Stone Bridge

1019 2nd Avenue

School District

Napa Valley Unified
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:27
Type

charter

School Map for Napa Valley Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on April 05, 2021

I attended this school from 2004-2014 and had a wonderful experience. Waldorf school overall is an absolutely beautiful way to educate children. Many people writing these reviews seem to have a bad experience because they only liked the small class sizes and one on one approach and did not do the proper research on Waldorf education as a whole. Waldorf is not only a method of schooling, it is a lifestyle and those who are not willing to fully accept it, are not going to have a well rounded experience. It’s not for everyone, but it is most definitely not a “school of witchcraft” or only for “special needs kids”. It’s outdoors, movement and art based learning style may seem shocking to some. But it prepared me for high school, college, and beyond. I excelled at Justin-Siena high school after graduating from SBS, then went on to a state university. I know work in the STEM field as a cryptologist. The lack of technology education at this school did not hold me back from having a successful career in tech. It teaches topics when the child's brain is ready, not forcing reading or math into children before their brains can comprehend it. Grades K-3 may seem troubling to some parents, because they will feel that their child is behind, when in actuality their child is learning the importance of interpersonal relationships and communication through song, dance, poetry and play. The academics will come when they are ready. Thus producing a much more well adjusted child, who is empathetic, compassionate and caring to people, animals and nature. Waldorf schooling is a blessing, but it definitely requires commitment from the whole family to be effective.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2018

Under a Waldorf method the children keep the same teacher throughout the grades. Of course, in practice that does not always work out. More often than one might assume. A teacher change affects the kids more dramatically. A small school has 'cliques' that tend to protect members, sometimes over the best interests of the children. Leadership is status quo minded with that, not progressive. The promise is 'above average' results in preparation for high school, the results are 'below average' in fact.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2017

Not a friendly school for children of color. Teachers and administration lack understanding of/willingness to understand or discuss diversity issues. Teachers have very little training outside of Waldorf training. Very disappointed with the poor quality of education and lack of integrity at this school.
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2017

Stone Bridge school has missed its mark. There are some good teachers who are competent and capable of teaching and managing the ups and downs of class and individual needs, but if you have a teacher that lacks the understanding and inner compass to guide young students it is a recipe for disaster. The school's policies and procedures are vague and left up to the individual teacher to interpret and implement which in a perfect world is amazing. With a deficient teacher a child and their parent is left without recourse or reparation for issues from bullying to mistreatment from a teacher. There are no systems or processes in place for a parent to advocate and see positive corrections. Most issues are left to fester until they are beyond correction and in the meantime children are negatively impacted, sometimes dramatically, and families in frustration leave and are left to clean up the mess on their own. The administration for the last 11 years lacked professional experience and practical knowledge on how to address the many systemic problems of this school and did not demonstrate any understanding how their lack of agency on behalf of the children impacts them.
Submitted by other on May 28, 2014

I was a student here for six years and would not trade my experience for the world. Although it really depends on who the teacher as you'll have the same main teacher for the entire experience. School was fun and engaged every part of your brain: artistically, physically, and mentally. History felt like stories, PE was "games" and was our favorite part of the day. No fear of PE here. With all this fun, I remember being nervous about being prepared for a college prep high school and thought I might be behind. Not the case. I was one of the most well prepared students entering high school and was placed in advanced classes. I owe this to the fact that the waldorf education caters to the child's strengths and weaknesses, sees the WHOLE child, and develops the WHOLE mind through a well-rounded education. I never felt that I was held back or pushed too far ahead at this school. I experienced waldorf at its best but I have experienced some horror stories of waldorf at its worst and that simply comes from the pitfall that if you do not have a teacher who implements the program right, you're stuck with them for the full eight years.
Submitted by other on March 07, 2014

I was a student at SBS for ten years and I had a wonderful experience. However, such an experience depends on the teacher you are placed with. I was lucky enough to be placed with a wonderful teacher, but others I know have not been so lucky. Certain teachers at the school do not have the proper credentials to teach and this has somehow gone under the radar of the NVUSD. As said in a previous comment, kindergarten sells the school. SBS's kindergarten program is wonderful but that's about all that's guaranteed. Once you leave kindergarten, it's a game of chance, especially in the upper grades. Some of the subject teachers aren't properly credentialed. Also don't buy into the "we are a community and we help eachother" lie. It's not true unless you are a waldorf family and you live and breathe the school. The community is very selective and don't expect to be included, we were not. As an alumni of SBS, I don't look back fondly on my years there because I liked the school, but because of my classmates and teacher. As I said before, kindergarten is wonderful but after that your experience is only as good as the teacher you get. I hope this was helpful to you:)
Submitted by other on February 10, 2014

