ideal. Character development benefits when kids see and know that integrity, compassion, and respect are expected from everyone on campus, and that everyone is treated equally and fairly.

Posted: August 23, 2019

Leadership tends toward indecision, resistance to change (even when clearly necessary), chaos, and defensiveness. The creation of a healthy, communicative, open, inviting, indtitutuional environment begins at the top. The leadership at LW hasnt established thorough policies and procedures necessary to creating such an environment, and at times they dont enforce the policies and procedures they have established. The school is often unprepared to address social and academic issues that arise, particularly in the middle and upper grades. Yes, it is a Waldorf school, but kids are kids and the school is not immune to issues that all schools face - social exclusion, mental health issues, bullying, banned substances, unwanted touching, name calling, sexism, etc. LW often struggles to effectively and consistently address these issues when they arise, in part because they lack specific policies and procedures from which to proceed. Procedures that are in place, such as the quiet room, are often misused. Without consistent guidance from leadership, teachers seem left to there own devices. This leads to inconsistency in how issues are addressed, which leads to uncertainty among the children as to what the rules actually are, what is and is not acceptable behavior, what to expect from teachers and leadership on any given day. Communication (lack of, conflicting, or inconsistent) issues plague the school at every level, top to bottom. Concerns (social or academic) are sometimes met with promises of change or improvement, but due to a lack of will forces, there is often little or no follow through. Other times concerns may be met with indignation and defensiveness.

Posted: August 23, 2019

Depends on the teacher/s. I do not think children should be burdened with excessive homework at any age, but looking back, I think the class would have benefited from reasonable (30 minutes or less) and regular assignments in the lower grades. Our lower grades teacher assigned no homework, and the children did not develop the skills necessary for middle grade work. Theyd not been taught organizational or time management skills, nor had they developed the self discipline necessary to complete work at home. This made the transition to homework in the middle grades frustrating and difficult for them. Even in the middle grades there was little consistency. One teacher might regularly assign reasonable work (math, spelling), others might do so rarely or sporadically (Spanish, language arts). The work ranged from challenging and educational to little more than busy work. I do not think LW adequately prepares students for workloads they will encounter when they transition to high school.

Posted: August 23, 2019

Some are invested (joyful, creative, seem to love children and teaching) and effective (organized, challenging, supportive) some not so much. Our lower grades main lesson teacher was joyless and ineffective, lacking the organizational and time management skills necessary to create a positive, challenging, healthy learning environment. The teacher often stated that the kids werent ready for this or that learning activity, but looking back, I think the teacher, for whatever reason, wasnt ready and prepared and able to fully engage them in challenging and new activities. The teacher was overwhelmed and utterly disorganized, many of the children were unhappy, and they werent being taught at grade level. As a result, we entered the middle grades almost universally unprepared for the work, years behind in math and language arts. Private tutoring was necessary for many. In short, the children suffered academically and socially at the hands of an ill-equipped teacher and an institutional structure that allows individual teachers far too much control over what they teach and how they teach it, with little accountability. I think most parents trusted the schools assurance that if we would be patient and allow the pedagogy to unfold, things would be fine. I regret not having pushed for more accountability and proof that my child and her classmates were being kept at grade level. I could not count on our teacher or anyone else to communicate this information to me. We had a few fantastic teachers. The music and art/handwork teachers are phenomenal. Our middle grades math teacher was a blessing. And I aware of other fantastic teachers on campus. But overall, I think LW teachers lack many of the classroom management skills, particularly those related to behavior and social cohesion, necessary to creating sane, healthy, consistent, and effective learning environments. LW hires far to many parents as teachers. They arent always Waldorf trained and the artistic aspects of these classes suffers greatly.

Posted: August 23, 2019

I accept full responsibility for remaining at LW far longer than we should have. My child loved her group of friends and some of her teacher, and change is difficult. But I will forever regret accepting the status quo at LW. We had some wonderful experiences, but in the end, the bad/disappointing outweigh them.

I echo observations of other reviewers. The leadership structure results in indecision, inflexibility, poor communication, inconsistency, defensiveness, & secrecy.

