Corvallis Waldorf School

3855 Northeast Highway 20

Corvallis, OR 97330

14 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-7
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 17, 2024

The Corvallis Waldorf school has been great for my children. My children each started in the preschool program, which is outdoors, rain or shine and now the oldest is in the middle school. I have been thoroughly impressed by the emotional, social and scholastic development their teachers have nourished. Especially the focus on nourishing the a whole child, not just one who’s good at academics. Head, heart and hands equally. I think this is a great place for families in search of community. And developing an emotionally whole person
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2023

My son and daughter go to early education here. Waldorf has been a great blessing for our family. At our preschool and elementary ages, I've found their emphasis on regular daily routines very helpful. Each day includes free play, artistic work, circle time, outdoor recess, and practical tasks (like cooking, cleaning, and gardening). I really appreciate that they don't push the kindergarteners (Ages 4, 5 and 6) into academics, many of the children (especially the boys) are not ready to sit and listen yet. Also, they believe strongly in little to no screen time. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't like the changes that have been made in the public school system.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2023

This is an amazing school. I wish I had an opportunity to go here as kid. Highly recommend!
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2023

Our two children went through Corvallis Waldorf School (CWS) from the time we moved to Corvallis until they graduated from 8th grade (k->8th and 2nd-8th grades). We had a wonderful experience throughout. The teacher-class-student relationships were amazing. Our experience as a family was great, and our kids are now thriving in high school and beyond. Each of our kids entered high school "above grade level" in most or all subjects (including all core subjects - science, math, literature, history, foreign language). They are confident and independent kids, respectful of their peers and their teachers and mentors. Both of them have thrived socially as well, both at CWS and afterward, in high school. Different families interpret the founding philosophy of Waldorf in different ways, but the net effect in the classroom and across the educational path is phenomenal. This school is turning out well educated, mature, young people. CWS graduates will be able to succeed educationally and be of benefit to the world and those around them throughout their lives, whatever paths they choose.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2022

As a consultant who has been in countless classrooms in public schools throughout the area, I can confidently say this is the type of education I wish was available for every Child.My son transferred here in 5th grade after learning how to comply in public school, but failing in how to learn ‘how to learn’ which is a skill that must be fostered for the growth of an individual. My son has blossomed beyond all expectations at this school. Even through online schooling during the pandemic. He has grown to be an active contributor to discussion, not afraid to ask questions, and not afraid to support others if he should witness injustice. He is a free thinker and a kind human. What more could a parent ask for? This is all due to the sincere and intentional delivery of education, and the unparalleled holding environment that CWS provides for the children. The breadth of study, the hands on activities, the field trips, the class plays… and the musicians that come out of this school… I honestly can’t say enough. I’m truly shocked at some of the poor reviews on here and would seriously suggest taking a tour of the school to see for yourself. i don’t want to dismiss anyone’s hurtful experiences in general, but I promise that most parents are eternally grateful for this school. And graduates are too. There is a reason why parents continue to donate to the school after they’re children have long since graduated… because they know that this type of education is what every child deserves.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2021

I wish I could recommend this school to other conscious and loving parents. But I can't. After touring this school, meeting the Director, and the teacher my son would have, I was more than happy to plop down the $10,000 tuition and get my kid started on what looked to be a warm and enriching educational experience. Instead, I learned that what Corvallis Waldorf School purports to be is ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS. My boy was damaged by his experience at CWS. And I am having a hard time forgiving myself for not understanding his struggles, there, sooner. Knowing I had a hand in dropping him into this psychologically abusive environment has been difficult for me to process. I can only hope that parents who are considering this school for their children will come upon this review.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2020

I've had a great experience at this school and for my kids that have already graduated, they are doing very well in high school. Highly recommend!
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2019

I can't say enough good things about the school. I wish this was the standard model of education; the world would be a better place.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2019

I wish I would have known about this website BEFORE I enrolled my kids here. I never would have wasted my time, money, and the year of my kids’ lives that they will never get back. I am not sure what to say other than the teachers, there, are very naive, unprepared for life in the bigger world, and seem to take shelter from it by teaching sf CWS. All but a few will not be preparing your children for anything other than life on a 19th century prairie and yoga. The CWS students who do succeed later in life do so because there parents have introduced them to things like robotics, computers/keyboards, real science, and other social groups.This is a “religious” based school that appears to be open to all. But it is not. There is a certain type of family that will be comfortable there. The others are there because their children had problems in other environments and CWS will take their money. It is kind of an alternative school for troubled kids but they won’t tell you that.
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2019

This is where troubled kids go. Those kids that don't work out in the other schools in the community (public or private) are accepted at CWS as long as their parents pay the private tuition, and strum up other donations to the school. We allowed our daughter to finish the school year, but with a very watchful eye. We will not be returning. It is a socially rough environment. Good students are not supported here.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2019

I could not recommend CWS to any family at this point. It was once a healthier educational institution, but it no longer provides a compassionate, peaceful environment in which children can learn socially and academically. I have a 3rd grader, 6th grader, and 9th grader and while my children attended CWS at one point, they do no longer. My 9th grader is doing well in the public High School. My other 2 are at another private school where they are thriving finally. There has been a change in leadership at CWS that has made all the negative difference. My children are no longer attending because of the lack of respect they are given by the Director of Pedagogy who some have said is less Waldorfian and more Parochial in the most negative sense of the word. Overall, our CWS was troublesome and overwhelming for our family.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2018

Stressful. Demeaning. Damaging to my children and family.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2013

After visiting the Corvallis Waldorf School, our decision to enroll our child was easy, despite the financial and logistical challenges. Few schools offer a robust curriculum that balances science and art and academics. Fewer schools are focused on whole child development. All dimensions of the human being are nurtured and each child is honored. At every level of the school, I see children thriving and eager to learn. Things are taught in a way that engages the children. The students are learning in a way that is meaningful to them. In the 7th grade when learning about physics, the students worked in teams to build Rube Goldberg machines, directly applying their knowledge of levers, wheel and axles, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges and screws. Project-based learning whose outcomes readily surpass the pedagogy of standardized testing. From the early childhood programs through to the 8th grade the students learn in ways that excite and inspire them.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2013

Waldorf has a good talk and it's very pretty on the outside. However, there is a LOT of elitism here, NO diversity whatsoever and bullying is actually allowed on the playground under the "dog eat dog" law. Sometimes natural is a good thing but not in every aspect of a young humans life. Their cooking is great, the activities are great and the hikes and singing are all wonderful (why they got three stars). Some of the teachers are amazing too but overall it's a very insular community and the price is too high for what my child experienced.