I was a student at SBS for 9 years and it was a fabulous experience. SBS over-prepared me for high school making it easy to excel in all of my classes (academically, socially and artistically) and gave me an amazing second family who will always support me no matter where I end up. I disagree with the nay-sayers below, just because that was there experience doesn't mean it was everyone's, and I never felt "stuck with my teacher" I had a phenomenal relationship with her that I hope I can maintain as I continue on my education. Also, my family doesn't do no TV or adhere to a strict Waldorf pedagogy and I still had a great time at SBS and got an education that my newer friends are jealous of. Every school has gossip, SBS has little to no drama and every class is different, but you make your experience with the class, teacher and school community. If you don't like something do something about it, SBS will try and do their best to accommodate what your child needs. I'm sure SBS has issues and teacher problems, all schools do, I'm just saying that I gained an experience from this school I could not have gotten anywhere else and I feel truly blessed for getting to be a part of that.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2014

If you are a parent who focuses on academics, this is NOT the school for your children. One of my friends told me she pulled her kids out of this school when she learned that the school hired a teacher who has no credentials and no classroom experience. Why did they hire such person? Because they could not find anyone else. Parents are overly involved in school events and activities, which are numerous, compared to other schools in Napa, sometimes creating an atmosphere in which some parents are favored over others by the teacher. Making matters worse, the tendency towards parental cliques often leads to more gossipy parents and inexperienced teachers that promote this type of behavior. Each time my child comes home there's new gossip coming from a classmate who heard it from their parents. What kind of role model is that for your children? I agree with the comment below, you're STUCK with a teacher 'till 8th grade!
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2012

I would advise any new parent to PLEASE do their homework on Waldorf education. I thought that I did, I read the books, talked to other parents etc., however you do not truly understand it until you are there. It is 100% about the teacher that you get in 1st grade. The kindergarten completely sells the school - teachers are wonderful, teacher/child ratio is low and curriculum is positive. However, as a new parent, please look past the kindergarten and interview some of the teachers in the upper grades! Every year, the teacher in first grade is unknown until the last minute. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find good Waldorf educated teachers - there are just not that many out there. They have hired EXTREMELY poor quality teachers! Most parents I have talked to have to spend so much $$ on extra tutoring for their children when they get close to junior high and high school. No one at the school will tell you this. The reason their test scores show grade level is because the school is made up entirely of white, middle class, educated families, it is not due to the teaching staff. Also, many of the teachers are unable to accomodate children with different learning needs.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2011

SBS is a great school for some families but adheres to a strict Waldorf pedagogy. Much is made of the media restrictions and delayed literacy, but Waldorf is much more than locking up the T.V. and waiting to do ABCs. Any famliy considering SBS should read up thoroughly on this form of education. Specific to this school, the class sizes are large, even in grades 1-3 and in keeping with Waldorf, the teaching is group based, rather than individualized. The kindergarten is one of the best I have ever seen, and some of the grades teachers are absolutely brilliant educators. However, the problem of inconsistency among the classes is huge. The 1st gr. teacher is to remain with your child through 8th gr. If your child gets one of the prized teachers, it's a thoroughly enriching education. If you end up with a less than fabulous teacher, you are in for much disruption and uncertainty. This also means that only a small group of students benefits from the strongest teachers. Art is well integrated, but it is of a specific style and not taught as a form of personal expression. There is also a spiritual undercurrent to much of the teaching that, though not overt, cannot be denied.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2011

This entire school year my child's teacher has said "good morning" to me maybe twice. She has her own set of "pet parents" who she spends most of her time with. She has shown aggressive behavior to my child and even though I have mentioned this to the principal, the behavior continues. A very unhealthy environment! Oh, and you're STUCK with such a teacher 'till 8th grade!
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2011

Prospective parents should understand that a Waldorf education is a commitment - subjects are taught at a different rate from regular public schools, so especially in the early grades, the children can be significantly behind and a switch may be a stumbling block. It is the goal at Waldorf schools that teachers stay with their class throughout the grades. This can be wonderful, since the teacher has an intimate understanding of his/her class which can truly benefit the child. However, this can also present problems when things don't work out with a teacher. Our children have been SBS students for years, but we are now faced with the problem of a teacher who has extreme and militant rules. Meetings take place, suggestions and promises are made, but the problems persist. Since there is no obvious indication that anything is being done, it is clear that we cannot continue with this teacher until 8th grade. We are now confronting a switch to another school. This will be a traumatic event for our family and I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2008

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