Due to ineffective teaching, our class was well below grade level when we reached 6th grade. LW failed to act in the interests of the individual kids & of the class as a group to remedy the situation. Our 1st grade class included 20+ students, but following a mass exodus, the class started this year with only 3, in part due to a lack of concern and action on the part of admin.

LW professes an interest in increasing diversity-racial, economic, cultural, religious-on campus. They remain unwilling to do the difficult & necessary work of creating a truly welcoming, inclusive, multicultural learning environment. The artwork and literature almost always reflect white folks and their experiences/perspectives, with people of color largely absent, almost always object rather than subject. Required books are outdated, some rich in negative and/or stereotypical portrayals of racial or religious minorities. The lack of diversity and the utter lack of commitment to creating and nurturing diversity and inclusion are a disservice to EVERY child on campus and one I could no longer abide. One cannot educate the whole of every child while failing to include racial and cultural mirrors.

The promise of a LW education can be intoxicating, but the reality is anything but. There is not enough bees wax or yarn in the world to compensate for a poorly managed school that, in our case, failed to adequately educate the children in its care. I was not a difficult parent on campus. I volunteered, donated, and participated. My child was well-loved by teachers and students. When I shared with the school our decision to leave, no one in administration asked why, no one requested a meeting, and no one asked us to stay. To the end, they remained unwilling to confront and address our individual and class concerns, and seemingly unwilling to learn from our unique experience. Perhaps this, above all else, says it all.

Posted: August 5, 2019

This school is not equipped to deal with learning differences of any kind.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Mixed experience hereespecially with 2 different kids. I feel much of the Waldorf component of the education is missing. If you are looking for a true Waldorf education, be aware that this school is just a Waldorf-inspired school, despite its accreditation. It can not deliver the whole package.

Posted: August 5, 2019

My oldest child rarely had homework at Linden until 7th grade and then it was really hard that late in the game to instill good study habits and commitment to getting the work done. My younger son has had a completely different experience with an abundance of homework from grade 3, but again without the benefit of the teacher instilling organizational skills. It causes unnecessary struggle and confusion over what is due and when it is due and how much time it takes to do it all.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Some teachers are effective and others are not. It all goes back to continuing teacher education. The teachers need to have support throughout the year on classroom management, effective discipline (NOT the quiet roomthe room where students go and just hang out when they misbehavenot effective for middle-schoolers, especially).

Posted: August 5, 2019

Developing character is a tough job and the school could do much more by doing things like having service days set up for its student body (age appropriate, of course) to give back to the community. There are endless ways for kids to volunteer. Require the middle school age kids to submit service hours (maybe 10?) per school year that they have done on their own time.

Posted: August 5, 2019

The leadership is not evident and not vocal. Who does what and when and where? Good luck figuring that out.

Posted: July 29, 2019

They are not capable of supporting learning differences. They do not have anyone on staff and they lack the training in the classroom.

Posted: July 29, 2019

Linden doesn't have the same rules for all the kids as there are a good number of children that have parents teaching at the school or are on the board.

Posted: July 29, 2019

The administration lacks professionalism and experience. There is such a lack of communication and policies that it was very frustrating. Even when certain things were brought to the attention of the head of school it was all lip service. There was never any change or follow through on what we were told would happen.

Posted: July 29, 2019

Linden was a very disappointing educational experience. The school is highly unorganized and lacks communication in every aspect. Look into the attrition rate and ask why so many families leave every year. The Community is completely broken and much of this comes from how the administration treats the families.

Posted: July 29, 2019

Our experience at Linden lacked a great deal of organization. Our teacher didn't actually teach the children how to be organized with a class tool, so it was difficult.

Posted: July 29, 2019

Posted: July 28, 2019

LWS was very disappointing experience. If you are considering this school I would lean into the community bc their reputation is not a good one. If you visit the school make sure you ask why there are only 3 7th graders and why so many families leave every year. I would also ask about the experience of the administration and the teachers. The head of school has never been a teacher or a principle, and this reflects in the school.

Posted: July 28, 2019

There is no build up to doing self-starting work or teaching responsibility.

