Ithaca Waldorf School

20 Nelson Road

Ithaca, NY 14850

8 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 24, 2024

The Ithaca Waldorf School is simply the best, there's no comparison. Not only do students excel in math, science, reading and writing (cursive of course), they learn circus arts, agriculture, hand work (sewing, knitting, cross-stitch, etc.), art, mythology, theater arts, spanish and music (choir and strings). Our favorite aspect of it is that these kids aren't plugged into devices half of the day, instead, they are learning how to be human. This holistic education and the best education for preparing kids to enter the modern world!
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2024

We drive three children across the county to attend Ithaca Waldorf School, and can't imagine placing them anywhere else. The screen-free teaching is key for us, and the emphasis that faculty and staff put on their own continuing and deepening training/education. The school environment promotes balance, calm, and seeing each individual for what they offer and how they can unfold in a healthy way. The current roster of faculty and staff is really great: they are super smart and multitalented, open-minded, attentive to neurodivergent needs, committed to DEIJ work, supportive of parent involvement, and create really beautiful classrooms! Our kids love going to school, and are growing into confident and capable young people who feel they have purpose and belonging in their community.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2024

IWS is amazing. My kids have developed a deep level of understanding academic material that goes far beyond what they experienced in public school. The teachers, admin and families are very engaged and there is a strong network of support throughout the school community. I love this school and only wish we had a high school!
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2015

My child is in 8th grade at IWS and has been there since preschool. From the beginning he has thrived at this school. It's amazing to see a child flourish in a supportive environment. While the academic standards are high, it's not from standardized tests, grades, or pressuring kids before they're ready. He still loves learning and loves going to school every day. His math skills are excellent--the foundation in math in the early grades is very strong and the curriculum builds on it every year. Last spring he got a perfect score on the International Math Olympiad. Every student in his class scored in the top half and nearly all scored in the top 10% worldwide. He was not an early reader, yet once he learned he took right off. He has developed into a teenager who appreciates aesthetics, excels at strategy games, writes funny poetry, and prefers reading to video games. He has learned Spanish since first grade and our first talks with high schools suggest he will be able to skip 1-2 years ahead in Spanish. He has benefitted immensely from the music program, and plays recorder and violin with skill and enjoyment. I cannot think of a better school for my child.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2015

Incredible teachers, programming and facility. Couldn't be happier with the education and enrichment my student is receiving!
Submitted by parent on November 25, 2014

My child started at the Ithaca Waldorf School this year in the 5th/6th grade class. We wanted to avoid the industrial testing factories of the large middle schools and allow her to spend her days enjoying the "life of the mind." Academically, the school is very strong - the students make their own textbooks for each unit - thereby using a multiple intelligences model (Howard Gardner) of learning the information. Her most recent lesson was on US Geography and she has an amazing text of hand-drawn maps of the US that she created. In the afternoon, students have daily skills lessons that get at those basic things like computation and spelling. In addition, all upper grades students have strings ensemble once a week, weekly recorder lessons, Spanish lessons twice a week, and handwork where they learn handcrafts, sewing and knitting. There is also a movement and games period twice a week. If you are seeking a small school where childhood is preserved, the individual child is honored and cultivated (rather than tested and measured), and the students are kind kids with good attitudes - this would be a good choice.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2012

Small class sizes with individualized attention and instruction, an emphasis on art, music, handwork, nature and outdoor activity; this school has been a perfect fit for my two children; and they love going to school. And any fears about children not getting enough mathematics or reading in a Waldorf curriculum have been totally unfounded for my children at this school.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2012

My children have attended the Ithaca Waldorf School since first grade. I love how the teachers use movement, music and art in subjects such as mathematics and history, Waldorf integrates all the subjects though out the years. The children have one teacher through out the grades and so have a long and real relationship with her/him. My boys' world is filled with conversation, music, art, drawing, long attention spans, gardening, writing, playing active games, building forts and spending time outside.