Austin Waldorf School

8700 South View Road

Austin, TX 78737

19 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 26, 2024

PLEASE take heed before sending your children here. As a Waldorf alumni, we wanted Waldorf for our kids even though my education wasn’t perfect. We were there 8 yrs and saw a lot of really disturbing things, mostly stemming from the admin. While there, the head of school changed 4 times, each one worse than the next. With one of the new heads of school, we got an email describing him. I literally said to my spouse, “I don’t know anything about running a school but I’m willing to bet he only lasts 2 years.” It wasn’t rocket science, they put it in the email - he’d worked at Waldorf schools in three different states all around the country. Unfortunately I was right, he didn’t even last one year. No idea HOW they’re hiring who they are but it terrible. The teachers were pretty toxic too, not towards our kids so much thankfully but I saw terrible favoritism, labeling, and bullying from teachers toward students. There was a HUGE turn over in teachers, which says a lot. I saw SO MANY kids unable to read simple words in 3rd grade. I could go on and on about the things parents I met there shared with me. I heard of so many children there taking huge blows to their self esteem, falling WAY behind in all subjects. I heard of random racism, letting some kids arrive late daily while another family of a different nationality was asked to leave for being late way less often. One child we knew of sustained an injury in the morning, wasn’t attended to, then was let by the school to walk home after school. When the mom took him to the ER, he needed stitches. When the child went back to school, the PE teacher said to the child, “I TOLD you you’d need stitches.” She should’ve told an adult. Never did. Shameful.It is not the warm community you’d expect. Families are asked to clean the classrooms before the first day of school while other Waldorf schools host potlucks on campus to help families get to know each other. The parents are VERY cliquish. The school never offered any parent workshops. I did have friends I met there who had ok experiences with the school and academically but they were less than 50%. Just look at the class sizes… there’s a waitlist in kinder and the early grades, then very small classes in the upper grades and high school. People go there, hoping like we did, and wisely LEAVE.Austin Waldorf is a very sick place and gives Waldorf a bad name. PLEASE take heed before sending your children here.
Submitted by student on November 06, 2022

I attended this school for 11 years, and I am so happy my parents chose it for me. Since I haven't had experience with schools outside of Waldorf, I can't compare it to a public school or other schools but from what I've heard from my friends it is so much better.Learning I love how we do hands on activities and discussions, it helps the information stick for a long time. 5/5Teaching The topics are fun and engaging, I love how the teachers don't drill information into your brain, the teach you how to learn. 5/5Social emotional supportI don't have much experience with the program for this aspect of learning, but I've seen it in action and it is a great program that seems to work and be very helpful. 5/5Special educationThe teachers are really supportive of anyone who needs special education, but sometimes from my own experience we as a class aren't as understanding. 4/5SafetyThe teachers will do anything to keep the students safe, also the school is located in a pretty safe part of Austin. 5/5Family engagementTheir are so many events and activities for people of all ages (like the winter fair which appeared on the news) and they are really fun to do with friends or family. 5/5
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2022

We have (3) students enrolled here at AWS and are now in our 2nd year here. This school has been a game changer for our children, they are excited about going to school, and feel like they are included and belong to something important which is building a certain level of confidence in them. Even though the homework workloads can be significant, especially for our older student in HS, the material has the whole-child in mind and incorporates many different themes of inquiry...its not simply academics. There is a lot of parent and community engagement, and a lot of fun events that bring everyone together to support the kids, the faculty, and to celebrate achievements and have a good time. The Shakespeare theater put on by the middle-school classes last school-year was incredibly impressive, with most student actors performing (and memorizing lengthy lines in) two (or more) different roles/characters over the 2 nights.
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2020

Grade school was a great experience. In the high school, there are some very good teachers and some that are not so great. The high school needs to do more to address social-emotional issues. Do not attend the high school unless you anticipate being there for all four years. Credits from the AWS high school do not transfer to public schools and your child will have to ret-take many subjects they took at AWS. Look at this very carefully before giving the high school a try.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2019

We are in the 10th year enrolled at the Austin Waldorf School. We couldn't think of a better education for our child. Though... I wonder how a Waldorf School is organized in 100 years...? There are always things we could do better. And... is different and 'new' always better?
Submitted by parent on July 04, 2019

I LOVE this school, wouldn't send my children to any other school in Austin - although I've been to a few and keep looking around, just in case one of the kids feels the need to change.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2019

We love it, amazing community!!!We could not be happier
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2019

My children have been attending AWS for 6 years. The community here is amazing. We could not be happier with the education that they are receiving. A more well rounded beautiful, and purposeful curriculum can not be found elsewhere. We are very lucky to have found this school.
Submitted by other on July 29, 2016

My child attended AWS and I have to say I was pretty disappointed. In general I found the parents and students to be very cliquish. My child's teacher rarely had anything positive to say about my child. Further I truly don't think the school fosters creative freedom like they lead you to believe. I really wanted to like this school and for a long time I pushed my feelings about it aside. But my child has been much happier and confident since leaving AWS.
Submitted by other on February 25, 2016

RUN AWAY! We have been a Waldorf family in different parts of the country for over 10 years and never encountered anything as horrible as this school. The bullying here is a HUGE problem, and once you begin to dig a bit deeper you see it has been for quite some time. But, like everything at this school, it's all just swept under the rug to make sure everything looks perfect. It's sick, really, how much dysfunctional covering up takes place across the board. As long as things look beautiful, they must be, right? WRONG. The classrooms are over-crowded, the high school students barely go on to good schools and when they do, they can't make it there for very long, and all of the children (and parents) here are CRUEL. There hasn't been any leadership in years because everyone quits. It is such a huge shame that this is the only Waldorf School in Texas. They really give the Waldorf way a bad name. I am warning you, don't fall for their act.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2015