Posted: July 28, 2019

Many of the teachers are unhappy at Linden and lack experience

Posted: July 28, 2019

They belittle children and do not approach the whole child

Posted: July 28, 2019

The administration is so unorganized and unqualified for their jobs.

Posted: July 26, 2019

LWS instilled a love of learning in my children.

Posted: July 23, 2019

School has a program in place to address bullying. The community as a whole does not condone bullying or unkindness at any level.

Posted: July 23, 2019

At this point in the growth of the school, it doesn't really have the resources to support kids with radical learning differences. That said, the curriculum and pedagogy addresses pretty much all the various learning styles in each academic block (it's that holistic thing), so some learning differences end up being well accommodated.

Posted: July 23, 2019

Homework never consists of busywork; instead asks the student to process the lessons creatively and inwardly.

Posted: July 23, 2019

Since a class and their primary teacher stay together for several years (ideally 8, but sometimes life happens and a teacher has to leave), teachers are profoundly committed to the children and know them deeply. The school supports the teachers strongly, including a much continuing ed and mentoring.

Posted: July 23, 2019

Waldorf education addresses these characteristics at every level - emotional, cognitive, even artistically and physically. (It's a very holistic pedagogy.) Students tend to be recognized in the schools they move to for high school as socially very mature, as well as academically prepared and receptive. Because of small class sizes and trusting relationships with teachers, they relate well to teachers, ask questions, ask for help, etc.

Posted: July 23, 2019

This was the weak point of the school in its pioneer days, and the school culture has suffered as a result. There has been a complete governance overhaul in the last year, with excellent and committed people in leadership positions and a better sense of accountability and authority.

Posted: July 23, 2019

I've had 3 kids go through this school, ie. 3 different personalities, so they have had very different experiences. Each child subsequently went through rough patches, as teenagers do. The way they have navigated these has attested to the moral integrity, intellectual openness, and creative thought that the school nurtured while they were there. So, in spite of some administrative chaos during our time there, I would rate this school very, very highly.

Posted: July 22, 2019

The teachers communicate regularly with parents and stay on top of sketchy social dynamics and bullying. The cooperative nature of Waldorf education reduces the opportunities for bullying.

Posted: July 22, 2019

Self-development is a tenant of Waldorf education,and the Linden leadership team models this and inspires the faculty and the parents to model this too.

Posted: July 22, 2019

Linden teachers take their students from 1st throught 8th Grade so they are aware and deal with learning differences in the students.

Posted: July 22, 2019

My child was never burnt out by homework. Homework doesn't start until 3rd grade and that homework is to practice a string instrument for orchestra. In the upper grades, homework is meaningful and manageable-- not a bunch of mind-numbing work sheets.

Posted: July 22, 2019

Teachers create a pathway for each child to realize their true potential. The teachers are trained to build capacities for a whole child. I continue to be amazed when I meet Linden alumni.

Posted: July 22, 2019

Linden Waldorf education promotes a revererence for each other, all cultures, and traditions. My child has absorbed this naturally through the curriculum.

Posted: July 22, 2019

It's the best thing I ever did! My child recently graduationed and is in high school now. She is thriving! It's a commitment and sometimes I questioned whether I was doing the right thing keeping her there for 11 years . Now that I am on the other side, I am so thankful that she had time to play, spend time outdoors daily, create fantastic memories of all the festivals, learn Spanish and Mandarin, woodworking and music. The diversity of the curriculum served her well and she is a good world citizen. I credit Linden Waldorf School. I also need to mention that the school's media policy which discourages screen time as a big plus. It transformed our family!

Posted: July 21, 2019

Bullying is a hard topic to deal with in any school. My own child was bullied and I feel that the school handled it appropriately. Im happy to say that my child and the other one now have a healthy relationship

Posted: July 21, 2019

The school just put in a new governance model that includes clarity around decisions making and roles in general.

Posted: July 21, 2019

The curriculum is predicated on meeting the children where they are and values every childs experience

Posted: July 21, 2019

Exceptional! My child has been at LWS since he was 4. He is now in his last year at LWS and it has been the best place for him.

