Pasadena Waldorf School

209 East Mariposa Street

Altadena, CA 91001

43 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 06, 2025

Our son visited Pasadena High School earlier this year and was so smitten that he decided to transfer in mid-year in eighth graade. The students, faculty and staff welcomed him with open arms and he immediately made new friends and was so excited to be a part of the community. The parent community welcomed us, too, and were so helpful with getting us up to speed. In an overwhelming world, PWS is a harbor of peace and kindness where our child is learning academics as well as what is happening in the world and about himself. We are honored and excited to be a part of Pasadena Waldorf as it enters a pivotal and exciting new era!
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2023

Indoctrination, lack of natural sciences, poor math level, bad equipment. Not for someone who wants to get a solid math/physics education, but it is good for artists.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2019

We have had an incredible experience all around! We feel so fortunate to be there!
Submitted by student on November 27, 2018

Coming straight from a student, I can assure you that there is no student, to my knowledge, who’s caught bullying or being bullied at the Pasadena Waldorf High School. If they are then the case is taken very seriously through private meetings with teachers or through council circles, where students could freely and safely express their feelings to each other under the guidance of their class advisors. Though academics isn’t the strongest at this school, humanity and human connection seems to be the driving force as to why Pasadena Waldorf School is so special. This community is what I call home. I feel safe. I feel supported.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2018

Our experience has been wonderful—the teachers are supportive, warm, caring, and the community is great!
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2018

I cannot ask for more for my child's education. An amazing environment and such a unique and effective approach to education. Our teachers are so loving and highly skilled at what they do and I feel that my child is safe and is getting the best possible education he is getting. The community of parents, students, faculty, and staff is just priceless. We cannot be at a more amazing school than this!
Submitted by other on January 13, 2018

My Daughter will be graduating from Pasadena Waldorf High School this year .Not only has this education encouraged her to be a confident student , it has given her a willingness to walk into the future as a whole balanced human being.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2018

Very high. I feel like our family has benefited already in ways that will pay off for the rest of our lives because our children have been so well guided and held. We met students here that impressed us and we wondered if our kids could ever be so impressive. Now we are the ones getting compliments and expressing gratitude that such a great school is in our community. The friendships we've made as parents will last forever as well. Highest possible rating.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2017

We are thrilled with this school! Our daughter is thriving due to the unique approach to education where she gets to move her body and use her hands and her imagination, the faculty attention to each individual student, the vast opportunities in sciences, arts, languages, music, games, and sports, and the strong school community. She loves going to school and doesn't want to miss a day!
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2017

We love it. The curriculum challenges my children, while at the same time teaching them to be good human beings. It is not about test scores and memorizing facts, but rather developing caring, intelligent adults who will participate in the world. I also love that media is not the center of their curriculum. It allows children to develop communication skills, eye contact, team work, etc. ... all those skills lost my staring at movies, computer screens, and tablets all day.
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2017

All three of our children are going to or have gone to this exceptional school from kindergarten through high school. Our eldest is now in her second year in college in Chicago and she credits her Waldorf education on a regular basis on helping her navigate her new life in a strange city and a challenging institution with confidence.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2017

Our daughter came to PWS in the second grade. She is now in sixth grade. She is flourishing at the school. In second grade I felt that she was behind in reading. I spoke with parents who had children in higher grades and they assured me that the school had a method and that all would be well. They were right. She starting devouring books in the 4th grade, she truly has a love for reading and learning. She gets three languages at school, loves art and handwork, she plays the violin and is great at math. She played volley ball in the JV team this year and now has joined a club. Lastly we love our community at PWS. As parents our objective is to raise great human beings who will make the world a better place. We can not do this if we don't teach our kids how to resolve conflicts. No matter which school you take your child to, conflicts will arise. At PWS we work with other parents to teach our kids how to get past differences.
Submitted by other on November 12, 2017

Really, really wonderful. I love this community and am so happy to be here!
Submitted by teacher on November 04, 2017

I am a parent and a teacher at this school. My children are really 'seen' for who they are in the high school. I am so grateful for the sensitive and valuable parent guidance offered in community education, and what is available directly for the teenagers with their high school teachers.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2017

Beyond what I could imagine education to be. I was an LAUSD graduate and literally cry when I think what might have been had I had the experience of a Waldorf education. Awesome in ways you can only experience.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2017

Enrolling your child in this school is a risky decision and we strongly recommend that you look elsewhere.Part of the Waldorf educational philosophy is that students have the same teacher for grades 1-8. While this might be a great thing if you happen to get a good teacher, it's a curse if you happen to get a lousy one. To make matters worse, this particular school is apparently unable to effectively deal with an underperforming teacher. Our daughter had the misfortune of being assigned to a class with a lousy teacher. He was unable to address discipline and bullying problems. He was also an ineffective instructor in several important areas. Earnest appeals to the teacher and the administration were met with suspicion and resistance. No efforts were made to improve the situation and ultimately, a large number of students in the class left the school. In our experience, this school is not a good place for an advanced student. The faculty does not seem to value or support children who are brighter than average. Conversely, they are also failing to adequately address the needs of children with learning disabilities by either failing to identify them or provide appropriate support. The only kind of child who might thrive here is an average student with an artistic bent who can handle a class with disruptive discipline problems and perhaps a bit of bullying thrown in. Others should find an alternative!
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2017

One of the motto's of this school is 'Education from the inside out.' And that is a pretty wonderful explanation, in a nut shell, of how this education works. Waldorf education is about raising a whole human being, first, and providing that human being with the strength and tools they need to thrive and serve the world as a whole. Waldorf education is not a competition and it is not a sprint. It is a journey. Our daughter started her journey at this school in preschool. She is now in 6th grade; incredibly poised, thoughtful, kind, intelligent, athletic and gifted in the arts, which are a constant, priceless part of the regular Waldorf curriculum. I am grateful every day that this is my daughter's foundation for life. I wish every child - and every family - could experience the depth and beauty of what this education has to offer.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2017

It is the teachers' exceptional dedication and commitment to each student and the process whereby lessons in every subject are taught by engaging the whole being - not only the intellect but also the physique and the psyche, that produce remarkable human beings who know how to think for themselves and actually enjoy learning for life.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2016

Very dedicated teachers and support staff. They truly love the students and put in a lot of work to give our daughter a well-rounded experience.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2016

PWS is a great community! My kids are happy and thriving. They love to go to school, they want to get there early and I can hardly get them to leave before the last minute of aftercare. My first grader loves math, has learned to knit and play the pentatonic flute. She takes Spanish and Japanese classes every week. The wishing Well School Store and Squirrels Nest Cafe are amazing too!