Like all schools, there are positive and negative aspects to this school.Good: * Fabulous curriculum designed to meet appropriate developmental needs* Beautiful school - campus is gorgeous * Kindergarten - play-based with lots of time outdoors* Handwork - art, music, crafts are an essential part of the day* Time spent outdoors Needs Improvement:* Class size - the state of Texas mandates that the maximum size for elementary public schools is 22. Yet, routinely Waldorf schools have 30-40 kids per class. The school will tell you that because kids have the same teacher year after year, the larger class size is okay. But, it's not. Large classes are harder to manage, kids get less individual attention, and lots of things go on between the students (i.e. teasing and bullying) that go unnoticed by the teacher. * Special Needs - Because AWS is a small school, they cannot accommodate special needs. Also, with their more holistic approach, may special needs kids are not diagnosed as early as they would be elsewhere. The school also does not have counseling support. * Administration - AWS does not have a traditional principal. Which is fine, unless you have a problem with a teacher, and suddenly there is no one in charge to turn to...* Nurse - only dispenses supplements and other holistic medicines. If your child has a medical problem, nurse may not be able to help.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2015

We are a family at the Austin Waldorf Schol for 10 years and entering the high school in 2015. Steiner's Waldorf Education has been here in Austin Texas for over 30 years! "Waldorf Education, founded in 1919 by the Austrian philosopher, scientist, and artist Rudolf Steiner, has grown into an educational movement with over 900 independent schools in 55 countries. Fundamental to Waldorf Education is the recognition that each human being is a unique individual who passes through distinct life stages and that it is the responsibility of education to address the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of each developmental stage." - from website of The Austin Waldorf School
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2013

This school is amazing! The kids learn all of the same stuff they learn in public school, but in far more interesting, interactive and progressive ways. In addition all of the regular academics, the Waldorf students also get art, handwork, woodwork, eurthymy, musical instrument, chorus, sand sculpting, blacksmithing, theatre, and time to play outside.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2013

Great school. Our children received excellent educations K-12 and admission to top colleges and universities where they excelled. Teachers were caring and supportive as well as brilliant in working with students. Arts were engaging and expected; sports and leadership opportunities were available to students who choose such. As parents our questions were readily understood and answered. We are most appreciative of finding such a well rounded and balanced, beautiful school.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2013

My students attended public schools and two different Waldorf schools before spending their high school years at AWS. AWS wins hands down in terms of how much the teachers invest in teaching the students, rather than simply their subjects. We all loved the integrated curriculum with different artistic skills encouraged in what would otherwise be ordinary subjects (English, math, history, Spanish, German.) Although the school has had a tendency to involve itself in more than just the academic lives of the students, we understood that this was to protect all the students. Our children have gone on to take up professions or further studies at liberal arts colleges in which their instructors and professors have commented positively on their broad based education; ability to think, ask questions, observe, and draw conclusions; as well as their wide range of artistic experiences. We are all working hard to make it possible to send the grand-children here.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2013

What an amazingly brilliant curriculum, campus, and faculty! My child has attended this school for 8 years and I wouldn't choose anything else. There is tremendous attention given to educating not just the head, but also making certain that the students' emotional and physical needs are supported. The academics are rich and enlivened by the arts and practical disciplines. These children are well-rounded, engaged, and genuinely enjoy coming to school. Imagine!
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2013

The Austin Waldorf School is an excellent school for all grades k-12. We have three children and have been at the school for 8 years. I could not be more pleased. In a world where media and technology are moving faster and faster, this school emphasizes those educational moments where the student can focus on the activity in themselves as doers and not just observers of the world around. Providing opportunities to create and solve issues, and not just imitate leads to an enriched educational experience across the board. Additionally, the teachers are truly dedicated to the growth and development of the whole child as a human being and not just the academics. When there is something happening academically, they strive to support the students by supporting the general well being of the student in addition to working through the academics. In the high school, the academics are diverse and rigorous, but met with enthusiasm by the students. The programs in arts, music, and sports are also great! My children love to go to school and are joyous, and eager to learn. The community is warm, supportive and dedicated to the wellbeing of all it's members. What more could you ask for.
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2013

What an amazing school. Both my kids went there from Kindergarten until they were ready for college. Not only did they get an excellent education that permitted them to attend and excel at first-rate colleges, but also they developed into the sort of young adults of whom any parent would be proud.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2013

This was a terrible place for my children. My son took a huge blow to his self esteem in the short time he spent there. It truly was a disaster. They are not prepared to deal with learning difficulties at all. They accepted our son based on a very short interview and a quick look over his work from another Waldorf school. The person who interviewed us said his work was "advanced". Two short months into the school year and we were having major problems. After a total of 5 months we withdrew our son as he was suffering in class. He is doing much better now and we are considering the local public school after a short period of homeschooling. The community is not warm as they would like you to believe. We came from another school with a fantastic community, so we know what that's all about and AWS doesn't have it. My children's teachers didn't even know the name of their baby sister. The"mentor" program to welcome new families is a joke. These people were paid a lot of money to blow off our family when we became inconvenient.