Posted: July 21, 2019

The curriculum is decided to meet children where they are and there is time given during the day to complete work. As the students age they are given appropriate amounts of homework.

Posted: July 21, 2019

All of the teachers work collaboratively to put the students needs first. They are adept at teaching those intangible skills that are often lost in todays digital world, i.e. human interaction skills

Posted: July 21, 2019

Time and time again I see this not only in my own child but in my interactions with the alumni year after year

Posted: July 20, 2019

As I mentioned before, we have experienced multiple schools. While they all have something positive to offer, the Linden Waldorf experience has been outstanding overall for our family. We've been particularly impressed by the positive strategic direction of the school in the last few years, which have really impacted customer service, professionalism and high caliber teachers. It has been so essential to our family to know that our children are able to play outdoors, work with their hands, and have academics that are based in drawing, writing and reading real books. I don't have to worry about any extra screen time that my kids get on the weekends. I know they've had a full experience all week at school.

Posted: July 20, 2019

Again, having experienced multiple schools, I don't think you'll find any middle school that is without behavioral incident. Since our time, we've seen how invested the teachers are in creating a strong community, one where bullying or any of that type of behavior is not welcome. We've experience an environment where our child was welcomed and gently taught a much higher expectation of respect toward others.

Posted: July 20, 2019

Homework is given in meaningful amounts as the students get older. We have had children at multiple schools and often the workload is so great that it becomes detrimental rather than additive. In the case of Linden's approach to homework, I feel it is much better.

Posted: July 20, 2019

The teachers spend a great deal of time getting to know each student. Again, our children have been at multiple schools and never have we encounter teachers that are so invested.

Posted: July 20, 2019

It's interesting to see some other comments about leadership. In our time at the school, we have seen transformative change in the leadership model, going from a structure that was grass roots oriented and not equipped to help the school grow, to now having a new, clear model of leadership structure with new positions that are essential to operating a well performing school. Sure, nothing is perfect. But I've personally seen tremendous positive change in a short amount of time, and have benefitted from attention by leadership to my child's related issues now more than every before.

Posted: July 20, 2019

I do think this is an area where the school can and will grow. In concert with some of the changes in leadership, there have been multiple changes in staffing that are positive - including the creating and hiring of a Director of Education to effectively support students with learning differences.

Posted: July 4, 2019

This school administration is dysfunctional, which effects everyone from teachers to students and parents. There is so much nepotism at Linden and there is nothing in place to alleviate the effects that come from this. The handbook has no functionality for the school bc they simply don't follow it. The communication is poor and they do not prepare the kids for high school.

Posted: July 4, 2019

They do not have any understanding of learning differences and/or how to work with a child that has a learning difference. This doesn't quite configure into the "whole child" approach.

Posted: July 3, 2019

Disappointing experience from start to the day we left. If you are considering Linden, I would ask a lot of questions about how the administration runs the school, how the teachers manage the classroom, how the kids transition to high school. They will tell you a beautiful story of how the high schools LOVE Linden kids, but I found that to be a false statement as many parents I spoke with shared the exact opposite! Kids were not prepared at all!

Posted: July 3, 2019

Posted: June 20, 2019

Our experience here was so difficult due to completely disorganized administration down to our class teacher. The school just makes up their own rules as they go and does not follow anything in their handbook. Many of the teachers are not trained in education, so they lack many of the important skills that come with managing children and the classroom as a whole. No one wants to volunteer because they are just trying to get through till their children are done. It is really unfortunate because waldorf can be an amazing experience.

Posted: June 20, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Unfortunately, the school is misleading that it is providing a waldorf education. We were gra
teful to only have been there a couple years as we have heard really terrible situations.

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 8, 2019

We were so excited about Waldorf education and disappointed that this was our experience.

Posted: June 8, 2019

Unfortunately, nothing about this school was a fit for our children.

Posted: June 8, 2019

Posted: June 7, 2019

I wasn't prepared once I left Linden Waldorf. 3-5 students would leave every year and I wondered why. Now I know why.

Posted: June 7, 2019

Very poor and dysfunctional. We tried Waldorf for our son and had to pull him out because he fell behind due to the poor teaching.

Posted: June 7, 2019

No TN license to teach and low emotional intelligence.

Posted: June 7, 2019

The worst I have seen in any school.

Posted: June 7, 2019

I personally didn't experience this but two families I am close to did. One young girl was held down on the playground by a boy and defended herself. She was suspended. The boy had no consequences. The head of school was apparently close to the the parents of the boy. Another young girl was slapped on the butt by a boy who was paid by his friends during a performance. She was humiliated. No consequences for the boy.

Posted: June 7, 2019

I believe character is taught by example and this school has some of the worst character I have ever seen in teachers/administration staff. No checks and balances.

Posted: June 7, 2019

The leadership shuns families with concerns, I saw it over and over again, especially with the mold issue in the trailers, lack of supervision of middle school students, and poor academics of students.

Posted: June 7, 2019

Very unsupportive of active boys and blames parents without taking responsibility for poor teaching.

Posted: June 7, 2019

I think the school is setting themselves up for a lawsuit. I was so naive before I entered the school. I didn't think to ask about teachers not having a TN license to teach or the 6th grade class not being able to read, or mold in the school... these are questions you don't think to ask.

Posted: June 7, 2019

Poor organization and communication to parents. Standards do not meet TN standards, leaving your child ill prepared.

Posted: June 7, 2019

The majority of the teachers do not have a TN license to teach. Instead they go through a 6 month "waldorf education program." This may not seem important in the early childhood years but when you hit 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade, you start to see how imperative it is to have a strong background in teaching/ TN license. For example, the 6th grade class dissolved when it was discovered that the children couldn't read. This falls on the teachers, of course, when they have no license to teach, what do you expect?

Posted: June 6, 2019

In the student handbook they go by the Payne version of restorative justice. However, non of that is implemented. Just more disorganization.

Posted: June 6, 2019

They do not know how to teach active boys.

Posted: June 6, 2019

I would make sure you ask a lot of questions. Our experience came at a lost year of learning. The administration is disorganized at best and in many cases unqualified. The community has very little unity which was such a disappointment.

Posted: June 6, 2019

I would ask questions about the teachers experience. There are only a few teachers that have a teaching degree so classroom mgt and teaching all kinds of students is lacking. Esp teaching organizational skills. I have had a number of parents tel me their children were not prepared for high school.

Posted: June 6, 2019

The head of school isnt qualified for her position. She has never been a teacher or a principle so you can see clearly lack of experience leads to many problems. All of which the school is experiencing.

Posted: June 4, 2019

We have had a positive experience at Linden Waldorf school this past school year. There was a difficult moment that required a conversation with the Head of School, but it was handled quickly and to our satisfaction, and the requirements of our children was fair and appropriate. I highly recommend LWS to anyone looking for an arts, music and nature based education for their children.

Posted: January 29, 2019

At first, it seemed like they did good at only assigning effective homework. But once you get to the middle grades, that no longer applies. Math homework assigned might not be able to be completed because it was not taught in class. Langauge Arts assignments did not relate to language arts.

Posted: January 29, 2019

Your main lesson teacher might be great. Might not be. That is a huge gamble. Teacher turnover is bad, and they've hired too many parents to be teachers that have zero teaching background. Guess what? That doesn't work. Very few of the teachers here have a state license.

Posted: January 29, 2019

I do think they get this right. Unfortunately, the kids are exposed to teachers that lack some of that integrity and compassion. That's when we as parents get to tell them that not all adults are good role models for them.

Posted: January 29, 2019

Leadership is close-minded and defensive when confronted with any type of issue they don't agree with or don't want to deal with.

Posted: January 29, 2019

They don't handle learning differences at all. We were told this before we enrolled. If a learning difference comes to the surface after the child is enrolled, you should certainly switch schools to a more appropriate and supportive school immediately. The Waldorf curriculum is simply not designed to children with learning differences.

Posted: January 29, 2019

Poor. We should have pulled out child out before entering the middle school. Luckily, we landed in a good spot and the transition has been rather smooth.